Criticism

OPERA REVIEW: Peter Grimes — Man Adrift in a Sea of Troubles

The Princeton Festival’s production of Benjamin Britten’s elliptical opera is an estimable achievement by any standard.

The heroine of Tom Kitt and Brian Yorkey’s musical imagines her life on two paths. If only even one of them led to a better show.

Naomi Iizuka’s complex play, in a visually beautiful production, is a mixed bag.

Lucas Hnath’s slight but provocative play is entertainingly done at Philadelphia Theatre Company.

Young Jean Lee’s complex, often wonderful, destabilizing play gets a fine production at InterAct.

An A-for-effort production with some fine moments doesn’t fully realize the size and scale of the play.

Superb direction and a blue-chip cast in a beautiful, heartfelt, and visually glorious production.

As a play, Ballad has flaws; as a community experience, it’s overwhelming.

Considerable moment-to-moment power here is stronger than the big picture.

Director Tom Reing gives us an accomplished, exhilaratingly theatrical show, but the core story and its protagonist remain elusive.