THE HANGOVER REPORT – Terrence McNally’s FIRE AND AIR investigates the turbulent circumstances of creating art

Last night, I attended a performance of Classic Stage Company’s production of the highly-anticipated Fire and Air by celebrated playwright Terrence McNally. The play chronicles the turbulent, often times painful, circumstances of … Continue Reading →

THE HANGOVER REPORT – Paul Alexander’s TRINKETS strives and stumbles, but still shines

Last weekend (its closing weekend), I caught a performance of the return engagement of Paul Alexander’s Trinkets at the Gene Frankel Theatre in the East Village. The musical depicts the eclectic experiences … Continue Reading →

THE HANGOVER REPORT – Adrienne Kennedy’s HE BROUGHT HER HEART BACK IN A BLACK BOX at TFANA is slight, stylized, and expansive

Before its limited run ends this weekend, I got a chance to catch the world premiere of Adrienne Kennedy’s He Brought Her Heart Back in a Black Box at Theatre for a New … Continue Reading →

THE HANGOVER REPORT – HEY, LOOK ME OVER!, via Encores!, is mandatory viewing for “men in their chairs”

Tonight, I caught Encores! production of Hey, Look Me Over! Haven’t heard of the musical? That’s because the show, which only runs through February 11th, is a revue comprised of musicals that … Continue Reading →

THE HANGOVER REPORT – Donizetti’s L’ELISIR D’AMORE receives an appealing revival, courtesy of Bartlett Sher, from a solid cast

Tonight, I caught a performance of Donizetti’s L’Elisir d’Amore at the Metropolitan Opera, in a refreshingly traditional, intimate staging by go-to Tony-winning director Bartlett Sher (he’ll be represented back at Lincoln Center … Continue Reading →

VIEWPOINTS – [PORTO], IN THE BODY OF THE WORLD, and HINDLES WAKE: Feminist playwrighting then and now

These are interesting times for feminist thought and activity in this country. Not surprisingly, this collective shift in balance is being reflected in a recent crop of productions in New York… … Continue Reading →

THE HANGOVER REPORT – Off-Broadway’s HANGMEN is a ferocious, and welcome, return to form by Martin McDonagh

Last night, Martin McDonagh’s Hangmen opened Off-Broadway at the Atlantic Theater Company. I’m happy to report that the play marks a ferocious, and deeply welcome, return to form by the hugely talented … Continue Reading →

THE HANGOVER REPORT – Yannick Nézet-Séguin triumphantly steers Wagner’s singular PARSIFAL at the Met

Last night, the Metropolitan Opera opened this season’s run of Richard Wagner’s singular Parsifal, led by the company’s incoming music director Yannick Nézet-Séguin. By all accounts, it was a triumph. There really … Continue Reading →

VIEWPOINTS – Enda Walsh then and now: Galvanizing productions of DISCO PIGS and BALLYTURK light up New York

Over the last two decades, Enda Walsh has emerged as one of the most distinctive and uncompromising voices in contemporary theater, joining the ranks of Conor McPherson and Martin McDonagh … Continue Reading →

THE HANGOVER REPORT – Greg Pierce’s CARDINAL at Second Stage is daffy satire until it isn’t

Tonight, Greg Pierce’s new play Cardinal opened at Off-Broadway’s Second Stage Theatre. The piece is, on the surface, most identifiable as a satire on the death of traditional American values … Continue Reading →