StageBuzz

Reviewed by Judd Hollander - Jack Holden is magnificent as he takes on the roles of over 30 characters in the one-man show Kenrex at the Lucelle Lortel Theatre. Written by Holden and Ed Stambolluian, this transfer from London where it was nominated for multiple Olivier Awards, examines an actual incident and its lingering aftermath. Skidmore, Missouri is a place located in the middle of nowhere on your way to anywhere else.

Reviewed by Judd Hollander Looking for that extra advantage to protect ones’ interests is at the heart of David Lindsay-Adaire’s new Broadway comedy The Balusters. The East Coast community of Vernon Point consists of a historical district with Victorian homes on treelined streets, with stores, apartment buildings and other structures nearby. It’s close to the city but isolated enough to feel removed from it.

Reviewed by Judd Hollander One of the bloodiest works in the Shakespeare canon, Titus Andronicus offers a stark judgment about what happens when one follows custom too closely and where, but for a little mercy, things might have turned out quite differently. For the past ten years, the Roman Empire has been locked in a war with the Goths. Rome finally emerging victorious thanks in no small part to the battlefield efforts of General Titus Andronicus (Patrick Page).

Reviewed by Judd Hollander In Stockbridge, Massachusetts during the summer of 1984 I had my first and until now, only encounter with a production of the 1964 Broadway musical “High Spirits.” After seeing the show, with book, music and lyrics by Hugh Martin and Timothy Gray, and based on Noel Coward’s 1941 comedy “Blithe Spirit,” I remember thinking how much I enjoyed it overall, but that the book was somewhat uneven.

Reviewed by Judd Hollander Be it filled with the joy that comes with beginning a new chapter in life, political satire about truth and electability, or a somber ballad of how a musical instrument can restore one’s emotional equilibrium, every offering in the world premiere musical The Johnathan Larson Project has something deeply meaningful to say.

Reviewed by Judd Hollander True believers, no matter where they may be on the political, social or economic spectrum, always believe they are doing the right thing. Even if there are those who refuse to see it that way, due to so-called sacrifices that must be made for the greater good. This is the message at the heart of the deliciously satiric musical, Urinetown.

Reviewed by Judd Hollander “The feeling of love lasts a maximum of 4 years, and then it’s just inertia and fear of being alone that keeps people together,” exclaims a character in the delightful new Broadway musical Maybe Happy Ending. Created by Will Aronson and Hue Park, the show presents a fascinating exploration of two beings who, as they contemplate the end of their existence, find something they never thought possible.

Reviewed by Judd Hollander The trick when presenting a biographical vehicle is to make sure the audience is able to relate to the subject in question. Especially if that subjects happen to be, in the words of director Robert O’Hara, “sexist, prejudiced, colorist, misogynist and elitist.” Fortunately, the Encores! production of the 1992 Broadway musical Jelly’s Last Jam, about the life of jazz pioneer Ferdinand Le Menthe “Jelly Roll” Morton (1891-1941), is able to do exactly that, and more.

Reviewed by Judd Hollander Every once in a great while, all the elements in a theatrical production align perfectly. So it is with the Encores! Production of the 1959 musical comedy, Once Upon A Mattress. Based on the Hans Christian Anderson fairy tale The Princess and the Pea, the show - with music by Mary Rodgers, lyrics by Marshall Barer and book by Jay Thompson, Dean Fuller and Marshall Barer - can be seen at New York City Center through February 4.

Reviewed by Judd Hollander The question of faith and what it represents can be found at the core of Ian Richard Barnes' very intense and sometimes talky drama, A Matter of Faith. Presented by Reckless Few Theatrical Productions at the Chain Theatre, this is definitely not a work for the faint of heart. The story opens in the squalid basement home of Seamus (Henry Frontini), a longtime drug addict. Seamus has fallen so far, he has completely given up on life and just wants everything to end.