January 2017 – reclining standards

THEATER REVIEW: Hamlet & Saint Joan Make Strange But Fascinating Bed(lam) Fellows

These idiosyncratic, often illuminating productions now at McCarter register in surprising ways.

Playwright Mary Tuomanen’s quirky voice will delight some viewers and infuriate others.

In an often-dazzling parade of comic shtick, the sentimental side of Neil Simon tends to disappear.

Deborah Zoe Laufer’s play begins and ends well, but groans under a surfeit of issues.

Nick Payne’s lovely play, gorgeously produced at the Wilma, is a treat for scientists and poets.

This often enjoyable production doesn’t fully capture the play’s sublime, disquieting oddness.

Some effective moments and good performances here, but not much new insight into Lizzie Borden

Laughs are plentiful in the Walnut Street production. But is it really funny?

What the diva does in this mixed-bag revival is star-lit and memorable. But is it acting?

In a kitchen in Rhinebeck, ordinary and extraordinary life transpires in Richard Nelson’s magnificent trilogy.