Solitary Solidarity: Theatre Reviews from the Present to the Past

      On July 23rd, 2025, I saw the 2pm performance of the musical comedy "Operation Mincemeat" at the Golden Theatre in New York City.  "Operation Mincemeat" is set in 1943, and is a true story.  The musical is about a deception operation carried out by the British Intelligence during World War II.  The operation involved planting fake documents (pertaining to an invasion) on a corpse disguised as a British officer.  The goal was to mislead the Nazis, and draw them away from Sicily.  The musical features a book, music, and lyrics by David Cumming, Felix Hagan, Natasha Hodgson, and Zoë Roberts.      "Operation Mincemeat" premiered on Broadway on March 20th, 2025 (after beginning previews on February 15th).  The production was originally scheduled for a limited 16-week engagement.  However, it is currently scheduled to run through February 15th, 2026.  The West-End Production has been running for over two years.  ...

       On the moderately warm afternoon of July 2nd, 2025, I saw a performance of the jaw-dropping Broadway spectacle "Stranger Things: the First Shadow" at the Marquis Theatre in New York City.  I won the ticket lottery for the performance the day before, and it became the perfect 40th Birthday present from my mom.  By that, I don't mean I received 40 gifts.  I mean that the present was in honor of me turning 40.  Incidentally, I've probably received far more than 40 gifts...    "Stranger Things: the First Shadow" is a prequel of the Netflix show "Stranger Things."  It takes place in 1959 in Hawkins, Indiana when a young Henry Creel and his family move there for a fresh start.  It doesn't take long before things go wrong.  This is a play full of amazing set designs and visual effects.  There are also frightening moments along with funny ones (occasional sad moments, too).         At the perfo...

      On the cold and wintry afternoon of January 8th, 2025, I got to see a performance of Jamie Lloyd's critically acclaimed Broadway Revival of "Sunset Boulevard."  It was performing at the St. James Theatre in New York City.  I won the ticket lottery for the performance the day before.  With some trepidation, but mostly absolute joy, I asked my mom if she could pay for the discounted ticket to the show.  She agreed, as long as I didn't mind the cold weather.  To make a not-so-long story short, I was going to the show!        When I was on the city-bound train the day of the show, I got an email notifying me that Nicole Scherzinger wouldn't be playing Norma Desmond at the performance of "Sunset" I was seeing.  The role of Norma would be performed by Mandy Gonzalez instead.  I don't recall feeling disappointed.  I've been a fan of "Sunset Boulevard" long before Nicole Scherzinger was first cast as Norma in ...

       On the afternoon of December 11th, 2024, I saw a performance of the Thornton Wilder play "Our Town" at the Ethel Barrymore Theatre in New York City.  This was a three act play, yet it was just under two hours with no intermission.  I was glad to have stayed for the entire show.  It was a dreary and rainy day outside.  If there was an intermission, it is possible I might have left.  If I had, I wouldn't have known that the show kept getting better and better.  The acting got more impressive as well.  A photo I took of the Ethel Barrymore Theatre (while trying to keep my phone dry from the rain).      On the day I saw "Our Town," the cast included Jim Parsons (Stage Manager), Billy Eugene Jones (Dr. Gibbs), Sky Smith (Joe Crowell/Si Crowell), John McGinty (Howie Newsome), Michelle Wilson (Mrs. Gibbs), Katie Holmes (Mrs. Webb), Ephraim Sykes (George Gibbs), Safiya Kaijya Harris (Rebecca Gibbs), Hagan Oliveras (Wal...

         On the afternoon of December 4th, 2024, I saw a performance of the David Adjmi play "Stereophonic" at the John Golden Theatre in New York City.  The play featured original songs by Will Butler and was directed by Daniel Aukin.  The production featured scenic design by David Zinn.  Other productions I saw that featured scenic design by David Zinn include "Kimberly Akimbo" (Broadway), "Fun Home" (National Tour), "The SpongeBob Musical" (World Premiere), and "The Notebook" (Broadway).  The scenery of these five shows were all very unique, and individualized to the stories being told on stage. Me in front of the John Golden Theatre marquee, prior to seeing "Stereophonic."      "Stereophonic" had its World Premiere Engagement at Playwrights Horizons (also in New York City).  After beginning previews on October 6th, 2023, the World Premiere Engagement officially opened on October 29th and ran thru December 17th of...

      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...