The Playgoer: Thursday Roundup

Custom Search

Thursday, December 10, 2009

Thursday Roundup

-Kudos to those tireless troopers David Pittu (Twelfth Night), John Douglas Thompson and Kate Forbes (Othello) for their recent AEA awards for classical acting this past season.

-And then there's the Henry Hewes Awards, which recognize only designers! About time. So kudos also to David Korins (Why Torture Is Wrong); Derek McLane and Jeff Sugg (33 Variations);Louisa Thompson, Tyler Micoleau, and Matt Tierney (Blasted) ; Clint Ramos (Women Beware Women); and Kevin Adams, (Hair). Having seen all these productions I can only second how dazzling and integral their sets, lights, sound, and/or projections to the impact of their productions. (Korins' design for the Durang play, for instance, was one of the few examples of a genuinely funny set.)

-Variety reports that one of the biggest hits on commercial Off Broadway is Nora Ephron's Love, Loss and What I Wore, which has already recouped after just 11 weeks. But what's the surprise!? Celebrity author, with a rotating-celebrity cast, reading monologues off music stands--so not only no overhead, but no real rehearsal. And they charge full price tickets. I fear this is a bad portent for the "professional" Off Broadway theatre.

-The Flea has commissioned one-acts from Thomas Bradshaw, Sheila Callaghan, Erin Courtney, Will Eno, Itamar Moses and Adam Rapp addressing The Great Recession. So at least we have something on stage now that--hopefully--addresses what's going on. Jonathan Mandell gives an extensive preview.

2 comments:

Mike Daisey said...

"So at least we have something on stage now that--hopefully--addresses what's going on."

I've heard that the plays at the Flea are compelling, but just as an aside THE LAST CARGO CULT is still playing through the weekend at the Public, and it addresses the financial crisis and the state of money in our world very directly.

Playgoer said...

Uh, about that "Great Recession" evening... Soloski in the Voice calls it "in need of a bailout." Oh well.

Now I'm even MORE sorry I missed Mr. Daisey's show. Sorry, Mike! Someone please extend him.