Talk Radio: 03/22/2007

The best reason to see Talk Radio is Liev Schreiber – at that's a really good reason. Schreiber plays a Howard Stern-type radio talk show host named Barry Champlain. The play takes place during the course of one evening's show, during which a decision on whether or not the show will be broadcast nationally will be made. It's a very forced premise but even more forced are the over-baked, over-acted “performances” by the radio show's callers. They are so actor-y that they made me cringe at times. But back to Liev, he's great on every level – emotionally, vocally, physically – that all else is forgivable...almost.

For Tickets & Info: www.talkradioonbroadway.com

Essential Self-Defense: 03/18/2007

Adam Rapp's new play with music, Essential Self-Defense, is a sweet and demented fairy tale. Sadie meets Yul in a self-defense class; Yul is actually the well-padded attack dummy she beats up in class. Sadie has an overwhelming sense of dread – and who can blame her as numerous children are disappearing from the streets of Bloggs, USA. Yul is strange, but is he sinister or just weird? Heather Goldenhersh is perfectly cast as the sweet and quirky Sadie and Paul Sparks is terrific as the peculiar Yul. The physical production is great, especially David Korins' sets. Carolyn Cantor (Artistic Director of Edge Theater) has done a fine job in realizing everything this excellent new play has to offer.

For tickets and info: www.playwrightshorizons.org

Postcard: Twelfth Night

Improbable Fiction presents
TWELFTH NIGHT
By William Shakespeare

Directed by
Bill Van Horn

With:
Mike Anthony*, Mick Bleyer, Kent Burnham, Carie R. Ewers, Sean Heeney,
Tracy Liz Miller*, Erin Roberts*, Eadie Scott*, Augustus Truhn, Bill Van Horn*

Monday, March 19 & Monday, March 26 @ 7pm

Roy Arias Studios & Theatres
300 West 43rd Street at 8th Avenue - Studio 301

Tickets: $15
Reservations strongly recommended: 212-353-6068

Lifeboat: 03/17/2007

I wound up seeing Lifeboat with a friend who had gotten the tickets and didn't realize that programing at the New Victory is primarily for kids and families. Lifeboat is a production of the Scottish company Catherine Wheels and is the true story of two British girls who meet aboard a ship destined for Canada. The ship was carrying ninety British children who were being evacuated from England to protect them from the constant bombing of their country by the Nazis. Isabelle Joss and Suzanne Robertson portray the two girls as well as their families, other children and everyone else in the story – and they are both excellent. They manage to switch between characters effortlessly and completely – in most cases with only their faces and bodies to convey the change. The broad strokes and often repetitive narrative signal that this is a show for young people, but the content matter could definitely lend itself to adult audiences – perhaps a “grown up” version of the show is in order? The production is only here through March 25th, so grab a kid and go see it.

For tickets and info: www.newvictory.org

Our Leading Lady: 03/16/2007

I would find it hard to believe that Charles Busch didn't write the role of Laura Keene in Our Leading Lady for himself. At times I thought I was watching Charles Busch play the part; Kate Mulgrew seems to be channeling him (can you channel someone who's not dead?). Act One is hilarious. Act two is more somber – it's hard to be hilarious after intermission when you've assassinated the president at the end of your first act. Busch's premise is great – the play revolves around the days leading up to the performance of Our American Cousin at which Lincoln is assassinated. The play is a love letter to the theater and a throw-back (especially Act One) to Busch's early plays. The supporting actors and all game and Reed Birney, Barbara Bryne and Christine Nielson and particularly good. Our Leading Lady isn't brilliant, but it is a lot of fun.

For tickets & info: www.mtc-nyc.org

Dying City: 03/14/2007

Christopher Shinn's Dying City is an excellent play being given an excellent production at Lincoln Center Theater's Mitzi Newhouse. It's rare to see a challenging play being given such a thoughtful, creative production; one that actually rises to the occasion of a great script. Dying City is a three character play, being performed by two actors on a very slowly revolving stage. I know, it sounds like bag of gimmicks – but it's not. It's a drama that hooks you when the apartment buzzer sounds in the opening minutes and doesn't let you go until the final blackout. Pablo Schreiber playing twin brothers – one of whom is actually being portrayed in flashback, an American soldier killed in Iraq, the other his gay brother visiting his widow is excellent. But this is not quick-change “trick” - is not a “Mystery of Iraqi Vet” - both characters are physically, vocally and emotionally drawn wholes. No less impressive, even though "only" playing one character, is the fabulous Rebecca Brooksher. The play itself unfolds as delicately as the stage revolves slowly. Director James Macdonald does a fine job on every level, making for a terrific evening of theater.

For Tickets & Info: www.lct.org

Two Richard Foreman Articles in the NY Times

There were two articles in The New York Times with week on Richard Foreman. One giving a glimpse of Foreman's personal world and another a conversation in which Foreman talks about aspects of his long career.

NY Times: "At Home Before and Behind the Curtain" 03/04/2007 - Click Here

NY Times: "Reflections on Life as a Shaker-Upper" 03/11/2007 - Click Here

Wake Up Mr. Sleepy! Your Unconscious Mind Is Dead! has just been extended and will now run through April 22, 2007. For into & Tickets: Click Here