VIEWPOINTS – Streaming Diary: RUSSIAN TROLL FARM and a pair of past West End shows (FROM HERE TO ETERNITY & BEING SHAKESPEARE)

Here are my thoughts on recently-streamed theater content. RUSSIAN TROLL FARM: A WORKPLACE COMEDYTheaterWorks Hartford / TheatreSquared / The Civilians Just in time for last week’s U.S. presidential election was … Continue Reading →

THE HANGOVER REPORT – Robin Frohardt’s immersive THE PLASTIC BAG STORE is a playful but clear-eyed depiction of a bleak future

This past weekend, I was lucky enough to snag a coveted ticket to one of the final performances of The Plastic Bag Store, theater artist Robin Frohardt’s sneakily urgent cautionary … Continue Reading →

VIEWPOINTS – Streaming Diary: Breslin & Foley’s CIRCLE JERK, Claudia Rankine’s NOVEMBER, and Sarah Kane’s CRAVE

This week, I found myself escaping Election Day anxiety by streaming a couple of plays online. Here are my thoughts on them. CIRCLE JERKFake Friends For hilarious but provocative escapism, … Continue Reading →

VIEWPOINTS – A roundup of recent in-person theatrical experiences: ELECTRIC FEELING MAYBE, TEMPING, GHOUL-A-RAMA, etc.

Happily, creatively rendered in-person theatrical happenings have continued to come out of the woodworks. Here is a roundup of my thoughts on some recent experiences. ELECTRIC FEELING MAYBETarget Margin Theater … Continue Reading →

THE HANGOVER REPORT – Revisiting the landmark “Warehouse” Shakespeare Trilogy: JULIUS CAESAR, HENRY IV, and THE TEMPEST

This Halloween weekend, I binge-watched the superb film captures of the landmark “Warehouse” Shakespeare Trilogy, which was originally staged by Phyllida LLoyd for the Donmar Warehouse in London. I had … Continue Reading →

THE HANGOVER REPORT – THE THIRD DAY’s immersive, durational appendix turns out to be its show-stopping calling card

This week, I delved into the world of HBO’s The Third Day, the brainchild of Felix Barrett (artistic director of marquee immersive theater company Punchdrunk) and Dennis Kelly (writer of … Continue Reading →

VIEWPOINTS – Streaming Diary: The late, great Brian Dennehy in a landmark DEATH OF A SALESMAN, Irish Rep’s A TOUCH OF THE POET, and Woolly Mammoth’s telephonic HUMAN RESOURCES

Here are my thoughts on two recent viewings and one interesting telephone call. DEATH OF A SALESMANGoodman Theatre One of the most impactful and influential experiences in all my theatergoing … Continue Reading →

VIEWPOINTS – A variety of live, in-person performances continue to trickle in: WARTIME CANTEEN FOR A NEW ERA, RANDOM ACTS, and BLOOD MANOR

In a recent post, I wrote about the slow emergence of in-person performances in the city. Since then, more theater artists have braved the desolate waters that has become the … Continue Reading →

VIEWPOINTS – Streaming Diary: V’s moving docudrama THAT KINDNESS, Anne Washburn’s ambitious but wildly uneven SHIPWRECK, and NYCB’s well-balanced season continues

Autumn in New York typically correlates with a noticeable uptick in the number of offerings available for consumption for performing arts lovers. Although everything is basically virtual these days, the … Continue Reading →

VIEWPOINTS – Streaming Diary: A newly urgent ANGELS IN AMERICA (excerpts) & FAR AWAY; escaping into art in GIVE ME YOUR HAND & ZOO MOTEL

Here are my thoughts on some of last week’s viewings. A pair of classics, newly urgent Caryl Churhill and Tony Kushner are indisputably two of our most visionary playwrights, conjuring … Continue Reading →