New musical RIDE THE CYCLONE @mcctheater is an awkward misfire that struggles and fails to maintain a consistent, coherent tone. Thankfully, it is short but nevertheless feels much longer than its 90 minute running time.
THE BABYLON LINE @LCTheater is an engaging, well written, finely acted, and smartly directed play that interestingly explores the intersection of life and art of writing. It feels simultaneously fresh and familiar, and I mean that in a good way. This is playwright Richard Greenberg's best new play in years.
Nicky Silver's "THIS DAY FORWARD" @vineyardtheatre offers little that is new or original for this playwright, focusing once again on the bitter disappointment of unlikeable characters arising from the choices they have made in life. The production is solid, and the show is breezes on by, but I yearn for new territory to be explored by this writer.
Sutton Foster is THE reason to see @TheNewGroupNYC peppy revival of the musical "Sweet Charity". Ms. Foster's goofy charm and great voice are sublime perfection, allowing one to look past the flaws in the show and some of the staging.
 | KenderTheater (@KenderTheater) |
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Lynn Nottage's working class focused new play "Sweat" @PublicTheaterNY is powerful & timely; it packs solid punches and sends a strong message of the need for solidarity rather than division and resentment. This production features fine acting, with standout performances by Johanna Day and Khris Davis.
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| KenderTheater (@KenderTheater) |
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The Off-Broadway stage production of "Dead Poets Society" @classicstage features fine acting in support of this solid, if uninspired, adaptation of the film.
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| KenderTheater (@KenderTheater) |
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Broadway mounting of "Natasha, Pierre & The Great Comet of 1812" is terrifically entertaining, with stunning staging and design elements in an entirely transformed Imperial Theater. The show is greatly improved over prior Off-Broadway incarnations of the show. The underlying work borders on mediocre, but is greatly enhanced by the outstanding physical production elements. Josh Groban is surprisingly good in his Broadway debut, although his powerful singing is more notable than his somewhat limited acting range.
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| KenderTheater (@KenderTheater) |
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An astoundingly great performance by Leon Addison Brown elevates @SignatureTheatr fine revival of Atol Fugard's apartheid era South African play "Master Harold & The Boys."
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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. | |
