Solitary Solidarity: Theatre Reviews from the Present to the Past

      On the afternoon of October 20th, 2024, Kathryn and I saw a performance of the off-Broadway musical parody "Titaníque."  We saw the show at the Daryl Roth Theatre, where the show has been playing since November of 2022.  Prior to that, "Titaníque" played at the Asylum Theatre, also in New York City, since June of 2022.  Unless the show gets extended again, "Titaníque" will play its final Off-Broadway performance on January 12th, 2025.  However, productions of the show are opening in many different locations, including the West End, Sydney, and Chicago.        The cast that Kathryn and I saw featured Dee Roscioli (Celine Dion), Marcus Antonio (The Seaman, Iceberg), Tommy Bracco (Victor Garber, Luigi), Cayleigh Capaldi (Rose Dewitt Bukater), Sara Gallo (Background Vocalist), Shawn W. Smith (Background Vocalist), Billie Aken-Tyers (Background Vocalist), Lisa Howard (Molly Brown), Terrence Williams Jr. (Cal), Joel Waggoner (R...

      On the afternoon of Wednesday, October 9th, 2024, I saw a performance of the John Kander and Fred Ebb musical "Cabaret" at the Kit Kat Club at the August Wilson Theatre in New York City.  Before seeing this particular performance, I had never seen "Cabaret" on stage.  I had only seen the movie, and that was several years ago.  I had heard that this particular production lacked a lot of scenery.  What I wasn't prepared for was how lavishly transformed the August Wilson Theatre was for this production.  It was made to look like a permanent theatre-in-the-round configuration.  I was seated in the mezzanine section, and it was only when I looked up that I noticed that our section was actually within the stage of the August Wilson's proscenium layout.  When this production of "Cabaret" started to feel to immersive or unsettling, all I had to do was look up into the rafters.  The transformation of the theatre, as well as the costume...