THE HANGOVER REPORT – The Flea’s revival of Thomas Bradshaw’s SOUTHERN PROMISES observes the Antebellum with deadpan gaze

I recently had a chance to catch the Off-Broadway revival of Thomas Bradshaw’s 2008 play Southern Promises at The Flea Theater. The Flea has long been a supporter and nurturer of … Continue Reading →

THE HANGOVER REPORT – Mara Nelson-Greenberg’s DO YOU FEEL ANGER? examines the gulf between the sexes, and whatnot

This past weekend, I caught Mara Nelson-Greenberg’s new play Do You Feel Anger? Off-Broadway at the Vineyard Theatre. The semi-surrealist play tells the story of an empathy coach who has … Continue Reading →

THE HANGOVER REPORT – Aaron Posner’s LIFE SUCKS uncannily updates and unlocks “Uncle Vanya” for contemporary audiences

In recent years, playwright Aaron Posner has become primarily associated with his trio of barbed contemporary riffs on three classic Chekhov plays – the provocatively named Stupid Fucking Bird, No Sisters, and Life Sucks (respectively after The Seagull, … Continue Reading →

THE HANGOVER REPORT – The sensational AIN’T TOO PROUD is easily the best bio-jukebox musical since “Jersey Boys”

Last night at the Imperial Theatre, I attended what in my opinion is easily the best jukebox musical – and certainly a strong contender for top honors at the end … Continue Reading →

THE HANGOVER REPORT – Janáček’s slight DIARY OF ONE WHO DISAPPEARED is given a tastefully vague staging by Ivo van Hove

For just a handful of performances this past week as part of Brooklyn Academy of Music’s winter/spring season, Flemish opera company Muziektheater Transparant’s production of Leoš Janáček’s Diary of One Who Disappeared played the … Continue Reading →

THE HANGOVER REPORT – Andrea Burns as Judy Holliday in SMART BLONDE shouldn’t be missed

This week at 59E59 Theaters (in a co-presentation with MBL Productions), I had the great opportunity of catching a performance of Smart Blonde, Willy Holtzman’s Off-Broadway play – with lots of music – about … Continue Reading →

THE HANGOVER REPORT – John Doyle’s unsurprisingly minimalist revival of THE CRADLE WILL ROCK works as a tone poem, sans the anger

This week, John Doyle’s revival of Marc Blitzstein’s The Cradle Will Rock opened Off-Broadway at Classic Stage Company. The highly political so-called “play in music” – which is perhaps best known for being actively  opposed … Continue Reading →

THE HANGOVER REPORT – Mabou Mines’ FAUST 2.0 bites off more than it can chew

This week, Mabou Mines’ Fasut 2.0, Matthew Maguire’s  ambitious take on Part II of Goethe’s masterpiece, opened Off-Broadway at the theater company’s renovated home in the East Village. For those of you … Continue Reading →

THE HANGOVER REPORT – John Guare’s masterful NANTUCKET SLEIGH RIDE is a youthful late-career effort

This past weekend at Off-Broadway’s Mitzi E. Newhouse Theater, I caught John Guare’s latest play Nantucket Sleigh Ride, courtesy of Lincoln Center Theater, an institution that has long been key to … Continue Reading →

THE HANGOVER REPORT – Ohad Naharin at the top of his game: VENEZUELA is obsessive and sexy

This weekend, I caught Ohad Naharin’s latest creation, a two-part, evening-length dance piece entitled Venezuela. The work, which was performed by Batsheva Dance Company (the choreographer’s acclaimed dance company), had its … Continue Reading →