THE HANGOVER REPORT – LABUTE NEW THEATER FESTIVAL 2019 provocatively exposes the true American mindset, even if the playwriting ultimately proves inconsequential

Before closing last weekend, I had the opportunity to catch the 2019 edition of the LaBute New Theater Festival at Off-Broadway’s Davenport Theatre. This year’s lineup of one-act plays included “The Fourth Reich”, “Great … Continue Reading →

VIEWPOINTS – Helen Banner’s INTELLIGENCE & Jessie Dickey’s THE CONVENT: Two forceful, uneven plays about women taking charge of their lives, at a price

This past weekend, I caught two new Off-Broadway plays about women forcefully taking charge of their lives, often times at a painful price. These plays strike me as thematic progressions … Continue Reading →

THE HANGOVER REPORT – The disjointed but beautifully produced MAESTRO is a two-for-one deal of theater and classical music

Yesterday afternoon at the Duke on 42nd Street, I caught Ensemble for the Romantic Century’s latest theatrical portrait of an artist. In this case, the life examined was that of … Continue Reading →

THE HANGOVER REPORT – Elevator Repair Service’s rightfully legendary GATZ returns to New York

This weekend, I caught the rightfully legendary production of Gatz, Elevator Repair Service’s audacious, hugely theatrical (set in a drab, oppressive office space, of all places!) verbatim staging of F. Scott Fitzgerald’s classic … Continue Reading →

THE HANGOVER REPORT – Roundabout’s Broadway revival of Sam Shepard’s TRUE WEST simmers when it should combust

This week, the Broadway revival of Sam Shepard’s classic play True West opened at the American Airlines Theatre courtesy of Roundabout Theatre Company. Mr. Shepard’s seminal play – a Pulitzer Prize finalist in … Continue Reading →

THE HANGOVER REPORT – Théâtre de la Ville’s production of IONESCO SUITE viscerally uncovers our shared humanity through the art of clowning

Last night, I caught Théâtre de la Ville’s production of Ionesco Suite at the Brooklyn Academy of Music’s BAM Fisher space. The staging is essentially a mash-up of five disparate works (not … Continue Reading →

THE HANGOVER REPORT – Amy Staats’ skin-deep EDDIE AND DAVE is playful but ultimately tiresome

Last night, Amy Staats’ Eddie and Dave opened Off-Broadway at Atlantic Stage 2 courtesy of Atlantic Theater Company. I was a big fan of Ms. Staats’ satire Miles for Mary – I saw both of … Continue Reading →

THE HANGOVER REPORT – Colin Quinn’s patch work solo show RED STATE BLUE STATE is a pessimistic state of the union address

Last night, Colin Quinn’s solo show Red State Blue State opened Off-Broadway at the Minetta Lane Theatre. Like our federation of fifty states, Mr. Quinn’s latest monologue-cum-standup comedy routine is a patch work … Continue Reading →

THE HANGOVER REPORT – Calvin Trillin’s small-boned ABOUT ALICE is a tender, urbane love letter to his wife and muse

This week in Brooklyn, About Alice, the stage adaptation of humorist Calvin Trillin’s best-selling 2006 memoir/tribute to his wife and muse of the same name, opened at Theatre for a … Continue Reading →

THE HANGOVER REPORT – Debussy’s singular PELLÉAS ET MÉLISANDE is done proud by Met maestro Yannick Nézet-Séguin

Tonight, I caught a rare performance of Pelléas et Mélisande at the Metropolitan Opera. In my book, any chance to to see and hear Debussy’s sole opera live in the opera house … Continue Reading →