THE HANGOVER REPORT – TWO BY FRIEL: A pair of one-act plays about the potency and fragility of love from the Irish master quietly beguiles

It’s been a while since I’ve caught a Brian Friel play. The late great Irish playwright (he passed away in 2015 and is strongly missed), one of the indisputable masters … Continue Reading →

THE HANGOVER REPORT – Raul Esparza electrifies in John Doyle’s focused, relevant revival of THE RESISTIBLE RISE OF ARTURO UI

This afternoon, I caught John Doyle’s exceptional revival of Bertolt Brecht’s The Resistible Rise of Arturo Ui for Classic Stage Company. As translated by George Tabori, the episodic, eventful play tells the story of … Continue Reading →

THE HANGOVER REPORT – Michael Bennett’s legendary, seamlessly constructed original staging of A CHORUS LINE remains a staggering achievement

Arguably the headliner of New York City Center’s 75th anniversary season is the gala revival of A Chorus Line, which I caught last night. No other show in my mind is … Continue Reading →

THE HANGOVER REPORT – Hansol Jung’s WILD GOOSE DREAMS is lost in translation in several respects

Last night, Hansol Jung’s Wild Goose Dreams opened Off-Broadway at the Public Theater. Largely set in Seoul, the play tells the story of a pair of unlikely star-crossed lovers – … Continue Reading →

THE HANGOVER REPORT – Glenn Close is majestic in MOTHER OF THE MAID, Jane Anderson’s effective, sturdy new play

Last night at the Public Theater, I caught Jane Anderson’s highly anticipated new play Mother of the Maid, headlined by legendary stage and screen icon Glenn Close. Ms. Anderson’s play tells the familiar … Continue Reading →

THE HANGOVER REPORT – Ngozi Anyanwu’s GOOD GRIEF explores the depths of young loss, richly and soulfully

This past weekend, I caught Ngozi Anyanwu’s rich, soulful new play Good Grief at the Vineyard Theatre. The play recounts a potent, budding romance between two childhood friends, Nkechi and MJ. When … Continue Reading →

VIEWPOINTS – WAITING FOR GODOT & THOM PAIN (BASED ON NOTHING): Kindred spirits Beckett and Eno reflect an anxiety-ridden world

This weekend, it was fascinating to be able to take in Samuel Beckett’s seminal Waiting for Godot in back-to-back viewings with Will Eno’s Thom Pain (based on nothing) – both in superb productions. That’s because … Continue Reading →

THE HANGOVER REPORT – Lloyd Suh’s mesmerizing THE CHINESE LADY sheds much needed light on the Chinese-American experience

Last night, Lloyd Suh’s new play The Chinese Lady opened Off-Broadway at Theatre Row, courtesy of Ma-Yi Theater Company. The staging is a co-production with Pittsfield, MA’s Barrington Stage Company, where it had previously … Continue Reading →

THE HANGOVER REPORT – 20 years on, Aasif Mandvi revisits his bittersweet SAKINA’S RESTAURANT, and it’s sadly as relevant as ever

Last night – fittingly, election night – I caught Sakina’s Restaurant at the Minetta Lane Theatre. The solo show is written by and stars the charismatic Aasif Mandvi, who returns … Continue Reading →

THE HANGOVER REPORT – Larissa FastHorse’s hardworking satire THE THANKSGIVING PLAY earns its plentiful laughs

Last night, Playwrights Horizons’ production of Larissa FastHorse’s new play, the aptly-named The Thanksgiving Play, opened Off-Broadway at the Peter Jay Sharp Theatre. The play depicts the creation of a devised, politically-correct elementary … Continue Reading →