Reviewed by Nicholas Linnehan

So I caught myself thinking, what would be a good way to kick-off Theater That Matters 2.0 (Post-pandemic)? Why, of course, a DRAG show sounds like a great idea. So I excitedly signed up to  review “Lady Bunnies Easter Egg Show”. Having previously seen Ben De La Creme and Jinx Monsoon, I was always pleasantly surprised by their unexpected talents and spontaneous moments on stage. I felt pretty confident that Lady Bunny would “wow”me and deliver something extraordinary. Sadly, she did not. There was nothing “wrong” with her performance, it was just like beating a dead horse with the constant repetition of similar jokes!

After her opening parodies, roasting other drag queens and making several genitalia jokes, I was thinking there had to be more than this to look forward to. As I previously stated, there was not and I found myself checking the time all too often. Jinx Monsoon and Ben De le Creme had the camp, the roasts, but they went beyond revealing talents that we were not expecting, keeping us thoroughly interested and entertained. At one point, half-joking, half-not Bunny remarked  “Hey, I’m 60 and a drag queen, why don’t I get my own show?” The answer is versatility.

Ru Paul has been able to make drag universal (heck, she even featured a straight man as a contestant on the last season) Through her multi-talents, she has made drag something that everyone can appreciate and feel invited to become part of. We all want to feel”in on the joke” Lady Bunnies jokes required you to be part the gay community already to appreciate the joke.  For example, my friend,who is not part of the community, left not knowing what 75 percent of the jokes were referring to. If we claim that, as a community, we are all encompassing, we need to infuse that in all we do.

Lady Bunnies Easter Eggs played at the Laurie Beechman Theater, 409 W 42nd St., NY NY

Reviewed by Nicholas Linnehan

Before I write my review of BlackBird, I would be remiss if I did not say how wonderful it was to go to the theater again! And for the most part, we were treated to a good show. Despite some moments that seemed forced. The cast had many moments that were pleasurable.

What happens to an adult when, after many years , he receives an unexpected visit from a woman he molested years ago? Una, now a woman in her 20’s tracks down Ray, at least 20 years her senior, who sexually abused her when she was 12 and confronts him about their relationship. Ray is stunned to see Una after all these years. Ray changed his name to Peter, in an effort to erase his past, and has since married. The two end up in a filthy workroom, at Ray’s job, where every emotion slowly unravels. For the next 90 minutes we are on a roller coaster as we hear about their strange inappropriate relationship.

Like I said before the cast, in this mainly two person play, adequately bring these characters to life. Francesca Ravera and Lenny Gossman do a pretty good job flushing out the nuances of their time together. Some moments are better than others. Grossman emotionally indulges in his work which makes him push with great force. He is working so hard to create his character that sometimes it feels like he is over-acting. Still, when he backs off and lets himself be in the moment, he delivers some powerful moment, where we unexpectedly empathize with him which is no small feat. Whereas Ravera seems to have truly connected with Una, which makes her performance seem more genuine. Her pain and yearning are palpable, which draws the audience to her and brings some sense of reality to the piece. Her vulnerability,her greatest strength, and her need for Ray are tangible which allows us to identify with her struggles well.

Still, it was an enjoyable evening and a promising start to post pandemic theater! If you do go see this good production, make sure to bring your vaccination card as  it is required for admittance.

Blackbird plays now through October 3rd at the New Ohio Theater, 154 Christopher Street. Www. new OhioTheatre.org

Reviewed by Nicholas Linnehan

COVID-19 strikes. Everything stops including our beloved nights at the theater. But wait here comes virtual theater brought to us but our good friends at The Seeing Place Theater. Their dramatic reading of The Dutchman by Amiri Baraka gives us hope that theater is indeed alive. While, through  no fault of their own, this is a safe way to take a break from the pandemic, it does not match the fulfillment of seeing a live performance. But if this remains the singular way to experience theater, through acclimating we will get our gift of theater returned to us.

The entire play takes place on a train when Lula, played vibrantly by Erin Cronican sits across from Clay, played by Timothy Ware, who is formidable in his own right. Lula, may be a psychic because she seems to know intimate details about Clay. She is ostentatious in her interactions with Clay, sometimes flirting, sometimes berating him. It is 1964 and segregation is still plaguing us. Since Lula is an attractive white woman and Clay a blak man, this conversation is scandalous due to Lula’s brazen personality and determination to speak her mind no matter the cost.

Overall, this was a pleasant venture Yet, virtual theater can not replace the auspiciousness of going to see a live play. There were times when I was unable to ascertain whether the actors had genuine chemistry with each other or if they were manufacturing it themselves to make up for the fact that there wasn’t an actual person in the same space for them to play off of. Ware and Cronican work very hard to overcome some minor technical glitches (although one can not determine whose viewing device is to blame). And give us some really fine moments, reminding us of the theater that we love.

If virtual theater is the new wave of the 21st century, although it will take some getting used to, it is reassuring to know that there is a way to fulfill our dramatic desires. We can only thank The Seeing Place for being pioneers and finding a way to give us the gift of theater.

Audrey Weinbrecht

In Chasing the River, a young woman recently released from prison returns to her childhood home after the death of her aunt, and is confronted with the dark history of abuse and trauma she has tried so hard to put behind her. Set on the front porch of her run-down family home, this intimate play written by Jean Dobie Giebel has a voyeuristic quality like you’ve intruded on people in the middle of the worst moments of their lives.

The drama is raw and unflinching with a dash of humor to keep things from seeming too bleak. The cast is excellent, especially Christina Elise Perry as the protagonist, Kat. The script requires her to switch between scenes in the present and flashbacks to the past in the blink of an eye and she handles each transition expertly. Her performance is layered and nuanced, her body language and facial expressions realistically conveying the coiled-tight tension of someone suffering from PTSD.

The themes of the show are weighty and topical but the show doesn’t seem to be trying to make a broad political statement, instead keeping a tight focus on Kat’s emotional turmoil and relationships. This makes the story more relevant to every audience member. The narrative’s compassion for Kat is evident even and perhaps especially in her lowest moments.

The show has a compact run time of 90 minutes with an intermission that feels unnecessary and breaks up the flow of the show. The first half has a steady escalation of tension that comes to a head with the sudden reappearance of Kat’s long-lost sister, which dissipates when the lights come on. It takes a little while for the second act to restore this tension which makes me think that the show might be stronger with no intermission.

Despite the hopeful note on which the story ends, the subject matter is heavy and grim and may be triggering for some people. Theatregoers uncomfortable with frank depictions of domestic violence and discussion of sexual assault should be wary. The theater seems conscientious of this and includes content warnings and survivor hotlines in the program.

Chasing the River can be difficult viewing but it is a soulful story about a woman searching for a glimmer of hope in her desolate life. When she finds it, the weight of all of the traumatic scenes seems worthwhile.

Chasing the River opens on February 10^th and runs until February 29^th at the Chain Theatre (312 West 36^th Street, 4^th Floor)

Tickets can be purchased at http://www.chaintheatre.org/calendar/chasing-the-river

Reviewed by Audrey Weinbrecht

For those who prefer their holiday season with a shot of cynicism (and booze), Love Actually? The Musical Parody checks all the boxes. Having reached the time of year when TV stations seem to be playing this movie on a seemingly continuous loop, this show is a welcome laugh.

Writers Bob & Tobly Smith, the minds that brought us Friends! The Musical Parody and The Office! The Musical Parody have found another pop culture icon to skewer and they do so deliciously. Whether you love the film or hate it, you’re guaranteed to laugh. A familiarity with the movie is required but unless you’ve been living under a rock for the past sixteen years that shouldn’t be a problem.

In 90 minutes, the show gallops through the movie’s myriad of characters and plot threads, pointing out that some of them are pretty messed up. A man cheats on his wife with his secretary (oldest cliché in the world), a newly-elected Prime Minister goes door to door to chase down the employee he’s in love with, a writer and his Portuguese cleaning lady fall in love despite not speaking the same language, a man confesses his undying love to his best friend’s wife. Did they mention it’s Christmas time?

Each cast member plays at least half a dozen characters, giving each one a chance to show off their mastery of celebrity impressions and lightning-fast costume changes. Their energy fuels the show and ensures that there is never a dull moment. The music is fun, upbeat and catchy.

Occasionally, the show slips into simply summarizing the film without the sharp commentary satire requires, yet certain highlights such as the decision to portray Alan Rickman’s character as Professor Snape, Kayla Catan’s uncanny imitation of Keira Knightley’s facial expressions, and the musical number where Emma Thompson’s character defies the original script and leaves her cheating husband, provide the necessary bite the show needs.

The script also shows off an encyclopedic knowledge of IMDB, slipping in a comment about Knightley being 18 when she filmed the movie and a scathing nod to January Jones’ cameo. “The best acting she will ever do!”

Despite being a parody, the show never feels mean-spirited. Instead it reminds us that making fun of an old movie is fun because we love it. As a bonus, there is an opportunity to have your picture taken with the infamous “To me, you are perfect” sign in the lobby.

Love Actually? opens on December 2nd and runs until January 14th at the Jerry Orbach Theater at the Theater Center (1627 Broadway).

Tickets can be purchased at https://www.loveactuallyparody.com/

Reviewed by Gregor Collins

Sara Farrington and Reid Farrington, who wrote and directed BrandoCapote respectively, should strut down Off-Off-Broadway Boulevard like they own it. Because on one hand they could make a case that they do. They’ve concocted a fairly original evening of theater that combines three seemingly incompatible elements: Noh Theater (a 14th Century Japanese performance art involving music, dance and drama), iconic Actor Marlon Brando’s filmography, and a 1957 magazine profile of Brando by writer Truman Capote. And visually at times it gave us something to grab onto.

But then there’s the other side of the coin: When something is too abstruse and ambitious to have any lasting resonance. To be honest, I walked out of this show feeling absolutely nothing. I’ll get to that in a second.

First, I’m going to include, word-for-word, the synopsis from their press release, and then I’ll tell you why I copy/pasted it instead of writing it myself:

“Disguised as an interview, BrandoCapote evolves into our own version of In Cold Blood, Capote’s true crime masterwork. In BrandoCapote, like In Cold Blood, Capote puts a human face on an inhuman act, exposing generations of toxic masculinity, abuse and violence, while exorcising the demons of American celebrity.”

Why didn’t I write it in my own words? Because, for all the money in the world, I would not have been able to tell you what I saw. I certainly didn’t feel what the press release wanted me to feel. Now, not achieving a firm grasp of what I saw wasn’t really the problem I had with it. For me at least, true art isn’t about clarity, or tying things up in a bow. No, the problem I had with BrandoCapote wasn’t the “not following what was going on” part—it was the part where no part of it made me look at anything in a new or different way. It was too cluttered and confusing for that.

Sometimes something that’s so visually dazzling and moving is all you need to carry it home with you. But this show wasn’t it.

Storytelling that is abstract and nonlinear, like BrandoCapote, shouldn’t sacrifice making you feel something. Here are four personal examples of  “abstract” art that stick with me to this day:

Paintings by Mark Rothko.

Films by David Lynch.

Songs by Guided by Voices.

Opera by Richard Wagner.

My intention is not to compare BrandoCapote to these four examples, it’s just that you can’t simply conceive something original, write an erudite synopsis, make an enigmatic poster, put it up on stage, and then fail to make it actually resonate with an audience. What’s the point? The Farringtons valiantly packed in so many interesting art forms—Brando movie clips, Capote sound bites, Noh costumes, discordant sounds, movement repetitions—that it became a wash, akin to standing in the middle of Times Square and trying desperately to find meaning in the chaos.

The only way I recommend seeing this show is if you want to walk away inspired to do what BrandoCapote, in my eyes, failed to do—come up with something that actually has you thinking about it.

Originality is overrated if it disappears into obscurity.

BrandoCapote at The Tank (312 W. 36th St, NY)

Nov 7-24

Direct Link to Tickets: https://rb.gy/d90865

Review by Anthony Arcidi

Can women be universally supportive of other women in the mold of Ann Friedman, and eschew any female on female criticism whether it be slut-shaming or beauty bashing? This is the question playwright Lily Houghton attempts to answer in a most allegorical way.

The set is the basement of a trendy woman’s clothing franchise in New York City and becomes a womb-like bunker of sorts in which the workers, three white and one non-white women, form a bond that extends well beyond a clique of co-workers into a family unit with the comforts of tea, latte, glitter, candles and lipstick.

The imagery of seasons of the year and flowers that bloom are emblematic of the phases of the circular union. It opens pre-Spring in which Bluebell (Ianne Fields Stewart), Sweet Pea (Sabina Friedman-Seitz), Bleeding Heart (Carolyn Kettig), welcome Pumpkin (Kirsten Harvey) to the basement team. The banter between them can be overly sycophantic to caustically and privately insulting customers or mocking their boss Janet, played by Star Kirkland, over their headphones, and even switching to long dreamy floral romantic monologues.

The after hours get-togethers among their crew serves partly as a party, with weed and wine, to part ritual practice that becomes a fashion inspired incantation, to a confessional, to sharing session. Mini crises can be decided among them but usually deferring to Bluebell the non white leader of the circle. It’s possible this may be an updated play on the Aunt Jemima nurturing paradigm in which the oppressors are male dominance and abuse.

She engenders a familial and protected feeling among them in which they profess their commitment and love to one another and reveal their inner feelings to each other. It becomes a cozy emotionally intimate gathering that treats the outer world of messy relationships, sex and male dominance like an apocalyptic wasteland outside the store’s basement. Healing of negative body image residue and pursuit of sexual conquest without love is encouraged, if not demanded, as their right to pursue. It is their Eden.

The cheer of spring and summer yield to the cold winds of fall and winter as cracks begin to develop in the special enclave. Someone has stolen two pink thongs and suspicion and intrigue rattles their trust. The mood of the next after-hours goes from chatty to revelatory to accusatory to defensive in quick fashion. The answer of who and why will test the bonds and tenets that had been espoused earlier. This leads to the ultimate dividers of social engagement, economic entitlement and racial inequality, to blister any sense of cohesion and ultimately the groups existence.

The casting choice of a transgender woman as Bluebell adds another dimension to what the play’s author may have intended. The issue of transgender identity and inclusion with feminist solidarity can add another layer to any of the play’s dialogue. Sometimes it’s an awkward fit.

Of the Woman offers a glimpse into the mechanisms of how female relationships hold together, replete with the co-dependencies and need for mutual support in addressing their own healing and affirmation. It’s an environmental experiment with its own premise, potential and results to give so much to mull on about female social dynamics that make this play both a fascinating and challenging experience to take in and think about.

Of the Woman came the beginning of sin, and through her we all die.

Normal Ace’s Medicine show theater 549 W 52nd street, New York City. Running time 90 minutes no intermission

October 3 to 20

Reviewed by Kenneth Laboy

Monsoon Season is an exquisitely crafted thrill-ride. Written by Lizzie Vieh, it is a series of vignettes of lost conversations, an almost one man-show, a two-monologue play. It follows a man at the end of his rope, until it doesn’t. The sense of danger ever-present.

The strength of this production resides in the sure-footed way in which director Kristin McCarthy Parker uses every aspect of production to make sure the audience goes on the expected emotional journey. You-Shin Chen’s scenery unfurls itself slowly, adding simple nuances to what originally was just clutter. Sarah Johnston’s lighting is superbly integrated to the narrative; she uses her design in delightful, constantly surprising ways that add dimensions to the established atmosphere of unease and suspense. The sound designed by Emma Wilk guides you seamlessly through the necessary emotional beats required by the text.

Added to the sensorial experience the design team has created, are Richard Thieriot and Therese Plaehn. The narrative hinges on the success of these performances, and Thieriot and Plaehn manage to soar. They step on stage with a sort of unhinged naturalism, and start conversing, sometimes with the audience, other times with unseen friends and foes, always with a deep need for connection that is withheld from them. That last moment, one where that need is finally satisfied, is catharsis at its finest.

No one part of the production overshadows the rest. There is a hearty balance to the parts that creates an exhilarating whole. This is a team of professionals seamlessly working as a unit, bringing their best to the table. And the result is one worth beholding.

All For One Theatre’s production of Monsoon Season plays now through Saturday, November 23rd in The Rattlestick Playwrights Theater (224 Waverly Place, NYC)

Tickets can be bought at https://www.afo.nyc/ for $25

Reviewed by Kenneth Laboy

‘Quiet Enjoyment’ is an apt title for this comedy by Richard Curtis. Directed by Marcus Gualberto, the play centers on a fastidious co-op closing where everything that can go wrong, does.

Staged in the Playroom Theater, the small space is used eloquently with a large table being the centerpiece and quiet corners for the asides. There isn’t much space, but Gualberto doesn’t let the cramped stage get in the way of maintaining energy and movement required for the play. Even with as many as eight actors on stage, it never feels cluttered. And the players always have space to play.

His actors do a great job with Curtis’ snappy dialogue, and squeeze as much comedy from every moment as they can. The best thing about their performances? They are having fun up in that stage! They are enjoying every second, and it is always a joy to see actors engaged in their performances with such zeal.

The play text itself is dense with comedy – smart word play, incisive character choices, sort of, a farce without doors. And yet, for much of the running time I smiled more than I chuckled. It was constantly pleasant, but the enjoyment was somehow subdued. The culprit for this might be the running time. The production is slightly over 90 minutes. And while movement is constant on stage, the dialogue itself could be more tightly paced.

Conversations here had a realness to them that lacked the urgency demanded by the farce.

Quiet Enjoyment plays now through Sunday, September 22nd in The Playroom Theatre (418 East 46th Street, NYC)

Tickets can be bought at http://QuietEnjoyment.BrownPaperTickets.com for $25

Reviewed by Audrey Weinbrecht

After a young law student named Amena’s trip to the DMV to finalize her immigration papers leads to her being held by the FBI under a ludicrous accusations of terrorism, she finds herself trapped in the break room with a DMV employee. Fresh out of rehab, he shares with her his unique theory about the world: “When a person loses hope they either destroy themselves or they destroy others.” This is the “hope hypothesis” from which the show gets its name and presumably is the main theme of the piece.

“So what’s the solution?” Amena asks but the conversation is interrupted by the entry of another character. The show does not provide an answer to this question, which leaves the story without a resolution. If anything, by not providing a solution to this problem, the show suggests that there is none which fits with the rather bleak ending. Despite the laughs, the story touches on a very real fear for many Americans. The cultural relevance is what gives the satire its bite. Amena’s situation is depicted as ridiculous but plausible. There is perhaps no more damning indictment of this country’s stance on immigration than to laugh at it.

But the show’s ending gives the impression of echoing a conversation without adding anything new to the discourse. A dark ending could have worked if it had tied up more narrative threads. Not learning what happened to any of the main characters makes the arc of the story feel cut off, not resolved. The reason the ending is so frustrating is that the majority of the show is excellent. It takes a clever, incisive wit to make scenes about waiting in line at the DMV and being interrogated by the FBI entertaining and hilarious. The dialogue is sharp and witty. The cast tears through the script with gusto and plays off each other with impeccable comedic timing.

Each character is introduced as a seemingly average person, then becomes increasingly neurotic as the plot races from one absurd scenario to another. Some standouts: Wesley Zurick as the peppy teller with Machiavellian ambitions, Charlie O’Rourke as Amena’s histrionic boyfriend, and Greg Brostrom as a buffoonish FBI agent. As the plot escalates, only Amena remains the same, grounding the story. Soraya Broukhim makes Amena the sympathetic, intelligent, accessible protagonist she needs to be. An ordinary, capable young American trapped by increasing layers of bureaucratic farce.

She ends up completely undone by it, but perhaps there was another ending that could have been imagined for her.

The Voyage Theater Company’s production of The Hope Hypothesis runs through Sunday, November 15th at the Sheen Center for Thought and Culture (18 Bleecker Street).

Tickets can be purchased at https://www.sheencenter.org/shows/hope/2019-10-25/