Brian Friel’s play “Molly Sweeney” directed by Charlotte Moore is staged in the simplest form imaginable. The three major characters are seated in chairs on stage. They speak directly to the audience and never to one another. The staging works partic …Read more

It’s estimated that there are over 5 million people who belong to book clubs and 80% of the participants are women. Some of the clubs are organized and have a paid leader while others are more informal. Some organize themes around their selections an …Read more

The NYTW production of “Here There Are Blueberries” in a co-production with Tectonic Theater Project, begins with a single object onstage. It is a Leica camera and the narrator explains how it changed culture. And although pictures capture images, we …Read more

Imagine you are the fly on the wall in a recording studio. One of your favorite groups is scheduled to record its latest album. It’s the 1970’s, and the group has an album on The Billboard charts. That’s what it’s like sitting in the audience at “Ste …Read more

The revision of “Uncle Vanya” at Lincoln Center is notable for two reasons. One is that it has been modernized by Heidi Schreck (“What the Constitution Means to Me”) making it more relatable to the audience. More significantly, the show marks the Bro …Read more

As we approach Mother’s Day, it was fitting that two of the plays I saw this week had mothers as central characters, and they could not have been more different. “Mary Jane” is loving, self-sacrificing and always positive, while Phyliss in “Mother Pl …Read more

Fans of “The Crown” written by Peter Morgan may flock to see “Patriots,” his new Broadway play but they will discover a very different historical drama. However, the trip is worth it to see the terrific performance by Michael Stuhlbarg as Boris Berez …Read more

One problem with revivals is that creatives often feel a need to change things up. So they might use a different time, setting, storyline and sometimes even remove music. The recent revival of “Cabaret at the Kit Kat Club” starring Eddie Redmayne as …Read more

Few film actors can easily transition from film to the stage with live audiences and no do-overs. Yet Rachel McAdams makes a splendid Broadway debut in the revival of Amy Herzog’s play “Mary Jane.” The quiet intimate play is about Mary Jane, the sing …Read more