Interludes

VIEWPOINTS – A recap of notable summer solo shows: Cooling off at JUST FOR US, TRIPLE THREAT, EISENHOWER, and ONE WOMAN SHOW

• By drediman
• July 25, 2023
• No Comments

This summer, I was able to take in a number of notable solo shows, both on and off Broadway. Read on below for a recap of my thoughts on them.

JUST FOR US
Hudson Theatre

The sole Broadway offering the bunch is Alex Edelman’s Just for Us (HIGHLY RECOMMENDED), which arrives at the Hudson Theatre after stints Off-Broadway at the Cherry Lane Theatre (where I caught it just prior to the onset of the Covid pandemic), as well as various cities around the globe. Although a comedian by trade, Edelman is most impressive in his theatrical storytelling, particularly his mastery of the monologue format. His show largely centers around an unlikely situation in which he finds himself in an awkward position to empathize with White Supremacists. An affable, slightly neurotic personality, Edelman’s brand of humor is keenly observant and disarmingly straight-shooting, and it goes down oh so smoothly. And since I saw it Off-Broadway, Edelman has loosened up a bit, riffing on his material with inspired glee.

ONE WOMAN SHOW
Greenwich House Theater

On the spikier, more sardonic end of the spectrum is comedian Liz Kingsman, whose mockingly entitled One Woman Show (RECOMMENDED) is currently playing Off-Broadway at Greenwich House Theater. After enjoying a sold out run in London’s West End, the show arrives in New York with talk of its brilliance. Does it live up to its hype? Not quite. But perhaps that’s the point. In Kingsman’s loopy self-referential show, she pokes fun of the very act of performance, particularly soul-baring solo shows from the likes of Hannah Gadsby. As such, the piece – which has been slyly directed by Adam Brace – calls to mind Kate Berlant’s Kate, if not quite as confident in its post-modern presentation. Nevertheless, Kinsman’s unassuming yet slicing sense of humor has a distinct deadpan dryness that’s entertaining and uniquely her own.

TRIPLE THREAT
Theatre Row

Then at Theatre Row, you’ll find James T. Lane’s Triple Threat (RECOMMENDED), which is currently wrapping up performances. In his autobiographical one man show, Lane (a veteran Broadway hoofer who has been featured in such shows as Chicago, A Chorus Line, and The Scottsboro Boys) bares all in his account of his evolution as a gay black drug addict in the live entertainment industry. It’s a raw show that got under my skin with its uncompromising depiction of the actor’s struggles and ultimate resilience. Even if the show could use a tad more shape, I have great admiration for Lane’s bravery and his refusal to censor the contents of his personal account. The production has been directed by Kenny Ingram, who gives Lane ample bandwidth to explore and flesh out his story.

EISENHOWER: THIS PIECE OF GROUND
Theatre at St. Clement’s

Arguably the most traditional of the bunch is Eisenhower: This Piece of the Ground (SOMEWHAT RECOMMENDED), playwright Richard Hellesen’s homage to President Dwight D. Eisenhower that’s currently playing Off-Broadway at the Theatre at St. Clement’s. Although Hellesen’s chronicle of Eisenhower’s life is sturdily by-th-books, it’s also a bit creaky. Indeed, the play harkens back to one-man shows of old, registering as much of a museum dusty piece as its subject. Despite my reservations about the piece, it nonetheless features a skillful, grounded portrayal by John Rubinstein (an actor perhaps best known for creating the title role in the musical Pippin) as Eisenhower, as well as steady direction by Peter Ellenstein,