RE:Five Actors and a New Script
Engaging, convincing intimate theater with lively writing and strong evenly matched performances. One act, no intermissions, well worth experiencing even in the humble West West 57th Street church basement digs.

Just A Reading on Friday, Apr 29th, 2011

Five Actors and a New Script
Engaging, convincing intimate theater with lively writing and strong evenly matched performances. One act, no intermissions, well worth experiencing even in the humble West West 57th Street church basement digs.

Just A Reading on Friday, Apr 29th, 2011

Preview: 2011 Arcadia Needs Fixing Up
Comparing this 2011 production to 1995 Lincoln Center one. Plays central themes muddy now especially soggy first act, clear then. Both had voice projection problems. Thomasina, at 13 and 17, and Septimus her young tutor are the central characters. Both: Billy Crudup then and Tom Riley now terrific. But Bel Powley is as miscast in this production as Jennifer Dundas was right for it in the Nunn production. From the first shrill sentence to the last bob of her head, she does not convince us that she could produce a nonlinear mathematical proof . But she can waltz. In turnabout, Crudup now plays a cartoon of the egoist scholar, Nightengale. But he is a great actor and the performance can be toned down before opening night, while Powley needs to be replaced with a young woman with real verve, a good voice and brains.

Arcadia on Thursday, Mar 3rd, 2011

Preview: 2011 Arcadia Needs Fixing Up
Comparing this 2011 production to 1995 Lincoln Center one. Central themes muddy now especially soggy in the first act, clear then. Both had voice projection problems. Thomasina, at 13 and 17, and Septimus her young tutor are the two of the key characters. Both: Billy Crudup then and Tom Riley now terrific. But Bel Powley is as miscast in this production as Jennifer Dundas was right for it in the Nunn production. From the first shrill sentence to the last bob of her head, she does not convince us that she could produce a nonlinear mathematical proof . But she can waltz. Lia Williams plays Hannah, one of the modern day characters, as the self-directed historian and author. In turnabout, Crudup now plays a cartoon of the egoist scholar, Nightengale. But he is a great actor and the performance can be toned down before opening night, while Powley needs to be replaced with a young woman with real verve, a good voice and brains.

Arcadia on Thursday, Mar 3rd, 2011

Preview: 2011 Arcadia Needs Fixing Up
Comparing this 2011 production to the 1995 Lincoln Center one. Central idea is the reoccurring conflict for humans of their ego/hubris urges lust, recognition, control over people/nature versus need for transcendence though the creative acts math, poetry, rational inquiry, the science of nature and love. The 1995 Nunn production got it right, in its set, casting and direction. The 2011 Leveaux?s ego seems to be getting in the way of Stoppard?s truth. The action drags especially in the first act. The set lacks wit. Both: Billy Crudup then and Tom Riley now are terrific Septimuses. But from the first shrill sentence to last bob of her head, Bel Powley is either miscast or terribly as Jennifer Dundas was right for it in the Nunn production. In turnabout, Crudup now plays a cartoon of the fame-seeking scholar, Nightengale. Still he is a great actor and can be toned down. But is there enough time/talent before opening night on March 17th for Leveaux and Powley reshape her Thomasina?

Arcadia on Thursday, Mar 3rd, 2011

Preview: 2011 Arcadia Needs Fixing Up
Comparing this 2011 production to the 1995 Lincoln Center one. Central idea is the reoccurring conflict for humans of their ego/hubris urges lust, recognition, control versus need for transcendence though creative acts math, poetry, rational inquiry, the science of nature and love. The 1995 Nunn production got it right, in its set, casting and direction. The 2011 Leveaux?s ego seems to be getting in the way of Stoppard?s truth. The action drags especially in the first act. The set lacks wit. Both: Billy Crudup then and Tom Riley now are terrific Septimuses. But from the first shrill word to last bob of her head, Bel Powley is either mis-cast and badly directed as Jennifer Dundas was right for it in the Nunn production. In turnabout, Crudup now plays a cartoon of the fame-seeking scholar, Nightengale. Still he is a great actor and can tone down. But is there enough time/talent before opening night for Leveaux and Powley reshape her Thomasina?

Arcadia on Thursday, Mar 3rd, 2011

RE:SciFi and Ancient Storytelling
Mimic merges ancient storytelling with a dark future twist. If you love theater, do not miss this show.

Mimic on Tuesday, Mar 8th, 2011

Storytelling: Past, Present and Future
If you love live performance, see Mimic. It merges the ancient storyteller sitting in the dark, face lit by the fire, with the ambivalent made-up modern performer recounting to his audience a life in the near future so dark, masked and twisted, that incest, suicide and patricide are creative acts.

Mimic on Thursday, Mar 10th, 2011

Arcadia: 1996 and 2011
How does this 2011 production compare to the 1995 Lincoln Center one? The struggle is between human ego/hubris lust, recognition, control and the need for transcendence creative acts math, poetry, rational inquiry, the science of nature and love. The 1995 Nunn production got it right, in its set, casting and direction. Alas, in 2011 Leveaux?s hubris is overshadowing Stoppard?s truth. The action drags especially in the first act. The set lacks wit. Both: Billy Crudup then and Tom Riley now are terrific Septimuses. But from the first shrill word to last bob of her head, Bel Powley?s performance is miss-directed as Jennifer Dundas was spot-on. In turnabout, Crudup now plays a cartoon of the fame-seeking scholar, Nightengale. Still he is a great actor and can tone down. But is there enough time/talent before opening night for Leveaux and Powley to reshape her Thomasina?

Arcadia on Thursday, Mar 10th, 2011

RE:MacBeth!LadyMacBeth!McDuff's Revenge!
This production is as clearly spoken, staged, directed and acted as Will wrote it. Small theater makes it even more alive.

Macbeth on Thursday, Mar 24th, 2011

Watch Out For 3 Witches in Beards
This production is as clearly spoken, staged, directed and acted as Will wrote it. Small theater makes it even more alive.

Macbeth on Thursday, Mar 24th, 2011