On Broadway, Marvin's Room, by Scott
McPherson, at American Airlines Theatre, was
seen Off-Broadway 25-years ago. Now for no good
reason, it has transferred to Broadway. In spite
of having a fine cast, directed by Anne Kauffman,
it is about a dysfunctional family, that suffers
from every imaginable disease. The title refers
to the grandfather, who does not appear, as he
is dying in his room. The cast spends a lot of
time going into his room. The opening scene
features his daughter (Lili
Taylor) with a doctor, who is to take a
blood sample. He is the most stupid,
incompetent, ridiculous character to ever appear
on a stage. It is supposed to be funny. For me,
it was not. It was irritating and unbearable.
Off-Broadway, Napoli, Brooklyn,
by Meghan
Kennedy, at the Laura Pels Theatre, takes
place in 1960 in Park Slope. The highlight of
this tedious play is when the stage darkens,
and a tremendous explosion is heard. A plane has
crashed killing six people on the ground. Until
then, we meet a tyrannical Italian illegal
immigrant, his wife, who prays a lot, and his
three unhappy daughters. There are also three
other characters. Gordon
Edelstein is responsible for directing this
eight member cast.
Off-Broadway, The
Crusade of Connor Stephens,
by Dewey Moss,
who also directed the excellent eight member
cast, headed by James
Kiberd, at the Jerry Orbach Theater, takes
place in a small town in Texas, where a family
is ripped apart by gun violence.
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It is a serious, powerful, well acted
play. Gun violence is the disease of modern America.
I photographed the final curtain call
of Sunset
Boulevard,
starring Glenn
Close. Sir Andrew
Lloyd Webber appeared on stage to congratulate
her. It was a very emotional moment. She spoke to
the audience touchingly about repeating this
wonderful role over twenty years later. She is
a magnificent actress.
Kate Burton received
a caricature at Sardi's. Many of her cast members
from Present
Laughter showed
up to congratulate her, with cocktails and hors
d'oeuvres. Many friends also attended, like Jordan
Roth, Tony Walton and Gen Walton.
It was a lovely event.
I attended a Meet & Greet for
Canada's Soulpepper Theatre Company at
Pershing Square Signature Center, 480 West 42nd
Street, where it will perform from July 1 - July 29.
They will offer 12 productions with 65 actors.
Artistic Director Albert
Schultz addressed the reporters to explain the
reason for their visit to New York in celebration of
Canada Day on July 1, which celebrates the 150th
birthday of Canada as a nation and its friendship
with the United States. The talented singers and
musicians performed two selections from Spoon
River, composed by Mike
Ross. It was most impressive. I eagerly await
seeing the entire 90 minutes production. I also hope
to see many of the other productions from this
wonderful company.
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