Part I: DEATH OF A SALESMAN By Arthur Miller Directed by Miranda Cromwell Starring Wendell Pierce and Sharon D. Clarke Hudson Theatre Official Website Reviewed by David Spencer Where the classics are concerned, there’s legitimate reimagining through the prism of inclusion and diversity…and then there’s layer-adding and remonstration—most neutrally described as Theme-splaining. What …
Part II: A RAISIN IN THE SUN by Lorraine Hansberry Directed by Robert O’Hara Public Theater Reviewed by David Spencer When I attended the revival of A Raisin in the Sun at the Public, fairly late in its extended run, having avoided most of the publicity and press briefing info—I have no hard-and-fast rule about that, …
Part III: 1776 Book by Peter Stone Music, Lyrics and Conception by Sherman Edwards Directed by Jeffrey L. Page and Diane Paulus A Production of the Roundabout Theatre Company American Airlines Theatre Reviewed by David Spencer Presenting 1776 with an all-female cast is not a new idea. It’s not even, you should pardon the pun, a …
Part A ONLY GOLD Book by Andy Blankenbuehler & Ted Malawer Music and Lyrics by Kate Nash Directed and Choreographed by Andy Blanklenbuehler MCC Theatre Reviewed by David Spencer In a way, it was like seeing the same musical three times. Well, two-and-a half. The third has a story actually rooted in something aside from messaging. …
Part B: & JULIET Book by David West Read Music and Lyrics by Max Martin Directed by Dominic Fallacaro Stephen Sondheim Theatre Official Website Reviewed by David Spencer More of the same to be found in & Juliet, in which, Shakespeare’s wife, Anne Hathaway (Betsy Wolfe), expressing dissatisfaction with the end of Romeo & Juliet, noodges …
Part C: ALMOST FAMOUS Book by Cameron Crowe based upon his screenplay Music and Lyrics by Tom Kitt Directed by Jeremy Herrin Bernard B. Jacobs Theatre Official Website Reviewed by David Spencer Almost Famous incurs my half-the-same show reaction in part because at least it’s not a tract. It’s about William Miller (Casey Likes), an …
TOPDOG/UNDERDOG by Suzan Lori-Parks Directed by Kenny Leon John Golden Theatre Official Website Reviewed by David Spencer There’s a lot of symbolism carried by Topdog/Underdog, an acclaimed play in an acclaimed revival at the John Golden theatre. Suzan Lori-Parks’ simple tale of two African-American brothers, in a one-room utility flat in an unidentified city. The …
A MAN OF NO IMPORTANCE Book by Terrence McNally Music by Stephen Flaherty Lyrics by Lynn Ahrens Based on the screenplay by Barry Develin Directed by John Doyle Classic Stage Company Reviewed by David Spencer I’m going to be cribbing from my original review of A Man of no Importance at Lincoln Center, 20 years …
