For once, I won’t complain about the sound. While my past reviews of the NY Pops Concert Series have exposed the poor imbalance between the orchestra and the vocalists, “Grumpy Grandpa” Leeds will refrain from any such criticism this time around. [Read more…] about The NY Pops Cinematic Season Finale
ryan leeds
Head to the “Sack” to See Five Women Wearing The Same Dress
Escaping Manhattan to see a play at the Hackensack Cultural Arts Center sounds like the set-up for an April fool’s joke. In fact, it’s not. [Read more…] about Head to the “Sack” to See Five Women Wearing The Same Dress
Theater Review: Don’t Bother Me, I Can’t Cope
Instead of showering each other with yearly praise and admiration, Hollywood might have taken some lessons from the stouthearted York Theatre’s recent staging of Don’t Bother Me, I Can’t Cope. The 1972 musical revival kicked off their Winter 2016 “Musicals in Mufti” series. Mufti, as noted on the program, is done “in street clothes; without the trappings of a full production”. Each of the cast members carries the complete script and score and they have a limited number of hours to rehearse before a live audience attends. They clearly put the time to good use and gave fresh voice to this rarely performed gem of a show. Even more impressive is that these dedicated artists rarely consulted their scripts throughout the night. [Read more…] about Theater Review: Don’t Bother Me, I Can’t Cope
Theater Review: Angel Reapers
In our current age of technology, self-will, and instant gratification, it’s difficult to wrap our heads around the idea of a simplistic lifestyle. New Yorkers especially, are known for their jet paced lives. Even if you were to ask a contemporary resident of Oshkosh, Wisconsin what brings joy and meaning to their days, it’s highly doubtful that they would respond with: “furrowing fields”, “repairing the henhouse”, “reaping hay”, “laundering garments” or “gathering eggs”. Yet these activities translated to spiritual enlightenment for the Shakers, an 18th century group of men and women who lived communally in Colonial America.
Concert Review: Alan Cumming at Carnegie Hall
Daniel Nardicio certainly gives tickets buyers their money’s worth. The nightlife extraordinaire has made quite a niche for himself in the last few years producing major concerts for celebs including Liza Minnelli, Chita Rivera, Carol Channing, Lady Gaga, and others. On Monday February 8th Nardicio managed to pack the house at Carnegie Hall with eager fans of Golden Globe, Emmy, SAG, and Tony Award winning performer, Alan Cumming.
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Theater Review: Our Mother’s Brief Affair
Any opportunity to see Linda Lavin on stage is one worth seizing and although her latest Broadway project may not be the most riveting piece of theater, it shouldn’t be disregarded. Richard Greenberg’s memory play, Our Mother’s Brief Affair is a quiet and profound glimpse into the layered complexities of human interaction.
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Theater Review: AIRLINE HIGHWAY
A close friend of mine once told me that the idea of eulogies eluded him since it made more sense to share kind words with the living rather than about them once they’ve gone. He shares the same sentiment with Miss Ruby (Judith Roberts), the dying matriarchal figure in Lisa D’Amour’s heartfelt drama Airline Highway.
Direct from Chicago’s Steppenwolf, Airline Highway takes us to the parking lot of the Hummingbird motel, an unsavory dilapidated refuge for the downtrodden of New Orleans. Miss Ruby, once the beautiful grand dame of the Hummingbird and caretaker of her “little duckies”, is nearing her death and wants to go out in style. With the help of motel manager Wayne (Scott Jaeck), Tanya (Julie White) , a worn out, but but beautifully broken prostitute, Sissy Na Na (K. Todd Freeman) , a flamboyant drag artist, Francis (Ken Marks), a half-baked bohemian who lives life with carefree aplomb, and Krista (Caroline Neff), a returning visitor to the Hummingbird, each pull together to recall fond memories and bury some secrets from their past.
Bait Boy (Joe Tippett) returns for the day’s festivity as well, along with his significant other’s daughter, Zoe (Carolyn Braver). Bait Boy was once an inhabitant of the Hummingbird, but escaped to Atlanta for a better life. Zoe has joined him on the pilgrimage to write a school paper on sub-cultures. She has come to the right place, for there are fewer colorful spots and characters along this stretch. Her pie-eyed view of the world is shattered, however, when her subjects defiantly object to the fact that Zoe wants to encapsulate their life into one article in one afternoon. How are lives stuffed with dashed dreams, endless struggle, regret and poverty summarized in one paper?
D’Amour delivers a genuine cast of vagabonds filled with grace and dignity, bringing to mind David Newman, Ira Gasman, and Cy Coleman’s heartwarming musical about Times Square hookers in 1997’s musical The Life. Though they lead unconventional lives, each soul offers searing personal stories of where they’ve been and what they could-or won’t-ever be.
It is not simply good luck that explains why Tony Voters gave Airline Highway four nominations. Under Joe Mantello’s masterful hand, the show reminds us of our own good fortunes, evokes empathy for those who don’t have them, and instills an unbreakable appreciation and zest for life.
Airline Highway is now playing on Broadway at the Samuel J. Friedman Theater, 261 West 47th street between Broadway and 8th. Tickets available at http://www.manhattantheatreclub.com/season-tickets/ or by visiting the box office.