Best of 2011: #7 - Go Back To Where You Are

 

David Greenspan's GO BACK TO WHERE YOU ARE was completely delightful love note to the theater.  The sheer fact that Greenspan was able to pack so much intelligence, humor and time-trippy fun into sixty minutes is a feat unto itself. The ensemble, including Greenspan, was sublime and I was lucky enough to catch the wonderful Mary Shultz in the show before she had to depart early for personal reasons.  And as complex as the play was, director Leigh Silverman did a terrific job making everything flow beautifully.  Thanks to Playwrights Horizons for their dedication to David Greenspan. 

Best of 2011: #8 - The Inexplicable Redemption of Agent G

The awesome Vampire Cowboys took their geek aesthetic to a new level in 2011 with THE INEXPLICABLE REDEMPTION OF AGENT G. Produced with Incubators Arts Project, AGENT G introduced a more complex dramaturgy by introducing autobiographical elements of author Qui Nguyen as well as Nguyen himself as a character (although played by someone else) and even playwright David Henry Hwang as another character. The result was an even richer experience than previous VC shows.

Best of 2011: #9 - Our Lot (Clubbed Thumb)

Every year, the excellent Clubbed Thumb presents three new works in fully staged productions for what they call Summerworks.  One of this year's selections was OUR LOT co-written by Kristin Newbom and W. David Hancock and it was totally hypnotic (in a great way). Three children gather to clean out the belongings of their late step-father who kept collections of items in carefully labeled plastic bins (John Lennon, Julia Child, Charles Darwin).  The set-up is brilliant - the stored items were usually more personal than (and in many instances were barely related to) the container they were in.  I loved this play and it deserves a longer return engagement.

Best of 2011: #10 - The Cherry Orchard (CSC)

There is a lot to love about Classic Stage Company's production of THE CHERRY ORCHARD:  John Christopher Jones' colloquial adaptation, Dianne Wiest's innocent but radiant Ranevskaya,  Juliet Rylance's heartbreaking Varya, Roberta Maxwell's wacky Charlotta, Alvin Epstein's spot-on Fiers.  It's still running so do try to catch it.

Best of 2011: #11 Now The Cats With Jewelled Claws

Another Tennessee Williams' play received an imaginative production this year, this time from director Jonathan Warman.  Actually, it was the New York premiere of NOW THE CATS WITH JEWELLED CLAWS, a one-act from Williams, uncharacteristically set in New York City and had a cast that included cult stars Everett Quinton and Mink Stole and the fabulous Erin Markey.   This show was a gem indeed.

Best of 2011: #12 - Wooster Group's VIEUX CARRÉ

Tennessee Williams late play, VIEUX CARRÉ was tackled by The Wooster Group in 2011 with the Group's usual mix of physicality and technology.  Whereas their Hamlet was Scott Shepherd's "show" this was very much Ari Fliakos' moment in the spotlight as Williams' alter-ego.

Best of 2011: #13 - The Tempest (Target Margin)

In May, the invaluable Target Margin presented Shakespeare's last play, THE TEMPEST, at Here Arts Center, for which they built their version of The Globe.  It was a spirited and magical production that I wish more people had the pleasure of seeing.