All in Off-Broadway
The Public Theater's Mobile Unit presents a free production of “Henry V” for a short sit down at the Public following a 20 stop tour through the five boroughs. It’s bare bones and thrilling, infused with comedy by director Robert O’Hara. A comedic history play? Purists should stay away. Those looking to ease into Elizabethan text should check it out.
David Ives “translaptates” another obscure, 18th century French comedy in “The Metromaniacs”. This delicious romp is heady, frothy, and just downright fun; never mind the convoluted plot, just sit back and enjoy the clever wordplay and witty verse. No one does it better. If you like to laugh, this play is for you.
Conor McPherson’s “The Seafarer” receives a well-appointed and otherwise finely acted revival by the Irish Repertory Theatre that is besmirched by the miscasting of Matthew Broderick as a Mephistophelian antagonist central to the plot.
“This Flat Earth”, by Lindsey Ferrentino, unintentionally taps into the headlines to explore what happens when a school shooting shatters the world of a 13 year old survivor; while good ideas and questions abound, the play is unfocused and unrealistic, too lightly sketching its characters and lacking a central, cohesive, and convincing point of view.
The Royal Shakespeare Company is at the Brooklyn Academy of Music’s Harvey Theater with the U.S. premiere of their well-appointed 2016 production of “King Lear”, starring Sir Antony Sher. Director Gregory Doran presents a stately and unfussy production with a refreshingly diverse ensemble and striking visuals.
The Park Avenue Armory imports The Young Vic’s visceral, cinematic, and disturbing production of “Yerma” by Simon Stone, starring Billie Piper, who performs an astounding portrait of a woman’s descent into madness fueled by infertility. Do what you can to see this heart-stopping and jaw-dropping play.
“Goldstein” is an intimate, delightful, and tender new musical about familial bonds amid changing times; excellent performances and a classic 1960s musical theatre score make up for a lackluster book and underwhelming production values. Still, it is sweet, heartwarming, and relatable.
The Bengsons follow up on “Hundred Days” with another musical docu-concert, “The Lucky Ones”, which serves as a sort of prologue or prequel. Abundantly surprising, deeply intimate, and simply gorgeous, they have created another wonderful show that brims with rawness, honesty, and humanity.
“The Winter’s Tale”, one of Shakespeare’s notorious “problem plays”, is given a solid new production by Arin Arbus with a terrific troupe of actors. While not a canonical favorite of mine, this play offers fascinating insights, is well-designed and performed, and is sure to delight any lover of Shakespeare.
“Grand Hotel, The Musical” is a glorious gem from 1989, now presented in a full out, Broadway-quality production with a roster of superb performances that weave an evocative, sumptuous, and highly entertaining visit to 1928 Berlin. This is arguably the best production Encores! has presented since “Chicago” in 1996, and deserves a Broadway transfer. See it now so you can say you saw it when!
Billy Crudup is simply captivating and astonishing as he seamlessly summons 15 characters in David Cale’s one-person thriller “Harry Clarke”. At once funny, sexy, and scary, the elements of this crisp production exist in exquisite harmony, balanced and honed by the production team to achieve a memorable and chilling evening at the theatre. You do not want to miss Mr. Crudup’s performance in this superb play.
Two new plays that opened Off-Broadway recently document finer points of the immigrant experience—in the United Kingdom and the United States. "An Ordinary Muslim" and "queens" are long-winded but well-acted, and offer important, thought-provoking, and memorable perspectives that buck common perception, making for rewarding theatre.
