Solitary Solidarity: Theatre Reviews from the Present to the Past

      On Sunday, May 28th, 2023, I saw the 2pm performance of the play "Grey House" at the Lyceum Theatre in New York City.  "Grey House" was written by Levi Holloway, who presented the World Premiere of this play in 2019 at A Red Orchid Theatre in Chicago, IL, with Shade Murray as director.  The Red Orchid production ran from October 10th through December 1st of that year.  I was living in Chicago at the time, but was completely unaware that the show was running.  Also, I had no idea of the favorable reviews it received.  When it opened for previews on Broadway this year, with a new cast and director, I wanted badly to see it.  I entered the ticket lottery for "Grey House,"  not winning until the May 28th performance of Memorial Day Weekend.  Not only that, but my ticket was front row, and nearly center.        While "Grey House" is without a doubt a brilliant play, it could have used an intermission. ...

     On May 20th, 2023, I saw the 2pm performance of the County Players production of "A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum" at the Falls Theatre in Wappingers Falls, New York.  The musical features a book by Burt Shevelove and Larry Gelbart, and music and lyrics by Stephen Sondheim.  This production of "Forum" featured scenic design by Bill Peckham, and was directed by David J. Ringwood.  This was the first regional production of a show I've seen in years.  But it was also my first time seeing "A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum."  I thought it was a cleverly written show with an intricate score that I've come to associate with Sondheim musicals.  I'm glad I got to see this classic.            The cast of this production included Robert Yarnall (Prologus I, an actor / Pseudolus, slave to Hero); Lisa Delia, Mark Moody, Eero Vaitkus (The Proteans); Philip Corso (Miles Gloriosus, a warrior); A...

      On May 17th, 2023, I saw the 2pm performance of the musical "Kimberly Akimbo" at the Booth Theatre in New York City.  "Kimberly Akimbo" opened for previews on Broadway on October 12th, 2022.  Prior to that, the musical had a successful off-Broadway run at the Linda Gross Theatre, where the production began previews on November 6th, 2021 and ran until January 15th, 2022.  The off-Broadway Production of "Kimberly Akimbo" won three Lucille Lortel Awards, one Clive Barnes Award, one Drama Desk Award, four Outer Critic Circle Awards, and one Theatre World Award.  The Broadway Production of "Kimberly Akimbo" has been nominated for eight Tony Awards.  As emotionally charged as this musical is, it fell short of "Some Like it Hot," which was nominated for thirteen Tony Awards.              The cast of "Kimberly Akimbo" includes Victoria Clark (Kimberly), Justin Cooley (Seth), Olivia Elease Hardy (Delia), Fernel...