VIEWPOINTS – Two hugely entertaining productions return for encore runs: Mike Birbiglia’s THE NEW ONE and Jocelyn Bioh’s SCHOOL GIRLS

Mike Birbiglia in "The New One" at the Cort Theatre. Photo by Joan Marcus.

Mike Birbiglia in “The New One” at the Cort Theatre. Photo by Joan Marcus.

This fall, two hugely entertaining and rewarding productions returned to New York for encore runs – Mike Birbiglia’s The New One and Jocelyn Bioh’s School Girls; Or, the African Mean Girls Play.

Mr. Birbiglia’s The New One (RECOMMENDED) made the unlikely leap from Off-Broadway’s Cherry Lane Theatre to the Main Stem this fall. Although the Cort Theatre is a much larger venue than the Cherry Lane, I’m happy to report that Mr. Birbiglia’s delivery and storytelling prowess have translated pretty seamlessly to Broadway. As for the work itself, it hasn’t changed noticeably since its Off-Broadway run this summer. Here’s my favorable review of that previous mounting.

It was a bittersweet experience taking in the return engagement of MCC Theater’s hit production of Ms. Bioh’s School Girls; Or, the African Mean Girls Play (HIGHLY RECOMMENDED). For the record, the play is exactly what its title advertises it is, and it remains one of the most unabashedly entertaining plays currently in New York. I say bittersweet because this encore run of School Girls marks the last MCC production to play the classic Lucille Lortel Theatre (the theater company will move to brand new digs in Hell’s Kitchen). Although I realize that all good things must come to an end, I was nonetheless saddened.

 

THE NEW ONE
Broadway, Play
Cort Theatre
1 hour, 20 minutes
Through January 20

SCHOOL GIRLS; OR, THE AFRICAN MEAN GIRLS PLAY
Off-Broadway, Play
MCC Theater at the Lucille Lortel Theatre
1 hour, 10 minutes
Through December 9

Categories: Broadway, Off-Broadway, Theater

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