Theatre Report #2

Well another week+ has gone by, and I've lots to report on, but not much time to hammer this email out. I'm going to Nassau for a long weekend - hurray.

Here's what I've seen since the last Theatre Report:

La Cage aux Folles -- Grade: C

This one didn't work for me. I remember loving it 20 years ago, but not tonight. It was less engaging, with weaker performances, and (a big AND) it was much less timely. I don't know whether to blame the actors, the director, or the march of time, but I just didn't care very much about the characters this time. The singing of the main characters was as "ordinary" as I've ever seen in a New York City production. The chorus was wonderful, however. The dancing was spectacular. Unfortunately (for me) I'm not a big fan of dance. If you used to love the June Taylor dancers on TV, then by all means go see this show; otherwise pass on it.

Modern Orthodox -- Grade: B-

I was torn on this one. It was very funny, but kind of offensive. Jason Biggs is extraordinarily funny, but it's very low comedy - think of it as the "American Pie" of Orthodox Judaism. The rest of the cast, including Molly Ringwald - ordinarily one of my favorites, was basically bland and invisible.

The Rivals -- Grade: C+

This is a lavish, spectacularly cast performance of Sheridan's slapstick comedy about a man competing with himself for the hand of a fair maiden. Somehow the humor, and even the plot, got lost amongst the costumes, actors, and sets. Rona thinks that they screwed up the timing, and she's quite likely right. Unfortunately, I cannot remember enough details about the show to agree with her. The production at the Pearl Theatre a few months ago was much better.

Charlie and the Chocolate Factory -- Grade A

A very nice elementary school play. It's been enough years since I've seen Willy Wonka, and there are enough fond memories there, that I loved this show. I'm really looking to the upcoming Johnny Depp movie.

The House of Bernarda Alba -- Grade: B

Somehow I never read this in college. Everybody that I have discussed it with has already read it in school. (One of you even read it in the original Spanish!) I really liked the show. It paints a very poignant picture of life in rural Spain in the early 20th century. It's a slow paced show, and I liked it, so it must be good. It's at the Pearl Theatre, mentioned above in the comments about "The Rivals".

That's it for this 'issue'.

Theatre Report #1

A couple of people who got my New Year's e-card 'complained' that I should have 'warned' them about good plays before the play(s) closed. So, I've decided to do just that. Every week or so (or three or so), I'm going to send out a brief report of what I've seen and what I've liked. I'm only sending this to folks that I think will be interested. If you're not interested, just let me know and I'll take your name off the mailing list. My feelings will not be hurt. :-)

[Note: If you're reading this here (in the blog), obviously there is no email or mailing list. In fact, the above paragraph has been retained only for completeness.]

Also, I'll try to keep my comments very short. These are suggestions, not full-fledged reviews. And to make it even briefer, I've included a grade, from A-F, that summarizes my feelings about the shows.

This first "issue" will cover four shows - all of them pretty good.

The Baltimore Waltz - Grade B

I liked this show somewhat. It's very confusing, but I still liked it. Some of the confusion was cleared up when I read, after the play, that it was written by Paula Vogel right after her brother died of AIDS. It's a humorous (!) play about AIDS (or more specifically about the fictitious disease ATD), and about a brother-sister pair, one of whom has this newly discovered disease. It's far from clear which one has the disease and which one is caring for the other, but it does work itself out. How bad can any play be that leans heavily on Orson Welles, Peter Sellers, and a fluffy white bunny?

A Number - Grade A

This is a very good play. Sam Shepard is excellent, but you probably won't be able to see him. The play has been extended beyond its original 1/16 closing date, but Sam Shepard will be leaving on 1/16. He does a very good job of underplaying his role as a man exploring his relationship(s) with his adult son(s). The play, if you haven't read about it, is about cloning - not from a religious or moral perspective, but from an interpersonal perspective. I tell you this, not to spoil the show for you (the actors tell you this in the first minute), but to let you think a bit about cloning before you go. For those of us who are fascinated by the personal problems of cloning, this is quite a play. Even without Sam Shepard, see it if at all possible.

The Trial - Grade B
An excellent play based on the Kafka novel: Quite interesting, very ambiguous. Maybe it's about a man and his battles with the law, maybe it's about a man and his battles with his conscience, maybe it's about social justice - a poor man who doesn't understand for what crime he's been sentenced to poverty. I wish I could say this is a "must see" as I love the group that's doing it, but it's not quite good enough to be a must see. Do see it, however, if you like Kafka, or existentialism, or even philosophical bantering.

Fat Pig - Grade A

This is Neil LaBute's latest effort, and it's very good. He's not to everybody's liking (a bit nasty spirited and generally not upbeat), but if you can deal with his style, then you should like this play. I don't think it's giving away too much to tell you that it's about a relationship between a considerably overweight young woman and a very attractive (not overweight) young man.

About My OffTheStem Blog

For a few years now, I've sent out an annual Happy New Year card which, among other things, lists my favorite play(s) of the previous year.

A couple of people who got my New Year's e-card 'complained' that I should have 'warned' them about good plays before the play(s) closed. So, I decided to do just that. At first, I created an email mailing list, and every week or so (or three or so), I sent out a brief report of what I'd seen and what I liked. I only sent this to friends that I thought would be interested.

Then I decided to convert this into a blog, and OffTheStem was born.

Also, I'll try to keep my comments very short. These are suggestions, not full-fledged reviews. And to make it even briefer, I've included a grade, from A-F, that summarizes my feelings about the shows.