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Grey Gardens
Book by Doug Wright,
Music by Scott Frankel,
Lyrics by Michael Korie
Based on the documentary by David and Albert Maysles
Directed by Serge Seiden
Produced by Studio Theatre
Reviewed by Gary McMillan

Studio Theatre’s Grey Gardens is a beautifully rendered and wonderfully off-kilter production of this Off Broadway-to-Broadway cult musical. Wealth and ZIP code are often the determining factors between the labels of madness and eccentricity. And as goes the old saying, eccentricity doesn’t run in the Beale family of East Hampton … it gallops. (more…)

A Beautiful View
by Daniel MacIvor
directed by Daniel MacIvor 
produced by Studio 2ndStage
reviewed by Tim Treanor

A Beautiful View is minor MacIvor, a light saunter through the fields fronting the forest of the human psyche. Lane (Jennifer Mendenhall) and Max (Kathleen Coons) meet, lie to each other, fall in love, have sex. Max takes off (she’s not bisexual, after all - not well organized enough) but they eventually meet again, and become good friends. Lane gets married; it doesn’t work out. Max has a relationship with a dentist; it doesn’t work out. They get jobs, lose jobs, move. They form a ukulele band. (more…)

The Road to Mecca
By Athol Fugard
Directed by Joy Zinoman
Produced by Studio Theatre
Reviewed by Steven McKnight

Athol Fugard’s The Road to Mecca is what I sometimes call a fruitcake play:  a special treat that is dense and rich with ideas and themes, but takes a while to digest.  Fortunately the fine performances at Studio Theatre help the play go down smoothly. (more…)

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• A two part interview with actor Lawrence Redmond starring in Jerry Springer: The Opera
• By Joel Markowitz (more…)
   

   Lawrence Redmond on Jerry Springer: Play Now | Play in Popup | Download (1559)
  
  

   

   Lawrence Redmond on his career: Play Now | Play in Popup | Download (1583)
  

  

• Jerry Springer: The Opera
• Music by Richard Thomas . Book and lyrics by Stewart Lee and Richard Thomas
• Directed by Keith Alan Baker
• Co-director/Choreography by Matthew Gardiner
• Produced by Studio 2ndStage
•  Reviewed by Gary McMillan

Jerry Springer, television personality: inane, profane, insane.  Studio Theatre’s Jerry Springer: The Opera: audacious, outrageous, stupendous. (more…)

• This Beautiful City
• By Steven Cosson and Jim Lewis
• With music and lyrics by Michael Friedman
• Produced by The Civilians at Studio Theatre
• Directed by Michael Friedman
• Reviewed by Tim Treanor

The difference between reality theater and reality television is that the aim of reality theater is to render difficult and complicated truths, whereas reality television is just bad improv. This Beautiful City sets out to create reality theater. (more…)

• The Internationalist
• By Anne Washburn
• Directed by Kirk Jackson
• Produced by Studio Theatre
• Reviewed by Steven McKnight

Sometimes I go to the theatre for a play that I hope will make me think, while other times I am looking for a good laugh.  Studio Theatre’s production of The Internationalist is a rare treat, a comedy that does both.  

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• The History Boys
• By Alan Bennett
• Directed by Joy Zinoman
• Produced by The Studio Theatre
• Reviewed by Tim Treanor

There is a moment, about an hour into Studio’s overlong History Boys, in which Floyd King reminds us of why we go to theater. King, one of the few actors here (or anywhere) whose mere presence in the cast justifies the price of a ticket, plays a donnish instructor at an English boy’s school. To this point, King’s performance has been cautious and conventional, reedy and tweedy. We’ve seen this character before, in Goodbye Mr. Chips, perhaps, or one of its innumerable imitators.

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• All That I Will Ever Be
• By Alan Ball
• Directed by Serge Seiden
• Produced by Studio Theater 2ndStage
• Reviewed by Janice Cane

Which is worse-a play whose first act is stronger than its second, or vice versa? Is it better to be drawn into a story and then disappointed after intermission, or is it better to have your patience throughout a tedious and disjointed first act rewarded with a stronger, more coherent Act 2?

I’m not sure of the answer, but I do know that All That I Will Ever Be falls into the latter category. (more…)

• Shining City
• by Conor McPherson
• Directed by Joy Zinoman
• Produced by Studio Theatre
• Reviewed by Rosalind Lacy
• That there’s an element of mythical unworldliness in Conor McPherson’s mesmerizing play Shining City is implied in the title, that echoes scripture, “A city on a hill cannot be hid.” Or “Let your light shine before men.” The image was borrowed from the Sermon on the Mount by St. Augustine in City of God  and made contemporary in Ronald Reagan’s speeches about America as the “shining city on a hill,” especially in his farewell.
• The Irish love to have the last word, especially when it comes to an allegorical journey called life. And McPherson, the playwright is no exception.

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