Saturday, October 27, 2018

A Stunning “Oklahoma” For Our Times

KenderTheater (‪@KenderTheater‬)

Daniel Fish's "Oklahoma" St. Ann's Warehouse is a stunning revelation that deep mines & then reconstructs the dark recesses of the R&H original, molding it into an entirely new work of art that blew my mind. The cast is outstanding, the orchestrations sublime.  Don't miss it.

Thursday, October 25, 2018

“Lifespan Of A Fact” Is Witty & Entertaining

KenderTheater (‪@KenderTheater‬)

10/26/18, 12:17 AM

‪@LifespanOfAFact‬ is a witty & delightfully entertaining comedy that features 3 great actors working at the top of their game. #DanielRadcliffe is especially great as a magazine fact checker. The premise of this play is unusual; the execution is masterful.

Wednesday, October 24, 2018

"Good Grief"

KenderTheater (‪@KenderTheater‬)

Ngozi Anyanwu's "Good Grief" at the Vineyard Theatre did not work for me.  The writing is sub-par and relies too much on narration.  the play's limited dramatic arc makes its 90 minute running time seem much longer.  Its attempts at humor are sitcom-like and the play's sharp tonal shifts that seem more forced than organic.  Some of the audience members around me seemed to like this production, but I could not wait for it to end.

“Days of Rage” Disappoints.

KenderTheater (‪@KenderTheater‬)

Steven Levenson's Vietnam War era themed new play "Days of Rage" Second Stage Theater features some fine acting, but the play itself lacks credibility and believability.   The play never engaged me and left me cold, which is especially disappointing given that I had the opposite reaction to Levenson's "If I Forget."

Wednesday, September 26, 2018

An Enchanting “Once”

KenderTheater (‪@KenderTheater‬)

"Once" now playing at Dallas' Theatre 3 is a beautiful production of a sublime musical with a multi-talented cast anchored by a breathtaking lead performance by ‪@cora_winstead‬.  The staging is inventive and utilizes the Theatre 3 intimate stage to heighten the show's inherent intimacy.  Don't miss this show.

Friday, August 31, 2018

Public Works Dallas’ “The Winter’s Tale” Is Joyously Entertaining

KenderTheater (‪@KenderTheater‬)

There cannot be a more joyous, inclusive & entertaining place to experience this holiday weekend than at Dallas Theater Center where #PublicWorksDallas "The Winter's Tale" opened tonight to sustained standing ovations. Go standby if you cannot get a reserved ticket, just don't miss this.

Thursday, August 23, 2018

A Divinely Inspired “Hand To God” in Addison

KenderTheater (‪@KenderTheater‬)

"Hand To God" @WTTheatre‬ in Addison is a rousing success. Expertly staged and acted, this production features an outstanding lead performance from #ParkerGray as Jason/Tyrone. See it before it closes on Sunday 8/26.

Saturday, August 04, 2018

This “Fiddler” Is Vunderlekh (Translation- Wonderful in Yiddish!)

KenderTheater (‪@KenderTheater‬)

‪National Yiddish Folksbiene Theater's ‬ "Fiddler On The Roof" at the Museum of Jewish Heritage is enormously moving, wonderfully cast & smartly directed by Joel Grey.  Performing the show in Yiddish (with English and Russian subtitles) adds to the show's emotion and authenticity.  This is by far, the best "Fiddler" I have seen.

Wednesday, August 01, 2018

“Mary Page Marlowe” Is Beautifully Rendered

KenderTheater (‪@KenderTheater‬)

8/1/18, 7:59 AM

Tracy Letts' #MaryPageMarlowe ‪@2STNYC‬ is a beautifully written & rendered exploration of one seemingly unremarkable woman's life, an examination that feels real, heartfelt & universal. Highly recommended.

Monday, July 30, 2018

A Funny & Smart Richard III Adaptation at the Public

KenderTheater (‪@KenderTheater‬)

7/30/18, 3:05 PM

I was fortunate to catch the last performance of ‪@MaYiTheater‬ #TeenageDick ‪@PublicTheaterNY‬. This is a smart and very funny riff on Richard III, with especially fine performances from #GreggMozgala #ShannonDeVito & #TiffanyVillarin.

Sunday, July 29, 2018

“Head Over Heels” Stumbles

randy kender (‪@randykender‬)

7/29/18, 7:00 PM

#HeadOverHeels the new Go Gos musical has a fine cast but is too pointless and tries too hard to be funny (which for the most part it is not). A misfire.

“The Damned” Is A Powerful Cautionary Tale That Is All Too Real

KenderTheater (‪@KenderTheater‬)

7/29/18, 11:34 AM

#IvoVonHove's disturbingly powerful #TheDamned ‪@ParkAveArmory‬ was stunningly staged and expertly acted by actors from France's Comedie-Francaise. The complicity that enabled the Nazis depicted in the play make this a timely and resonant cautionary tale.

This “House” Is An Entertaining Romp

KenderTheater (‪@KenderTheater‬)

7/29/18, 11:25 AM

Marcus Gardley's "The House That Will Not Stand" ‪@NYTW79‬ is an entertaining Lorca-inspired romp that explores themes of race and freedom in early 19th Century New Orleans. Lynda Gravatt gives another great performance as the family matriarch.

Saturday, July 28, 2018

Don’t Miss “Straight White Men”

KenderTheater (‪@KenderTheater‬)

A perfect cast, led by Armie Hammer and Josh Charles, and meticulous direction (by Anna D. Shapiro) combine to make Young Jean Lee's "Straight White Men" at Second Stage's Hayes Theater a must see production.  I had seen a prior production of this play in 2015, directed by the playwright, at the Kirk Douglas Theater in LA, and found the play to be lifeless and too opaque.  Imagine my surprise when I visited the current Broadway production of the same play (albeit somewhat revised from its 2015 incarnation) and found it enormously entertaining and its powerful themes well delineated.  For me, this play went from a bummer in 2015 to a stunner today. 

Friday, July 27, 2018

"Carmen Jones" Is Smarty Revised and Beautifully Sung

KenderTheater (‪@KenderTheater‬)

The smartly revised "Carmen Jones" ‪@classicstage‬ is beautifully sung, perfectly cast and makes a dated and cliched plot entertaining. John Doyle's deft direction and edits allow the score's operatic beauty to shine.  Anika Noni Rose is an enchanting Carmen who commands the stage for every moment of her presence.