Guest Blog Post: Sharon Florin on Broadway’s Fall Season
by Anya Driscoll on 8 October 2009Sharon Florin, renowned painter of New York ’s urban landscapes (and terrific Metrotwinner!) is also a keen theatre-goer; we have harnessed her passion and expertise and convinced her to write the below review on the plays you simply must see this Fall on Broadway.
The Fall season on Broadway is off to a terrific start. Wonderful productions to be seen this year. Carrie Fisher’s “Wishful Drinking” is funny, poignant and insightful. She delves into her wild Hollywood childhood with her famous parents, her early stardom in “Star Wars”, marriages, addictions and how she has gotten to this point in her life. Staged in the old Studio 54, the show wi ll leave you laughing and shaking your head at the same time.
Jude Law in “Hamlet” was a real surprise. Having only seen the actor on the big-screen, I wasn’t sure what to expect when I heard he would be attempting to put his stamp on one of the greatest plays ever written. He and the rest of the cast did an admirable job. The production, which reminded me at times of “Mary Stuart” last spring, was dramatic and moved along smoothly. I left the theater feeling I had just seen something I would not soon forget.
Edna Ferber and George S. Kaufman’s revival of “The Royal Family” at the Manhattan Theatre Club was fun, if a tad dated. A take-off on the illustrious Barrymore family, or so it is said, it was fast-paced in a zany way.
“Superior Donuts”, Tracy Lett’s new offering after his knock-out “August: Osage County” was an intimate piece of theater, well acted by Michael McKean and a terrific young actor Jon Michael Hill. It at times has a sitcom feel, but was an enjoyable evening at the theater, one that I would recommend.
One of my favorite new shows of this season has got to be the terrific new musical “Memphis”. Everything worked in this one. Terrific acting and singing by the talented cast. It’s nice when many of the cast members get a big number and a chance to shine, and they were all showstoppers. Music and choreography was original and toe-tappng, innovative sets and a wonderful time all around. I left the theater raving about this show and can’t wait for the soundtrack to be released. Saw it in previews and think this might be a really big one.
Other shows of interest are “After Miss Julie”, “God of Carnage”, “Rock of Ages”, “In the Heights”, “The 39 Steps” and “Jersey Boys”. If you enjoy the theater, all of these productions have something wonderful to offer.
Photos courtesy of MJantzen and ClevelandSGS used under a Creative Commons License
27 October 09
Thanks for the theater update!
I have to say I strongly disagree with you about Superior Donuts and thought it was a crap script — and I loved August: Osage County not to mention Bug and Killer Joe! Jon Michael Hill is incredible, though, I agree about that.
I also got to see A Steady Rain at a matinee last week and despite the steady panning of critics, I thought it was great. Daniel Craig, in particular, is just as fantastic a stage actor as his non-Bond film work would lead one to hope. Jackman doesn’t bring a lot to the role, but he’s solid enough for an almost thoroughly despicable character. I think if this was an off-broadway production with two equally talented but less-well-known actors, it would be getting raves as the sleeper hit of the season with a surprisingly deep script that stuns with its power of moving description that subverts the “show, don’t tell” mandate. Though it’s sold out and only runs to Dec. 3, I think that lovers of serious two-hander shows would be fools to miss it; if you have a chance and the dollars to spend, go to the theater shortly before curtain and see if you can buy tickets off of one of the middle-aged matrons scalping hers because she is a slave to the reviewers.
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