THE HANGOVER REPORT – Keen Company comes up with a lovingly wistful TRAVELS WITH MY AUNT

Under Jonathan Silverstein’s guidance, Keen Company has become one of those smallish Off-Broadway theater companies in the city that consistently stage solid, if at times safe, productions. Its fall entry … Continue Reading →

THE HANGOVER REPORT – Robert O’Hara’s BARBECUE is overcooked

In recent years, three young African American men have established themselves as some of the most exciting voices in contemporary playwriting. They are Tarell Alvin McCraney, Branden Jacobs-Jenkins, and Robert … Continue Reading →

THE HANGOVER REPORT – Two musicals that look to the past for inspiration open, to mixed results

This past weekend, two intriguing Off-Broadway musicals that look to the past for inspiration opened. They are the 1960s jukebox musical Trip of Love at the newly rechristened Stage 42 … Continue Reading →

VIEWPOINTS – Some disorienting time travel via Caryl Churchill’s CLOUD NINE and Joe DiPietro’s CLEVER LITTLE LIES

The other day, I (unintentionally) booked myself a fascinating double-header that really got me thinking. First, I attended a matinee performance of Caryl Churchill’s audacious, trailblazing Cloud Nine, courtesy of … Continue Reading →

THE HANGOVER REPORT – Company XIV’s sexy, playful CINDERELLA seduces

Company XIV has in recent years made a name for itself by turning safe, well-worn classics (like their naughty Nutcracker adaptation, Nutcracker Rouge, and their new production of Snow White … Continue Reading →

VIEWPOINTS – Hell is (the lack of) other people, according to THE CHRISTIANS and FULFILLMENT

This past weekend, I caught two new fascinating if uneven plays Off-Broadway. The Christians, Lucas Hnath’s sensitive new play at Playwrights Horizons, tells the story of Paul, the pastor of … Continue Reading →

THE HANGOVER REPORT – James Thierrée’s dark physical and visual spectacle TABAC ROUGE dazzles at BAM

Yesterday afternoon, I trekked to Brooklyn’s Fort Greene neighborhood to attend a performance of James Thierrée’s latest physical spectacle entitled Tabac Rouge. I’ve greatly admired James Thierrée and his company … Continue Reading →

THE HANGOVER REPORT – The baffling FONDLY, COLLETTE RICHLAND is more frustrating than thrilling

It’s taken me a few days to formalize and document my thoughts on Sibyl Kempson’s confounding Fondly, Collette Richland, as performed by the folks at the adventurous Elevator Repair Service … Continue Reading →

THE HANGOVER REPORT – DADDY LONG LEGS is sweetly predictable

Last night I saw the sweet, by-the-books musical two-hander Daddy Long Legs at Off-Broadway’s Davenport Theatre. The show is an adaptation of Jean Webster’s novel of the same name concerning … Continue Reading →

VIEWPONTS — A Look Back at this Year’s New York Musical Theatre Festival

Summers in New York abound with performing arts festivals that cover the gamut of performance genres (Shakespeare and the classics, new works, experimental theater, dance, international and local companies, opera … Continue Reading →