“The Parisian Woman” with Uma Thurman is a heavy handed and humorless political comedy that takes place now and captures everything we hate about politics, and the Trump era, in one 90-minute, 5-person play. Skip it, and watch the news instead.
All in Broadway
REVIEW: “Meteor Shower” is not earth shattering, but it is funny
“Meteor Shower”, an absurd new comedy, bears the unmistakable voice of its playwright, Steve Martin; Amy Schumer, Keegan-Michael Key, Laura Benanti, and Jeremy Shamos give hilarious performances, but the play lacks the clever and smart depth Mr. Martin usually provides. The limited run is nearly sold out anyway, so don’t feel bad if you miss this one.
REVIEW: John Leguizamo’s back on Broadway in “Latin History for Morons”
John Leguizamo is back on Broadway in a hilarious and piercing take on the conquest of invisibility that plagues Latin American history; with his singular voice, he teaches some good lessons in “Latin History for Morons”, serving low-brow comedy alongside meaningful, and necessary, social commentary.
NOTES: In defense of “Cats”, why you should see this iconic musical before it closes on Broadway
Why is it that “Cats” the musical is so often dismissed or, worse, even hated? In order to understand, we must first visit the unique origins of this unique musical. If you’ve never done it, see “Cats” on Broadway before it closes on December 30th and becomes a “Memory”.
REVIEW: “The Band’s Visit”—An intimately bold and beautiful new musical
“The Band’s Visit” by David Yazbek and Itamar Moses is an intimately bold and beautiful new musical that is unlike any you’ve seen before; a quiet celebration of the human spirit and the power of music, culture, and humor to connect us all, this show breaks the mold in fascinating and unexpected ways that are deeply moving and satisfying. Do not miss this perfect musical.
REVIEW: “Junk”—Ayad Akhtar’s Financial Thriller
“Junk” is a fast paced, financial thriller set in the 1980s that explores how our debt-laden, wealth-obsessed society came to be. There are no heroes and no hope to be found in this excellent new play by Ayad Akhtar (“Disgraced”), only a cautionary tale whose lesson it is too late to learn.
REVIEW: “M. Butterfly” Revival Lacks Fantasy
This much-anticipated revival of David Henry Hwang’s “M. Butterfly” falls flat, stripped of the ambiguity that feeds the fantasy central to the drama, in a clunky production with uneven performances that doom an otherwise timely play tackling gender, race, and international politics.
REVIEW: Time Hop in “Time and the Conways”
This mostly-forgotten play from 1938 receives a well-appointed revival by the Roundabout Theatre Company, disarming in its simplicity but haunting in its juxtaposition of the imagined future with its disappointing reality. But, ultimately, “Time and the Conways” operates better in idea than reality.
NOTES: Billy Porter, back and better than ever, in “Kinky Boots”
There’s never been a better time to see “Kinky Boots”—Billy Porter and Stark Sands are back in the show through January, and it is as fresh, fun, funny, and heartwarming as ever.
NOTES: See “A Doll’s House: Part 2” before Nora leaves again
“A Doll’s House: Part 2” was the best and most rewarding surprise of the 2016-2017 Broadway season - if you have a free night this week, grab a ticket to see it before it’s gone.
REVIEW: “The Terms of My Surrender” – Story Time with Michael Moore
Oscar-winning filmmaker Michael Moore’s mostly-one man show “Michael Moore: The Terms of My Surrender” opened on August 10th to middling, mildly-hostile reviews. Since Mr. Moore’s show was announced, I had wondered to myself: “what is this?” Last Tuesday, I found out.
NOTES: Checking in on “Bandstand” one last time
I checked in to see “Bandstand” one last time this week before it plays its final performance on Sunday, September 17th. The show isn’t perfect—few are—but “Bandstand” was my kind of musical.