A roundup look at three shows that opened Off-Broadway in April. Roundabout’s “Bobbie Clearly” struggles with tone while the Public’s “Miss You Like Hell” is lovely but muted. I highly recommend MCC Theater’s stunning “Transfers”.
All in Play
REVIEW: Public Theater Mobile Unit’s “Henry V”
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.
REVIEW: “Harry Potter and the Cursed Child” is Pure Magic
Harry Potter makes his Broadway debut in a new play that is an astonishing thrill ride packed with plentiful twists and turns in a production that marks a triumph of stagecraft and skillfully captures the spirit and sensibility of the beloved book series and film franchise. “Harry Potter and the Cursed Child” is pure magic, and a must-see for any Harry Potter fan or acolyte.
REVIEW: “The Metromaniacs”—comedic mania in verse
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.
REVIEW: Matthew Broderick in “The Seafarer”
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.
REVIEW: “Children of a Lesser God”
“Children of a Lesser God” is one play whose sell-by date has definitely passed; even given embers of a still burning debate about deaf culture and identity, this plodding and clinical revival is dull, stale, unremarkable, and problematic in its treatment of a relationship between a deaf student and her teacher. Despite strong performances by TV’s Joshua Jackson and deaf actor Lauren Ridloff, skip this one.
REVIEW: “This Flat Earth”
“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.
NOTES: “King Lear” at BAM
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.
REVIEW: Billie Piper astounds in “Yerma”
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.
REVIEW: A Transcendent and Timely “Angels in America”
Tony Kushner’s 1993 Pulitzer Prize-winning masterpiece “Angels in America” is back on Broadway in a transcendent and timely production sleekly staged by Marianne Elliot and featuring a superb ensemble cast; one of the greatest plays ever written and certainly the most important of the past 25 years, get tickets now or live to regret it.
REVIEW: Albee’s “Three Tall Women” Astonishes
Edward Albee’s 1994 Pulitzer Prize-winning masterpiece “Three Tall Women” is ferociously compelling under the smart hand of director Joe Mantello, and features a trio of astonishing performances by Glenda Jackson, Laurie Metcalf, and Alison Pill. This limited engagement of a towering work by a towering playwright and featuring three towering performances is not to be missed.
REVIEW: Kenneth Lonergan’s “Lobby Hero”
“Lobby Hero” is a funny, simple, and engaging play that follows the morally fraught actions of a quartet of uniformed personalities: two security guards and two police officers. Despite an anti-climactic ending, Michael Cera and Chris Evans give excellent performances and the play, touching on issues like workplace sexual harassment and racial bias in criminal justice, is eminently entertaining.