Not a week goes by that somebody doesn’t say “You guys see everything.” And in fact, we do see quite a lot of plays and musicals. Inevitably, many many people ask us for recommendations. I find that question stressful – I have no idea what they like, or if they are seasoned or infrequent theater-goers. Nonetheless, we try our best to guide them. It is with that spirit that I offer some thoughts on shows from this past year.
Best Off-Broadway: While I enjoy a Broadway show, I
really do enjoy shows that are not as high-end.
There are sooo many talented performers that can be found in other
corners and smaller venues. The Greatest Hits Down Route 66 is a great example
of this. The show is about a family taking the Great American Road Trip and getting to
know each other better along that legendary highway. But the cool layer that is
thrown in is the live music which comes from Carl Sandburg’s American
Songbag, a1920s anthology of American folk songs. I love a creative lens with which to tell a
story.
A second, way-off-Broadway selection would be The Journals
of Adam & Eve. In addition to having time-tested talent such as Marilu
Henner and Hal Linden elevate the experience, the material itself was actually
pretty good. We saw this show as a reading, which means just two people on the
stage reading their parts from binders on music stands – no scenery, costumes,
etc. Despite the bare minimum environment, I found the story to be entertaining
and engaging.
Best Classic Musical
I list two here: one that is 55 yrs old and one that is
brand spanking new.
Gypsy, is super-dated right out of the gate – the premise,
the language – which hits this audience member hard. But one cannot dismiss the endurance of the
songs that we still sing 55 years later. “Together, Wherever We Go” and “Let Me
Entertain You” are just a few of them. Audra McDonald is currently playing Mama
Rose and I have to declare that her vocal performance is The. Best. I. Have.
Ever. Seen.
Suffs was also terrific. The music is catchy, the acting is
clever and entertaining, and the storytelling is smart. My favorite part is that Suffs is based on a
true story - it is a recounting of the American women's suffrage movement,
focusing primarily on the historical events leading up to the ratification of
the Nineteenth Amendment. I should also say I feel like the show is
underrated and I suspect that is because it is an all-female cast in an all-female
story.
Most Chilling
I had already seen the movie Doubt: A Parable, but seeing
the play with Liev Schreiber and Amy Ryan sent chills scurrying up and down my
spine. Doubt is about the questionable goings-on in a Catholic school in the
Bronx in the 1960s. Nun vs Priest. Just riveting.
Timeless and Timely
We recently saw the production of Our Town with Jim Parsons.
Although we have seen it many times before (since our son has been in it in
high school), I nonetheless continue to enjoy the show as a window to a
different time with a different pace. The play takes place over 100 years ago,
but somehow the feeling of community in the little town still feels timeless.
Another play we caught only recently is McNeal. It is about
an accomplished author who initially is skeptical about Artificial Intelligence
(AI), but then comes to learn how to make it work for him -- and all the
implications that arise with that realization. The play appeals to me because
it raises interesting issues about AI, but also because I feel like in ten
years the issues raised will still be at hand.
There are many other shows that I truly enjoyed. These are just a few that particularly appealed to me.
Almost every show we saw this year
The Greatest Hits Down Route 66
Prayer for the French Republic
Doubt
Seven Year Disappear
Tommy - most energy
The Notebook
Suffs – classic musical
Cabaret – best transformation
The Outsiders – newbies
The Heart of Rock and Roll
Encores! Titanic
The Great Gatsby
Stereophonic – living the pain
Hell’s Kitchen – not much of a story
Journals of Adam & Eve
McNeal – timely
Our Town – timeless
Gypsy – best vocals ever
The Roommates
Thanks for reading!
Eve
No comments:
Post a Comment