Some thoughts on a variety of Off-Broadway shows

[Yankeefan007]

Posted: 5/31/09 at 7:16pm

Some commentary on Off-Broadway shows I've seen recently. I know how you all have missed my reviews.

10 Things to do Before I Die - DOA, even with solid performances from the ensemble, led by Tracie Thoms and Natalie Venetia Belcon. Play by Zaykkaia Alexander is practically devoid of likable characters, conflict, charm. The sisters hate each other and themselves; we hate them, too. Thoms acts with her hands in her hair far too much.

Everyday Rapture - very, very charming. Wonderful to hear Sherie Rene Scott sing anything (hope there's an album). Script is alienating, but you can't take your eyes off HER. Shocking is how she's outshone by Eamon Foley, in one of the funniest theatrical in-jokes ever written.

Groundswell - a neat little thriller by Ian Bruce set in South Africa's west end post-Apartheid. Incomprehensibly authentic accent from David Lansbury, who delivers a solid perf., along with Larry Bryggman and Souleyman Sy Savane. Scott Elliot makes up for the O'Neill disaster, but he still doesn't know how to properly block a show for optimal audience viewing. Shocking, considering how every show he directs for the New Group is in that space.

Make Me - Pointless comedy by Leslie Ayvazian about people into S&M, with wonderful performances, especially Candy Buckley and Jessica Hecht as Dominatrix and Student, respectively.

Offices - 3 humorous short plays (with unfortunate buttons) by Ethan Coen, well-directed, acted. F. Murray Abraham is king.

Our House - Theresa Rebeck's play may be pseudo-profound, but it's damn funny and features a star-making performance in Jeremy Strong's quiet, TV-obsessed psychopath.

Then there are RUINED and OUR TOWN, the praises of which I've been singing since February. And MARVELOUS WONDERETTES which is a fun shoulder-shrug of a musical. Updated On: 5/31/09 at 07:16 PM

[RippedMan]

Posted: 5/31/09 at 11:25pm

Would you suggest I see Make Me or Groundswell? I'm not particularly interested in either, but I want to expand my horizons past Broadway, so yeah. I'm already going to see "Our House" because I enjoy her style of writing.