Wilson's "Piano Lesson' in New York

The black man's secret (that Willy Loman lacked)

Here is the essential recurring conflict in August Wilson's 20th Century cycle: the struggle of African-Americans to define themselves while at the same time bringing the past forward with dignity. Music, it turns out, plays a pivotal role.

Carol Rocamora

Dec 18, 2012 · Articles · 4 minute read

Stoppard's "Real Inspector Hound,' at Curio

A critic's lot is not a happy one

Unlike Rosencrantz and Guildenstern, Tom Stoppard's The Real Inspector Hound is pure farce. This time it's theater critics who get caught in his existential web.

Jake Blumgart

Dec 18, 2012 · Articles · 3 minute read

Teachout's "Satchmo at the Waldorf'

Happy on the outside, but….

The Louis Armstrong I met in 1953 was healthy, energetic and genial; the dying Satchmo we meet in Terry Teachout's one-man play is exhausted and bitter. The contrast is instructive.

Steve Cohen

Dec 09, 2012 · Articles · 3 minute read

Mamet's "The Anarchist' and its audience

Bring out the vegetables

David Mamet's turgid The Anarchist opened to deservedly negative reviews and will close soon. But why are Broadway audiences so meek about expressing their reactions when they're served a turkey?

David Woods

Dec 08, 2012 · Articles · 3 minute read

Van Hove shakes up Shakespeare

Friends, Romans, countrymen, lend me your iPhones

If you want to explore new frontiers in the theater world just follow the Dutch director Ivo van Hove wherever he goes. In his hands, all of our cherished theatrical conventions are suddenly rendered anachronistic.

Carol Rocamora

Dec 04, 2012 · Articles · 6 minute read

"Mies Julie' in Brooklyn

Move Strindberg to South Africa, and what do you get?

Yael Farber's inspired but shattering metaphor for the struggles of modern South Africa is the most violent, sexually explicit and contextually insightful play I've seen in a long time.

Carol Rocamora

Dec 01, 2012 · Articles · 5 minute read

Durang's "Vanya and Sonia"¦.' in New York (2nd review)

A Chekhovian lament for our times

Christopher Durang's blender version of Chekhov's plays may go down in theater history, alongside the Bard mash-ups by the Reduced Shakespeare Company, as one of the funniest send-ups of the classics ever.

Carol Rocamora

Nov 27, 2012 · Articles · 4 minute read

Durang's "Vanya and Sonia"¦.' in New York (1st review)

Talk about roads not taken!

The good news is: I scored a ticket to Christopher Durang's sold-out comedy at Lincoln Center. The bad news is: In the evening of my life, I squandered a beautiful fall day when I could have been outdoors walking my dog or riding my horse.

Jane Biberman

Nov 25, 2012 · Articles · 5 minute read

National Theatre's “War Horse” at Academy of Music

A boy, his horse and a war

This anti-war manifesto reminds us that it takes brilliant technicians to create puppet horses for the stage, and brilliant technology to destroy real animals and people as well. War Horse. Adapted by Nick Stafford from the novel by Michael Morpurgo; Marianne Elliott and Tom Morris directed. National Theatre of Great Britain production through December 2, 2012 at Academy of Music, Broad and Locust St. (215) 893-1999 or www.kimmelcenter.org.

Steve Cohen

Nov 25, 2012 · Articles · 3 minute read

"The Music Man' at the Walnut

The way we wish we were

In retrospect, Meredith Willson's corn-fed Music Man has aged better than Leonard Bernstein's pseudo-realistic West Side Story. There's something to be said for unabashed fairy tales.

Steve Cohen

Nov 18, 2012 · Articles · 3 minute read