Continuing our theater journey, I’m like Alice down the rabbit hole. So much to see, so little time.
“Othello,” starring Denzel Washington and Jake Gyllenhaal, has been much in the news, primarily because of ticket pricing. But that takes the focus away from what is a wonderful production with great acting. The cast of “Othello,” led by the two stars, has found a tempo and flow that makes the glorious words come alive.
In Washington’s capable hands, Othello is a relatable hero who succumbs to the “green-eyed monster” and is undone by the machinations of Iago. Jake Gyllenhaal’s Iago is formidable, one of the most evil villains in literature; his every speech and action segues neatly into Othello’s reactions making this a more evenly staged two-hander. Each of them, Washington and Gyllenhaal, is the star of this play and production. Their command of the language and its rhythms enhance every moment. At the Ethel Barrymore Theatre, running through June 8.
“Maybe Happy Ending” is the sleeper hit of the season. Directed by Michael Arden (“Spring Awakening”), it stars the incredibly charming and talented Darren Criss (“Glee”) and Helen J. Shen. “Maybe Happy Ending” is about two helperbots (AI robots), Oliver and Claire, in the relatively distant future, who have been unwillingly retired from their positions and live in adjoining apartments.Each spends endless hours worrying over their respective futures. Claire and Oliver meet “cute” when Claire’s battery malfunctions and she needs to borrow a charger. She, the more realistic of the two, sees things through the lens of disappointment with a rundown end in sight. Oliver, on the other hand, is chipper and determined that his retirement to this apartment was a mistake and that his previous owner will come for him at any time, time being relative because it’s already been a number of years. Claire and Oliver are a mismatched duo who have been moored to the same life buoy. It is a variation on the age-old boy-meets-girl scenario with a lot of twists in store for them both.
Criss, loaded with charisma and heart, is the star of this inventive and surprising musical. His robot is a jerky mechanical bundle of disconnected wires that make him all the more endearing. Shen’s Claire is the charming counterpart, willing to humor him even though she knows where this will ultimately lead.
“Maybe Happy Ending” is one of those shows that gradually envelops and hypnotizes you until you are fully engaged in the lives of these robots with skewed human emotions. You will find yourself gradually and then thoroughly embraced by this musical with lovely tunes and an ending that is both cynical and innocent, that maybe happy ending. It’s unlikely that you’ll ever look at a charger the same way again. Now playing at the Belasco Theatre.
Photo by Matthew Murphy and Evan Zimmerman
“Operation Mincemeat” was an eagerly anticipated import from London. Based on the true, yet unbelievable, story of how the Brits used a dead body loaded with false intelligence documents to fool the Nazis into believing they would be invading Sardinia instead of Sicily at the end of World War II. The Spitlip group has created what is supposed to be a farcical musical retelling of the story. Billed as a cross between Monty Python, “The Play That Goes Wrong” and Benny Hill; it was not. Certainly, some of the audience enjoyed it. We did not. The music was sophomoric and unmemorable, the humor was hit or miss and the tone was all over the map. Now playing at the Golden Theatre.
“Buyer beware” would be my byword for expensive shows with untested casts. “Othello” was worth the risk because both Washington and Gyllenhaal are seasoned stage actors who come back to Broadway often. In the case of other untested star vehicles, I would advise that you wait to purchase tickets until the reviews come in.
Here’s a sampling of other plays of note, both on and off Broadway, some already playing and others soon to arrive.
“Good Night and Good Luck” at the Wintergarden Theatre is George Clooney’s debut on Broadway in a script that he and Grant Heslov based on their acclaimed film. Ticket prices rival those of “Othello.”
“Glengarry Glen Ross,” a new revival starring Kieran Culkin, Bob Odenkirk and Bill Burr has just opened at the Palace Theatre, and there are hordes waiting to see Kieran Culkin, fresh off his Oscar win. What makes this worth taking a chance on is the formidable Michael McKean in a supporting role.
“Death Becomes Her,” at the Lunt Fontanne Theatre, is based on the 1992 film starring Meryl Streep and Goldie Hawn. The show was well-reviewed and has lots of buzz. Starring Megan Hilty, Christopher Sieber and Jennifer Simard, it boasts terrific acting and clever songs.
“Buena Vista Social Club,” at the Gerald Schoenfeld Theatre, is jam-packed with the music from the famous album. Most don’t notice that a plot is lacking because the music is so vibrant it makes you want to get up and dance.
“Hell’s Kitchen,” at the Shubert Theatre, is a musical featuring the music of Alicia Keys and based on her life. The show has been running for a year and that is recommendation enough.
“Oh, Mary!” at the Lyceum Theatre through June 28 is the most talked-about show on Broadway. A dark (very dark) comedy about Mary Todd Lincoln in all her misery that boasts incongruous actors playing her gayly (in all its definitions) and irreverently, often by a man in drag. Currently starring Tituss Burgess (“Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt”) as Mary, you get the picture. I truly regret not seeing this one.
“Stranger Things: The First Shadow,” another hit transferring from London with two Olivier Awards, is based on the Netflix series and has lots of buzz. Previews have started and the show opens April 22. At the Marquis Theatre.
“Just in Time” is Jonathan Groff’s return after his triumph in “Merrily We Roll Along.” This musical play about Bobby Darin transforms the Circle in the Square Theatre into a nightclub. Performances through July.
“Call Me Izzy” starts previews on May 24 and runs for 12 weeks at Studio 54. This is Jean Smart’s return to Broadway in a one-woman show set in rural Louisiana. The subject is secondary to the chance to see Smart, a truly great actress, on stage.And don’t forget about Off Broadway where Hugh Jackman will be starring in a new play called “Sexual Misconduct of the Middle Classes,” sharing the Audible Minetta Lane Theatre with “Creditors” starring Liev Schreiber. “Sexual Misconduct” runs from April 28 through June 18; “Creditors” begins May 10 and ends June 18.
“Irishtown,” the new play at the Irish Repertory Theatre, is a comic look at actors rebelling against their director. It stars the marvelous Kate Burton and Saorise-Monica Jackson of “Derry Girls,” and that alone makes it a must-see. Running from April 2-May 25.
“The Cherry Orchard” at St. Ann’s Warehouse in Brooklyn starring the incomparable Nina Hoss (“Tar” and “Phoenix”). Now through April 27.
Ticket prices for many of the shows are off the scale. It’s always worth checking for discounts. TDF.com runs the TKTSs booth at Times Square and Lincoln Center offering same-day discounts on a wide array of shows; you can also check their site at tdf.org. Today Tix (todaytix.com) offers last-minute theater tickets for many of the shows, but keep in mind, there are no refunds or exchanges because this is a third-party ticket. If the above-the-title star calls in sick, there is no refund (something that you can get when tickets have been purchased online or from the box office). Also, check out the following sites: Broadwaybox.com, Theatermania.com, nytix.com and Playbill.com/discounts. Don’t forget to check for returns at the box office or the online lotteries for some of the shows.
My advice? Go now, go later, but go see a play on Broadway or Off. It’s always an immersive experience and one that will stay with you long after the lights go up. And don’t forget to check out the wonderful offerings in Los Angeles’ small theaters.
Neely Swanson spent most of her professional career in the television industry, almost all of it working for David E. Kelley. In her last full-time position as Executive Vice President of Development, she reviewed writer submissions and targeted content for adaptation. As she has often said, she did book reports for a living. For several years she was a freelance writer for “Written By,” the magazine of the WGA West, and was adjunct faculty at USC in the writing division of the School of Cinematic Arts. Neely has been writing film and television reviews for the “Easy Reader” for more than 10 years. Her past reviews can be read on Rotten Tomatoes where she is a tomatometer-approved critic.
