10 Shows To See in 2010

Chekhov Lizardbrain – return engagement by Pig Iron Theater Company at CSV Cultural Center; January 7th - 17th

Gin and "It": Reid Farrington's meditation on Alfred Hitchcock's film Rope . at 3LD Art & Technology Center; January 7th - 16th

Lear- new play after Shakespeare by Young Jean Lee at Soho Rep; January 7th - 31st

Plays – Gertrude Stein as performed by David Greenspan; Foundry Theater Company at Atlantic Stage 2; January 9th - February 7th

Trifles - The Theater of a Two-Headed Calf takes on Susan Glaspell at Ontological @ St. Marks Church; January 28th - February 14th

The Jackie Look – the newest performance by Karen Finley at the Laurie Beechman Theater; January 30th - March 6th

The Divine Sister – a workshop of Charles Busch's latest comedy at Theater for the New City; February 11 - March 7th

Orange, Hat & Grace: a new play by Gregory Moss; dir. by Sarah Benson at Soho Rep; Begins March 11th

Bellona,Destroyer of Cities - adapted and directed by Jay Scheib at The Kitchen; Begins April 1st

The Truth: A Tragedy: A new solo show written and performed by Cynthia Hopkins at Soho Rep; Begins May 6th

10 Favorites of 2009

Sixty Miles to Silver Lake by Dan LeFranc; directed by Anne Kauffman; co-production by Page 73 and Soho Rep (at Soho Rep)


SOS –created by Caden Manson and Jemma Nelson; Big Art Group (at The Kitchen)


Bloody, Bloody Andrew Jackson - Written and directed by Alex Timbers; music and lyrics by Michael Friedman; Les Freres Corbusier (at The Public)


Thirst(y) - (mostly) by Eugene O’Neill; directed by Michael Levinton; Target Margin Theater (at The Chocolate Factory)


The Event – written and directed by John Clancy; Clancy Productions/FringeNYC (at Players Theater)


In The Next Room (or The Vibrator Play) – by Sarah Ruhl; directed by Les Waters; Lincoln Center Theater (at Lyceum Theater)


Circle Mirror Transformation – by Annie Baker; directed by Sam Gold; Playwrights Horizons (at Peter J. Sharp Theater)


THIS – by Melissa James Gibson; directed by Daniel Aukin; Playwrights Horizons (at Playwrights Horizons Mainstage Theater)


Brief Encounter - Adapted and Directed by Emma Rice; Kneehigh Theatre (at St. Ann’s Warehouse)


Romeo & Juliet - Conceived and directed by Pavol Liska and Kelly Copper; Nature Theater of Oklahoma (at The Kitchen)

*****

And very honorable mentions to: Gina Gionfriddo's BECKY SHAW at Second Stage, Nature Theater of Oklahoma's RAMBO SOLO at Soho Rep, Cynthia Hopkins' THE SUCCESS OF FAILURE (OR, THE FAILURE OF SUCCESS), Buddy Thomas' DEVIL BOYS FROM BEYOND at the Fringe and three past shows that I revisited this year and found that I loved them as much this year as the first time I saw them: Mabou Mines's DOLLHOUSE, Chicago's Hell in a Handbag's POSEIDON (AN UPSIDEDOWN MUSICAL) and Len Jenkin's THE DREAM EXPRESS.

The Dream Express @ The Chocolate Factory

It's been a number of years since I caught that fabulous metaphysical lounge act, The Dream Express, but it's back for a brief stint at The Chocolate Factory and it's as funny and as fresh as ever. What struck me on this sitting was just how great the writing, by Len Jenkin, was. Steve Mellor and Deirdre O'Connell are Spin and Marlene, who are the divorced-but-still-appearing-at-a-motel-near-you duo. Their wise and witty banter, clever original songs and amusing covers make you long for a curtain call.

THE DREAM EXPRESS
Now thru December 19th
at The Chocolate Factory
Long Island City, Queens
For tickets & info: www.chocolatefactorytheater.org