THE HANGOVER REPORT – David Rabe’s disappointing GOOD FOR OTTO gets sentimental, after-school-special style

Last week, I caught the Off-Broadway production David Rabe’s Good for Otto at The Pershing Square Signature Center. The staging is courtesy of The New Group, which currently has a big hit on … Continue Reading →

THE HANGOVER REPORT – Bruce Norris’s sprawling THE LOW ROAD is spirited and unabashedly critical

Last night, Bruce Norris’s eagerly-awaited new play The Low Road opened at The Public Theater. His latest work spins a sprawling 18th (and 21st) century rags-to-riches-to-rags-to-riches, only-in-America yarn worthy of Dickens. It tells … Continue Reading →

THE HANGOVER REPORT – Martyna Majok’s QUEENS is ambitious, if somewhat unfocused

Tonight, Martyna Majok’s anticipated new play queens opened Off-Broadway at the Claire Tow Theater, courtesy of Lincoln Center Theater. I was deeply impressed by Ms. Majok’s breakthrough play Ironbound when I first encountered it as … Continue Reading →

THE HANGOVER REPORT – Signature’s production of AT HOME AT THE ZOO: An incisive reminder of Albee’s singular voice

This weekend, I caught Signature Theatre Company’s sharp Off-Broadway revival of Edward Albee’s double bill, At Home at the Zoo: Homelife & The Zoo Story. If anything, the pairing – first staged … Continue Reading →

THE HANGOVER REPORT – Lindsey Ferrentino’s amusing, empowering AMY AND THE ORPHANS has heart to spare

Last night, Lindsey Ferrentino’s rich, amusing family comedy-drama Amy and the Orphans opened Off-Broadway at the Laura Pels Theatre, courtesy of Roundabout Theatre Company. Lindsey Ferrentino is playwright with plenty of Feelings – … Continue Reading →

VIEWPOINTS – BLACK LIGHT & THE BROBOT JOHNSON EXPERIENCE: Two solo musicals that excavate the past (and then some) to seek the truth

I recently attended a performance of Daniel Alexander Jones’s Black Light (RECOMMENDED) at the Public Theater. In this soulful, beguilingly fluttery solo musical, Mr. Jones takes on the persona of the regal Jomama … Continue Reading →

THE HANGOVER REPORT – Jordan Harrison’s THE AMATEURS at the Vineyard is bizarre, wondrous

Last night, Jordan Harrison’s bizarre and absolutely wonderful new play The Amateurs opened at the Vineyard Theatre. I’ve been a fan of Mr. Harrison’s  works in the past; Marjorie Prime at Playwrights Horizons … Continue Reading →

THE HANGOVER REPORT – James Inverne’s A WALK WITH HEIFETZ is a serious play about music, history

James Inverne’s A Walk with Heifetz is a play about music, history, and politics. Taking place before and after World War II in pre-Israel Palestine, the play tells the story of how the … Continue Reading →

THE HANGOVER REPORT – Jayne Houdyshell and Pascale Armand shine in an otherwise underwhelming RELEVANCE

Last night, JC Lee’s Relevance opened at Off-Broadway’s Lucille Lortel Theatre. The production is courtesy of MCC Theater, which must be commended, first and foremost, for successfully bringing to the stage, over … Continue Reading →

VIEWPOINTS – RETURNING TO REIMS & KINGS: Articulating the frustrations of a broken political system

This weekend, Schaubühne Berlin’s production of Returning to Reims (HGHLY RECOMMENDED) ended its limited run at St. Ann’s Warehouse in Brooklyn. The play contemplates – in a layered, deeply personal way – the frustrations of … Continue Reading →