The new Broadway revival of the seminal musical "Falsettos" is a rather tepid, poorly cast production that pales in comparison to prior incarnation of this work that I have seen. The set is distracting, the direction surprisingly unfocused, and left me more frustrated than moved.
Lincoln Center's LCT3's "TheHarvest" is a terrific new play by the supremely talented Samuel D. Hunter. It probes complex issues about faith and loss in moving and unexpected ways, and features complex, interesting and believable characters.
 | KenderTheater (@KenderTheater) |
The revival of David Hare's late 1970s play "Plenty" @PublicTheaterNY is an Intelligent, engrossing and psychologically astute exploration of Europe post-World War II. It features a mesmerizing lead performance by Rachel Weisz who gives her all to this very difficult role. | |
| KenderTheater (@KenderTheater) |
"Vietgone" at Manhattan Theater Club's Stage 1 at NY City Center is funny, fresh & highly entertaining. The show's emotional pay off sneaks up on you in a charming way. This is a wonderfully surprising & engaging new play. | |
I thoroughly enjoyed spending another evening immersed in electoral angst with the Gabriels in part 2 of Richard Nelson's real time election year trilogy #WhatDidYouExpect @PublicTheaterNY.
I usually like Julia Cho's writing, but something about the unfocused nature and uneven acting of "Aubergine" at Playwrights Horizons just did not work for me.
Playwright Sarah Delappe's "The Wolves " @RealmTheatre is an outstanding look at teen female group dynamics, done in a unique and non-stereotypical way. It features great writing, acting, direction, and top notch production values. Kudos to this Ms. Relapse and the Realm Theatre for mounting a great play featuring 10 interesting, complex young female characters. This play deserves a life well beyond this limited run.
Horton Foote's "The Roads To Home" @primarystages is a finely cast & beautifully rendered revival of this poignant, quiet play. It enables one to see Foote as a Chekhovian chronicler of the 20th Century American South.
Roundabout Theater's new Stephan Karam's wobbly adaptation of Chekov's "The Cherry Orchard" is misconceived, messy and tonally bizaare. A major disappointment given the well credited cast that never seem to be in the same play together.
| KenderTheater (@KenderTheater) |
"War Paint" in a pre-Broadway try-out @GoodmanTheatre in Chicago is a dud. Patti LuPone overacts and over-sings. Christine Ebesole does the best she can with a drab role. Fine technical resources are placed in service of an insipid drama & an inert score. Poorly conceived from the start, it all just seems like a huge waste of time and talent. A major disappointment. | |
| KenderTheater (@KenderTheater) |
"Byhalia, Mississippi" @SteppenwolfThtr is a moving, funny & finely written family drama brought to life by a superlative cast. If you are in Chicago, don't miss this, as it is one of the best plays of year. | |
