off-Broadway
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Shrinking Shakespeare and Dickens
Few would dispute that Shakespeare and Dickens represent the crowning glories of English writing for the stage and page. Shakespeare is constantly produced and Dickens has provided the material for the musical Oliver! (based on Oliver Twist), the RSC’s epic adaptation of Nicholas Nickleby and countless versions of A Christmas Carol. It is not a… Continue reading
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“The Emporium” at CSC
In my experience, plays that start with a theme the playwright wants to explore rarely work. The impulse to explore a theme is more naturally the province of the essay, and indeed plays that are theme-based tend to feature extended essay-like passages in which the writer toys with ideas rather than deal with choices characters… Continue reading
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“Well, I’ll Let You Go”
I’ve said it before, but it bears repeating: I think there’s a difference between being a review and being a critic. A reviewer gives you advice on what to see. And at a time when ticket prices are higher than ever, it’s good to have people whose advice you trust suggesting what to buy tickets… Continue reading
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“Kenrex”
As you may have heard, Kenrex (now playing at the Lucille Lortel) is a solo show starring and co-written by Jack Holden (who recently won a surprise Olivier Award over some big stars for his performance in London) in which he plays the people of the town of Skidmore, Missouri circa 1981, a thug named… Continue reading
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Review: “Edward” by Ed Schmidt
When I teach playwriting, I talk a lot about objects. (There’s a chapter on it in my book, The Dramatist’s Toolkit.) One of the things I discuss is how, for example, two people negotiating over an object in a scene may reveal an enormous amount of what is going on between them under the surface.… Continue reading
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ULYSSES by the Elevator Repair Service
I tried to read James Joyce’s Ulysses three times without success. Then I switched to the Audible recording of the book, read by Jim Norton, with Marcelle Riordan as Molly. Before plunging into each chapter, I listened to a lecture on what was to come to help me focus on what I should be following.… Continue reading
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Review: “Data”
I once went to Atlanta to research a play. The story was about the relationship between a young gay Atlanta businessman and the parents he is alienated from who live in a small Southern town. When his parents are hit by an emergency, their son makes an offer that is the basis of the play.… Continue reading
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“Kyoto”
One of the things I value about Lincoln Center Theater is it has a history of putting up large-scale plays that no other management in town would attempt. Now, sometimes they’re from the UK. But then American writers have been discouraged by our managements from writing large-scale non-musical plays. (Among my least-produced plays is American… Continue reading
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“The Honey Trap”
I first saw English, The Buena Vista Social Club, Eureka Day, Prayer for the French Republic, Dead Outlaw and Liberation at small non-profit venues before they were picked up for critically-praised productions on Broadway. If I were going to place a bet on current off-Broadway offerings that might make the move, I would put my… Continue reading
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“Punch” and “Caroline”
I’ve gotten tired of thuds. They are particularly obnoxious in the coming attractions for films in which every other cut is accompanied by a huge WHOMP! In combination with the images of explosions and fireballs, the effect can be numbing. The relentless noise suggests that the filmmakers don’t believe the subject matter might be sufficient… Continue reading
Jeffrey Sweet--Making the Scene 