Bradley Cooper as John Merrick, Alessandro Nivola as Dr. Fredrik Treves & Patricia Clarkson as Mrs. Kendal By Michall Jeffers Fans of Bradley Cooper may well be amazed by his performance as John Merrick; many hardened theater critics will be, too. As the abused, tormented man cruelly twisted by deformity and fate, Cooper is…
Emily Padgett as Daisy Hilton and Erin Davie as Violet Hilton by Eugene Paul This heartbreakingly ambiguous entertainment, flecked with moments of beauty and laughter, is based on (a) a true story, the wrenching history of Daisy and Violet Hilton, (b) a horror film, Freaks, the passionate brainstorm of Tod Browning, which ruined his…
Gretchen Mol, Hari Dhillon ,Karen Pittman, and Josh Radnor Photos by Joan Marcus By Eugene Paul Riveting. If you’ve been too obsessed with what’s going on in the world to notice that Ayad Akhtar won an Obie for this, his play, Disgraced, in 2012, you’ll have to take notice now that it won the…
Photographs by: Joan Marcus By Eugene Paul With a vast, overpoweringly produced, literally awesome demonstration of theatrical brawn, the Sting machine has taken on Broadway, no holds barred. When was the last time you saw crowds outside the theatre dazzled by musicians from the show playing live under the marquee, the star, 63…
Blythe Danner Photos By Joan Marcus By David Schultz Chekhov Lite in the Berkshires Everyone seems to be jumping on the Chekhov bandwagon of late. Christopher Durang (“Vanya, Sonya, Masha & Spike”) last case in point. His riff on the master was clever, pithy, and wise. It garnered a few well-deserved Tony Awards last…
Jay Armstrong Johnson, Tony Yazbeck and Clyde Alves photos by Joan Marcus by Eugene Paul The Lyric Theatre, once again the Lyric Theatre after having been through several other incarnations since it grew bigger and more beautiful, is launching its now British ownership with the best, sweetest version of that very American delight, On…
Alex Sharp with (from l.) Mercedes Herrero, Richard Hollis and Jocelyn Bioh. Photos by Joan Marcus By Eugene Paul The play has not begun and already you are uneasy; the stage is a huge black box, even the raked floor is black, all walls and floor overlaid with a precise, white grid. Lighted bench…
Megan Mullally and Nathan Lane by Michall Jeffers The answer is Nathan Lane. The question is what’s the best reason to see It’s Only A Play. This nearly sold out smash hit is playing to full houses chocked with appreciative theater goers. Just as trumpeted, the laughs never stop. Director Jack O’Brien has done…
Kristine Nielsen, Rose Byrne, James Earl Jones photos by Joan Marcus by Michall Jeffers The year is 1936, deep in the Great Depression. But you’d never know it from the cheery attitude of the multi-generational Sycamore family in the current production of You Can’t Take It With You. Director Scott Ellis has taken this…
Photo by Carol Rosegg by Eugene Paul His name is Andrew Makepeace Ladd III and hers is Melissa Gardner. They’re rich, American bluebloods, A.R. Gurney’s names and identities for his two characters, but that’s as may be, because the instant Mia Farrow and Brian Dennehy come on, that is it, that’s who they really…