It has taken this reviewer a couple of days to contemplate the new stage version of the well-known children’s story “The Little Prince” penned by Antoine de Saint-Exupery, which has taken up residence at the Broadway Theatre for its New York debut. At first, although mesmerized by the illusionary concept put forth by an impressive creative team, the question that…
Broadway has been graced with quite a bit of royalty considering the “SIX” queens that currently occupy the stage at the Brooks Atkinson Theatre, vying for the title of the most victimized wife of Henry VIII. Appropriately titled “SIX,” the musical gives each of these candidates the opportunity to convince their audience with a musical number which describes their individual…
The latest Broadway opening is the new musical comedy “Mrs. Doubtfire” based on the immensely popular 1993 film which starred Robin Williams in the leading role. The plot revolves around a divorced dad, who loses custody of his three children, and poses as an elderly English nanny when his ex-wife starts searching for someone to help with the children and…
The new musical “Trevor: The Musical” based on the 1994 short film makes a valid attempt to bring to light the issues and problems that adolescent gay teens face, which result in attempts at suicide. It was a serious problem during the nineties that has continued to present day with online bullying and shaming. It is a noble idea to…
Racism, sexism, economic disparity, and stagnation roil beneath the surface Caroline Thibodeaux’s (an embattled yet resilient Sharon B Clarke) deep unhappiness, disappointment, and resistance to change in Tony Kushner’s “Caroline, or Change.” Currently enjoying a successful revival at Roundabout’s Studio 54, the Kushner/Tesori musical focuses on Caroline’s long days in the Louisiana “under water” basement of the Gellman family. “Sixteen…
The new musical “The Visitor,” now playing at the Public’s Newman Theater, is based on the 2007 film sharing the same title, with a book by Kwame Kwei-Armah and Brian Yorkey, music by Tom Kitt and lyrics also by Mr. Yorkey. The story is the same but somehow confining it to the stage provides a better focus on the characters…
Since the controversy started about the destiny of so called “dreamers” and immigration moved to the forefront of the political spectrum, theatre has become a formidable platform, revealing the many obstacles that face these innocent victims. What has also developed is the now familiar phrase “sanctuary city.” A city that limits its cooperation with federal immigration enforcement agents, to protect…
In Antoinette Chinonye Nwandu’s most recent iteration of “Pass Over,” two “brothers” Moses (Jon Michael Hill) and Kitch (Namir Smallwood) engage in an interminable exchange of escapist fantasy-dialogue in which they ask one another, “What kind of plans you got?” Moses’ His Promised Land Top 10 list includes “reaching his full potential,” “getting his ass off this block,” “a penthouse…
The audience seemed to enjoy the production now playing at the Marjorie S. Deane Little Theater entitled “Miss America’s Ugly Daughter” written and performed by Bess Myerson’s daughter Barra Grant. This comes to the New York stage after a successful year long run in Los Angeles. It is basically a solo show except for the voice of Bess Myerson provided…
Plays parsing the viability of monogamy are nothing new. The “sacred” tie that binds “one man and one woman” have been under scrutiny since the mythic Adam and Eve stumbled out of the garden shortly after their creation and subsequent fall from grace. The current hype about the sanctity of heteronormative coupling makes the issue even more relevant despite the…