I’m on and off Broadway in today’s Wall Street Journal drama column, in which I review Des McAnuff’s revival of Guys and Dolls and the Roundabout Theatre Company’s production of Distracted, a new play by Lisa Loomer. Here’s an excerpt.
* * *
Never underestimate the power of a director to louse up a good show. That’s what Des McAnuff has done to “Guys and Dolls,” a pop-culture masterwork so bulletproof that it’s never failed to make its effect, even when performed by amateurs–until now. Mr. McAnuff, the director of “Jersey Boys,” has taken Frank Loesser’s timeless tale of New York in the ’30s and turned it into a shrink-wrapped, over-designed piece of high-dollar plastic that belongs in a warm-weather theme park, not on Broadway….
Mr. McAnuff and his collaborators seem not to have realized that there’s nothing stale about Loesser’s raffish songs or Abe Burrows’ wisecrack-studded book. All you have to do is perform them with the same hard-nosed punch that you can hear on the original-cast album of George S. Kaufman’s 1950 production and you’ve got yourself a hit. That punch is what’s missing from this revival, and in particular from most of the men in the cast. It’s as though none of them had ever seen a Jimmy Cagney movie….
The women come off much better, especially Lauren Graham, who is making her Broadway debut as Adelaide, the hapless chorus girl who’s been engaged to Nathan for 14 years. Ms. Graham, lately of “Gilmore Girls,” is a musical-comedy newcomer, but you couldn’t tell it by her work in “Guys and Dolls.” Not only is she a terrific singer, but but she plays Adelaide with a rueful, leggy charm that is wholly endearing…
Lisa Loomer made a well-deserved splash six years ago with “Living Out,” an impressively intelligent dramedy about an impeccably liberal entertainment lawyer who hires an illegal immigrant from El Salvador to tend her newborn child. Then Ms. Loomer dropped off the scope, much to my dismay. Now she’s back in town with the New York premiere of “Distracted,” another sharp-toothed satire set in upper-middle-class suburbia. In “Distracted” Cynthia Nixon and Josh Stamberg play the parents of Jesse (Matthew Gumley), a bright, energetic child of nine whose inappropriate behavior in the classroom and at home causes him to be diagnosed with Attention Deficit Disorder. Appalled by the possibility that Jesse might need to be put on Ritalin, the amphetamine-like stimulant that is widely prescribed for children suffering from ADD, they embark on a desperate search for a more palatable alternative to drug therapy, one so frenzied that they find themselves spending more time with doctors than with their increasingly unhappy boy….
“Distracted” isn’t nearly as taut or disciplined a piece of work as “Living Out.” It’s journalistic to a fault–the characters are forever telling us interesting things about ADD instead of interacting with one another–and it also succumbs at annoyingly frequent intervals to the kind of self-conscious humor that makes you wonder whether Ms. Loomer lacks confidence in her ability to hold an audience’s attention by being serious. And while it’s easy to see what she’s trying to do by cramming “Distracted” full of fast-paced dialogue, the play’s hectic pace makes it seem longer than it really is. Especially during the first act, I kept wanting to nudge the author in the ribs and say, “O.K., O.K., we get it already! Let’s move on!”
On the other hand, “Distracted” is also smart, funny and genuinely felt, and Mark Brokaw, the director, keeps the action flying by so fast that the weaker parts of the script are gone almost before you know it….
* * *
Read the whole thing here.
This is my Wall Street Journal video review of Guys and Dolls:
Search Results for: dull guys hot dolls
TT: Once more, with production numbers
In today’s Wall Street Journal I report favorably on two new shows, the musical version of A Christmas Story (surprise!) and Christopher Durang’s Vanya and Sonia and Masha and Spike. Here’s an excerpt.
* * *
Recipe for a successful commodity musical: (1) Obtain the stage rights to a well-liked film. (2) Write a script that sticks close to the original plot, so as not to upset the public. (3) Add safe, uninteresting songs and fancy sets and costumes. (4) Sit back and count the money. This, of course, is also a sure-fire recipe for a dull show, which is why commodity musicals are a blight on Broadway. Once in a while, though, the odd thing happens. “A Christmas Story,” the stage version of Bob Clark’s charming 1983 film about Ralphie, a sweet little kid from Indiana who longs to find an Official Red Ryder Carbine-Action Two-Hundred-Shot Range Model Air Rifle under the tree on Christmas morning, ought by all rights to be tedious in the extreme–but it isn’t. Some of it, in fact, is really good, and none of it is less than watchable.
“A Christmas Story,” mind you, follows the recipe in every way. Nothing happens in the show that doesn’t happen in the film, all of the now-familiar plot twists are present and accounted for, the members of the cast endeavor mightily to suggest the well-remembered performances of their cinematic counterparts, and the reassuringly obvious song titles include “A Major Award,” “Red Ryder Carbine Action BB Gun” and “You’ll Shoot Your Eye Out!”
So what works? Quite a lot, actually, starting with the staging. John Rando is a scintillating musical-comedy director–his “Guys and Dolls,” mounted last year at Massachusetts’ Barrington Stage, was the best revival of that classic musical that I’ve ever seen–and he and Warren Carlyle, the choreographer, infuse “A Christmas Story” with plenty of liveliness and flair….
Christopher Durang writes comedies with stiletto-sharp stings in the tail, some of which are devastatingly funny and others exasperatingly messy. “Vanya and Sonia and Masha and Spike” is one of the former, an inside-out medley of Chekhov’s Greatest Hits in which key moments from the Russian playwright’s oeuvre are scrambled into a camp cartoon about a melancholy Pennsylvania family whose members (Kristine Nielsen, David Hyde Pierce and Sigourney Weaver) were named by their theater-loving parents after characters from “Three Sisters” and “Uncle Vanya.” The trick up Mr. Durang’s sleeve is that the play’s onstage lunacy is the distorted outward manifestation of the deep-seated sorrows of its protagonists, especially Sonia (Ms. Nielsen), a sad sack who gets her biggest laughs simply by telling the awful truth about her unfulfilled life: “My relationships with men have been limited to ‘Here’s your change, ma’am’ at the supermarket.”
Not only does Ms. Nielsen have the best part, but she gives the best performance of the evening, the high point of which is a phone-call monologue that is as smartly written as any of Mr. Durang’s glittering comic sketches….
* * *
Read the whole thing here.
A preview of the Lincoln Center Theater production of Vanya and Sonia and Masha and Spike:
TT: So you want to see a show?
Here’s my list of recommended Broadway, off-Broadway, and out-of-town shows, updated weekly. In all cases, I gave these shows favorable reviews (if sometimes qualifiedly so) in The Wall Street Journal when they opened. For more information, click on the title.
Warning: Broadway shows marked with an asterisk were sold out, or nearly so, last week.
BROADWAY:
• Alfred Hitchcock’s The 39 Steps (comedy, G, suitable for bright children, reviewed here)
• August: Osage County (drama, R, adult subject matter, reviewed here)
• Avenue Q (musical, R, adult subject matter and one show-stopping scene of puppet-on-puppet sex, reviewed here)
• Exit the King (disturbingly black comedy, PG-13, closes June 14, reviewed here)
• God of Carnage * (serious comedy, PG-13, adult subject matter, closes July 19, reviewed here)
• Joe Turner’s Come and Gone (drama, PG-13, some adult subject matter, accessible to adolescents with mature attention spans, closes June 14, reviewed here)
• The Little Mermaid (musical, G, entirely suitable for children, reviewed here)
• Mary Stuart (drama, G, far too long and complicated for children, closes Aug. 16, reviewed here)
• The Norman Conquests (three related comedies, PG-13, comprehensively unsuitable for children, playing in repertory through July 25, reviewed here)
• South Pacific * (musical, G/PG-13, some sexual content, brilliantly staged but unsuitable for viewers acutely allergic to preachiness, reviewed here)
• Waiting for Godot * (drama, PG-13, accessible to intelligent and open-minded adolescents, closes July 12, reviewed here)
OFF BROADWAY:
• The Fantasticks (musical, G, suitable for children capable of enjoying a love story, reviewed here)
• Our Town (drama, G, suitable for mature children, reviewed here)
• Ruined (drama, PG-13/R, sexual content and suggestions of extreme violence, closes June 28, reviewed here)
IN CHICAGO:
• The History Boys (drama, PG-13/R, adult subject matter, too intellectually complex for most adolescents, closes Aug. 2, reviewed here)
CLOSING SUNDAY IN BROOKLYN:
• The Merchant of Venice (Shakespearian drama, PG-13, reviewed here)
CLOSING SUNDAY OFF BROADWAY:
• Distracted (serious comedy, PG-13, reviewed here)
TT: So you want to see a show?
Here’s my list of recommended Broadway, off-Broadway, and out-of-town shows, updated weekly. In all cases, I gave these shows favorable reviews (if sometimes qualifiedly so) in The Wall Street Journal when they opened. For more information, click on the title.
Warning: Broadway shows marked with an asterisk were sold out, or nearly so, last week.
BROADWAY:
• Alfred Hitchcock’s The 39 Steps (comedy, G, suitable for bright children, reviewed here)
• August: Osage County (drama, R, adult subject matter, reviewed here)
• Avenue Q (musical, R, adult subject matter and one show-stopping scene of puppet-on-puppet sex, reviewed here)
• Exit the King (disturbingly black comedy, PG-13, closes June 14, reviewed here)
• God of Carnage * (serious comedy, PG-13, adult subject matter, closes July 19, reviewed here)
• Joe Turner’s Come and Gone (drama, PG-13, some adult subject matter, accessible to adolescents with mature attention spans, closes June 14, reviewed here)
• The Little Mermaid (musical, G, entirely suitable for children, reviewed here)
• Mary Stuart (drama, G, far too long and complicated for children, closes Aug. 16, reviewed here)
• The Norman Conquests (three related comedies, PG-13, comprehensively unsuitable for children, playing in repertory through July 25, reviewed here)
• South Pacific * (musical, G/PG-13, some sexual content, brilliantly staged but unsuitable for viewers acutely allergic to preachiness, reviewed here)
• Waiting for Godot (drama, PG-13, accessible to intelligent and open-minded adolescents, extended through July 12, reviewed here)
OFF BROADWAY:
• The Fantasticks (musical, G, suitable for children capable of enjoying a love story, reviewed here)
• Our Town (drama, G, suitable for mature children, reviewed here)
• Ruined (drama, PG-13/R, sexual content and suggestions of extreme violence, closes June 28, reviewed here)
CLOSING NEXT WEEK OFF BROADWAY:
• Distracted (serious comedy, PG-13, closes May 17, reviewed here)
TT: So you want to see a show?
Here’s my list of recommended Broadway, off-Broadway, and out-of-town shows, updated weekly. In all cases, I gave these shows favorable reviews (if sometimes qualifiedly so) in The Wall Street Journal when they opened. For more information, click on the title.
Warning: Broadway shows marked with an asterisk were sold out, or nearly so, last week.
BROADWAY:
• Alfred Hitchcock’s The 39 Steps (comedy, G, suitable for bright children, reviewed here)
• August: Osage County (drama, R, adult subject matter, reviewed here)
• Avenue Q (musical, R, adult subject matter and one show-stopping scene of puppet-on-puppet sex, reviewed here)
• Exit the King * (disturbingly black comedy, PG-13, closes June 14, reviewed here)
• God of Carnage * (comedy, PG-13, closes July 19, reviewed here)
• Joe Turner’s Come and Gone (drama, PG-13, closes June 14, reviewed here)
• The Little Mermaid (musical, G, entirely suitable for children, reviewed here)
• Mary Stuart (drama, G, far too long and complicated for children, closes Aug. 16, reviewed here)
• The Norman Conquests (three related comedies, PG-13, comprehensively unsuitable for children, playing in repertory through July 25, reviewed here)
• South Pacific * (musical, G/PG-13, some sexual content, brilliantly staged but unsuitable for viewers acutely allergic to preachiness, reviewed here)
OFF BROADWAY:
• The Fantasticks (musical, G, suitable for children capable of enjoying a love story, reviewed here)
• Our Town (drama, G, suitable for mature children, reviewed here)
• Ruined (drama, PG-13/R, sexual content and suggestions of extreme violence, extended through June 28, reviewed here)
CLOSING SOON OFF BROADWAY:
• Distracted (serious comedy, PG-13, closes May 17, reviewed here)
TT: So you want to see a show?
Here’s my list of recommended Broadway, off-Broadway, and out-of-town shows, updated weekly. In all cases, I gave these shows favorable reviews (if sometimes qualifiedly so) in The Wall Street Journal when they opened. For more information, click on the title.
Warning: Broadway shows marked with an asterisk were sold out, or nearly so, last week.
BROADWAY:
• Alfred Hitchcock’s The 39 Steps (comedy, G, suitable for bright children, reviewed here)
• August: Osage County (drama, R, adult subject matter, reviewed here)
• Avenue Q (musical, R, adult subject matter and one show-stopping scene of puppet-on-puppet sex, reviewed here)
• Exit the King (disturbingly black comedy, PG-13, closes June 14, reviewed here)
• God of Carnage * (comedy, PG-13, closes July 19, reviewed here)
• Joe Turner’s Come and Gone * (drama, PG-13, closes June 14, reviewed here)
• The Little Mermaid (musical, G, entirely suitable for children, reviewed here)
• South Pacific * (musical, G/PG-13, some sexual content, brilliantly staged but unsuitable for viewers acutely allergic to preachiness, reviewed here)
OFF BROADWAY:
• The Fantasticks (musical, G, suitable for children capable of enjoying a love story, reviewed here)
• Our Town (drama, G, suitable for mature children, reviewed here)
CLOSING SOON OFF BROADWAY:
• Distracted (serious comedy, PG-13, closes May 17, reviewed here)
• Ruined (drama, PG-13/R, sexual content and suggestions of extreme violence, extended through May 10, reviewed here)
CLOSING SATURDAY OFF BROADWAY:
• Love/Stories (or But You Will Get Used to It) (one-act plays, PG-13, vastly too complicated for children, closes Apr. 25, reviewed here)
TT: So you want to see a show?
Here’s my list of recommended Broadway, off-Broadway, and out-of-town shows, updated weekly. In all cases, I gave these shows favorable reviews (if sometimes qualifiedly so) in The Wall Street Journal when they opened. For more information, click on the title.
Warning: Broadway shows marked with an asterisk were sold out, or nearly so, last week.
BROADWAY:
• Alfred Hitchcock’s The 39 Steps (comedy, G, suitable for bright children, reviewed here)
• August: Osage County (drama, R, adult subject matter, reviewed here)
• Avenue Q (musical, R, adult subject matter and one show-stopping scene of puppet-on-puppet sex, reviewed here)
• Exit the King (disturbingly black comedy, PG-13, closes June 14, reviewed here)
• God of Carnage * (comedy, PG-13, closes July 19, reviewed here)
• The Little Mermaid (musical, G, entirely suitable for children, reviewed here)
• South Pacific * (musical, G/PG-13, some sexual content, brilliantly staged but unsuitable for viewers acutely allergic to preachiness, reviewed here)
OFF BROADWAY:
• Distracted (serious comedy, PG-13, closes May 17, reviewed here)
• The Fantasticks (musical, G, suitable for children capable of enjoying a love story, reviewed here)
• Our Town (drama, G, suitable for mature children, reviewed here)
CLOSING SOON OFF BROADWAY:
• Ruined (drama, PG-13/R, sexual content and suggestions of extreme violence, closes May 3, reviewed here)
CLOSING NEXT WEEK OFF BROADWAY:
• Love/Stories (or But You Will Get Used to It) (one-act plays, PG-13, vastly too complicated for children, closes Apr. 25, reviewed here)
TT: So you want to see a show?
Here’s my list of recommended Broadway, off-Broadway, and out-of-town shows, updated weekly. In all cases, I gave these shows favorable reviews (if sometimes qualifiedly so) in The Wall Street Journal when they opened. For more information, click on the title.
Warning: Broadway shows marked with an asterisk were sold out, or nearly so, last week.
BROADWAY:
• Alfred Hitchcock’s The 39 Steps (comedy, G, suitable for bright children, reviewed here)
• August: Osage County (drama, R, adult subject matter, reviewed here)
• Avenue Q (musical, R, adult subject matter and one show-stopping scene of puppet-on-puppet sex, reviewed here)
• Exit the King (disturbingly black comedy, PG-13, closes June 14, reviewed here)
• God of Carnage * (comedy, PG-13, closes July 19, reviewed here)
• The Little Mermaid (musical, G, entirely suitable for children, reviewed here)
• South Pacific * (musical, G/PG-13, some sexual content, brilliantly staged but unsuitable for viewers acutely allergic to preachiness, reviewed here)
OFF BROADWAY:
• Distracted (serious comedy, PG-13, closes May 17, reviewed here)
• The Fantasticks (musical, G, suitable for children capable of enjoying a love story, reviewed here)
• Our Town (drama, G, suitable for mature children, reviewed here)
• Ruined (drama, PG-13/R, sexual content and suggestions of extreme violence, closes May 3, reviewed here)
CLOSING SOON OFF BROADWAY:
• Love/Stories (or But You Will Get Used to It) (one-act plays, PG-13, vastly too complicated for children, closes Apr. 25, reviewed here)