“Boys In The Band” Is A Mixed Bag

KenderTheater (‪@KenderTheater‬)

5/30/18, 6:16 PM

While there are admirable elements in the Broadway revival of "The Boys in The Band," the acting and the play itself are uneven in quality.  Joe Mantello's direction effectively mines the play's humor in the play's first half, but the pacing and pathos in the second half feel off-kilter and unconvincing.   The fault here lies in the play itself, not the direction.  Still, as a historical theatrical artifact, I am glad I saw this production notwithstanding the reality that the resonance of the play has not aged well.

Playwrights Horizons Scores With "Dance Nation"; "Summer" Fails To Sizzle

The most inventive and entertaining off-Broadway show I saw on my recent visit to New York was "Dance Nation" at Playwright's Horizons.  Exploring the emotions and travails of 13 year-olds in a female competitive dance troupe, this well cast and finely directed (by Lee Sunday Evans) work unfolds like a mash-up of "The Wolves," "Small Mouth Sounds" and an Annie Baker play.  I do not mean to suggest that it is not seem original, because it feels fresh and explores topics that are rarely if ever explored on stage.  "Dance Nation" genuinely addresses teen issues in ways that the new musical "Mean Girls" does not even come close.

I also was glad to catch "This Flat Earth" at Playwright Horizons, which addresses gun violence issues in an interesting and thoughtful way.  However, several plot points do not come across credibly and create unnecessary distractions.

I was not so pleased with the new Broadway musical "Summer: The Donna Summer Musical."  This title aptly conveys the lack of originality in this bio-musical.  As a general rule, I do not care for jukebox musicals, especially when they do little more than go through selected life events of the music's creator(s).  This wan production is no exception to that rule.  Nevertheless, the three actresses sharing the role of Donna Summer are great vocalists, especially the supremely talented La Chanze, and several of the musical numbers are entertaining.

Thoughtful "Mlima's Tale" Is Beautifully Staged

KenderTheater (‪@KenderTheater‬)

4/22/18, 11:27 PM

‪Lynn Nottage's new play "Mlima's Tale" at ‪@PublicTheaterNY‬ is a unique, thoughtful, beautifully staged examination of illegal ivory trading that uses it's subject matter to expose larger systemic corruption and greed issues.

A very fine cast, most of whom play multiple roles, tell this tale with clarity and precision under Jo Bonney's expert direction.  Sahr Ngaujah's haunting portrayal of the titled character (an elephant) is mesmerizing and moving.

Tuneful Score Propels "Miss You Like Hell"

KenderTheater (‪@KenderTheater‬)

4/22/18, 5:26 PM

#MissYouLikeHell ‪@PublicTheaterNY‬ explores timely immigration issues while sporting a beautiful score and breakout performance from #GizelJimenez

Ravishing “My Fair Lady” Revival is a Triumph

KenderTheater (‪@KenderTheater‬)

4/21/18, 11:37 PM

‪Bartlett Sher's Lincoln Center revival of "My Fair Lady" ‪is a ravishing & revelatory triumph. The entire cast is great, but the most astonishing surprise is the Broadway musical debut of Lauren Ambrose as Eliza whose perfectly calibrated and beautifully sung performance gives the show its heart and its purpose.

Lerner & Lowe's "My Fair Lady" is rightfully considered one of the finest (and many say the singular finest) musicals of it's era.  But it is difficult show to make inoffensively current today.  But Mr. Sher, well aided by Ms. Ambrose, find a way to subtly tweak & mold the classic musical into an exploration of female & class empowerment.  If you think the world does not need another production of "My Fair Lady," this production will prove that thinking wrong.   

"Mean Girls" Lacks Depth

KenderTheater (‪@KenderTheater‬)

4/20/18, 12:05 PM

The just opened Broadway stage musical adaptation of Tina Fay's "Mean Girls" features a talented cast and canny staging, but lacks originality and a genuine emotional core.   It is best described as a cotton candy musical, because at the end you realize that there is nothing of substance in it.  It is the polar opposite of the Broadway season's best new musical "The Band's Visit" in that "Mean Girls" is busy on its surface but lacks any depth.  In contrast, "The Band's Visit" seems quite simple on its surface, but has deep oceans of depth underneath that stays with you long after its curtain falls.

Intriguing "Empathitrax" Elevated By Fine Cast & Production Design

KenderTheater (@KenderTheater) 4/12/18, 10:57 PM Ana Nogueira's "Empathitrax" is a intriguing and thoughtful play that uses a fictional "empathy drug" to explore relationship, intimacy and mental health issues.  The play is funny and engaging until it loses steam in its final scenes, but is is elevated by a very fine production featuring terrific a terrific trio of actors & an outstanding set design by SMU Meadow's MFA student Amelia Bransky.

“Three Tall Women” Exquisitely Revived

Edward Albee's ‪"Three Tall Women" is now being exquisitely revived on Broadway starring Glenda Jackson, Laurie Metcalf and Alison Pill.  Ms. Jackson and Ms. Metcalf are sheer perfection in their roles, and if Ms. Jackson does not win a Tony for her performance she will have been robbed.  Joe Mantello's direction is elegantly superb and the set design is beautifully inventive.  Don't miss this outstanding production of a great play.

“Carousel” Revival Is An Epic Disaster

Except for some fine singing of its beautiful score, the Broadway revival of Rodgers & Hammerstein's "Carousel"  is an epic disaster. The acting is flat & directionless, the sets and costumes are distractingly bad and most unforgivingly, there is not an ounce of emotional connection on stage. 

Yes, Joshua Henry has the vocal chops for Billy, but if, as here, there is no chemistry with Julie, his singing loses its poignancy.  Jessie Mueller's (Julie) acting is flat and adopts a distracting accent at odds with the rest of the cast.  Lindsay Mendez plays her role way too broad and seems to be in a different show than everyone else.

Primary fault for this misfire has to lie with the director Jack O'Brien who needs to retire from directing musicals after his horrible revival of "Sound of Music" and now ruining "Carousel."  You are advised to stay away from this turkey.

“Low Road” Aims High

KenderTheater (‪@KenderTheater‬)

3/5/18, 3:10 PM

Kudos to ‪@PublicTheaterNY‬ for bringing to its stage Bruce Norris' ambitious time traveling economic- focused historical comedy #TheLowRoad. The show's huge, expert cast is fluidly directed by Michael Grief and makes this a show worth seeing, notwithstanding that its themes can be a bit repetitive and the show runs a little long.

Terrific Cast Makes For A Fine “Lobby Hero”

KenderTheater (‪@KenderTheater‬)

3/5/18, 2:59 PM

A terrific four person cast with considerable tv and film credits enlivens the revival of Kenneth Lonergan's “Lobby Hero” ‪@2STNYC‬ newly refurbished Hayes Theater. All 4 actors are very good, but I was especially impressed with Bryan Three Henry’s performance, and was pleasantly surprised by how good Chris Evans was given the paucity of theater credits in his bio.

Albee’s “Zoo” Plays Smartly Revived

KenderTheater (‪@KenderTheater‬)

3/4/18, 11:50 AM

Edward Albee's #AtHomeattheZoo is given a pitch perfect production ‪@SignatureTheatr‬ that should not be missed. A trio of actors bring these smartly combined one acts to vivid life.

“Hangmen” Is Chillingly Great

KenderTheater (‪@KenderTheater‬)

3/3/18, 11:38 PM

Master storyteller & playwright Martin McDonagh does it again with #HangmenATC ‪@AtlanticTheater‬ a very funny dark comedy that is given a sterling production with mesmerizing lead performances by Mark Addy & Johnny Flynn. Theater does not get any better than this.

Great Cast Elevates “Jerry Springer”

KenderTheater (‪@KenderTheater‬)

3/3/18, 12:12 PM

A supremely talented cast that goes all in on the craziness that is "Jerry Springer The Opera" ‪@TheNewGroupNYC‬ makes for a fun, yet at times intentionally disturbing, evening.  While I enjoyed this production much more than the West End original, the show itself remains overly sophomoric for me.  But this talented (including great performances from Terrance Mann, Tiffany Mann, Luke Grooms and Justin Keyes), makes this production well worth seeing in the intimate space in which it is performed.

“Some Old Black Man” Worth Visiting

KenderTheater (‪@KenderTheater‬)

3/1/18, 10:46 PM

"Some Old Black Man" ‪@59E59‬ is a terrific two-hander play exploring generational, racial & class divides between parent & child. ‪Wendell Pierce and Phil McGlaston (understudying for Roger Robinson at the performance I saw) elevate the production and give emotionally powerful performances.