Interludes

THE STATE OF THE ARTS – November 19, 2014

• By drediman
• November 19, 2014
• No Comments

LAST WEEK’S HIGHLIGHTS AND RECOMMENDATIONS

• TAMBURLAINE, PARTS I & II – John Douglas Thompson is giving a commanding, no-holds-barred performance in the titular role of both parts in Marlowe’s rarely-seen “Tamburlaine” at Theatre for a New Audience. Mr. Thompson’s stamina is simply astonishing as he tirelessly chews scenery over the four hours of Michael Boyd’s efficient and highly theatrical presentation.
• SIDE SHOW – Even more so than its earlier incarnation at the Kennedy Center this past summer, the revival of “Side Show” that just opened on Broadway makes a convincing case for this earnest musical. As directed by Bill Condon, this version benefits from focused, transparent storytelling and the sensitive, vulnerable central performances of Emily Padgett and Erin Davie. This duo utterly breaks your heart with their genuine, layered performances.
• STRAIGHT WHITE MEN – The stylistic chameleon that is playwright Young Jean Lee (who is, by the way, an Asian American woman) has written a serious naturalistic play about, guess what, straight white men. What’s fascinating here is that the play, particularly in this wonderfully acted production at the Public, ultimately decides not to place labels on the demographic. Instead, it takes an observant, sympathizing look at them without making any judgments.
• LADY MACBETH OF MTSENK – With this riveting revival of Shostakovich’s seldomly-performed opera, the Metropolitan Opera has given us one of the more memorable nights at the opera in recent months. It’s refreshing in a fall lineup that includes conservative (albeit lavish) presentations of favorite warhorses (“La Boheme”, “Aida”) to be tossed a piece so musically thrashing and almost recklessly performed. Graham Vick’s production is a white-hot fever dream. Don’t miss it.
• TRISTAN AND YSEULT – The highly theatrical British troupe Kneehigh, an audience favorite, returns to New York at St. Ann’s Warehouse with one of its earliest hits and a signature production of theirs, “Tristan and Yseult”. I’m happy to report that the folks at Kneehigh are as exuberant and quirkily lovable as ever. The storytelling here is passionate, particularly in the last third of the show, during which the production acquires an inescapable momentum that’s thrilling to behold.

UPCOMING AND HOTLY ANTICIPATED

• ALLEGRO – Rogers and Hammerstein’s relatively unknown musical is being given a rare revival by divisive director John Doyle at the Classic Stage Company. Mr. Doyle did wonders with Sondheim’s “Passion” with the same company; here’s hoping that lightning strikes twice.
• PUNK ROCK – Simon Stephens already has a big hit on his hands with the Broadway transfer of the London smash “Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time”. MCC mounts his acclaimed “Punk Rock” at the Lucille Lortel in a major Off-Broadway staging this fall, as well.
• DON QUIXOTE – The Mikhailovsky Ballet closes out its residency at the David H. Koch Theater with the evergreen audience favorite, “Don Quixote”. Luckily, I’ll be catching the company’s final performance on Sunday, which will feature the current superstars of the ballet world, the dynamic Ivan Vasiliev and the incomparable Natalia Osipova, in the roles that thrust them into the limelight.
• RADIO CITY CHRISTMAS SPECTACULAR – Few things get me in the Christmas spirit more emphatically than the jubilant annual Radio City Christmas Spectacular.  Ask me again after fighting my way through the holiday crowds at Rockefeller Center, though!
• LA BOHEME – My opera-going would not be complete without an annual pilgrimage to Zeffirelli’s lavish, picture-perfect production of Puccini’s “La Boheme” at the Metropolitan Opera. This winter’s cast includes Ramon Vargas as Rodolfo (I’m hoping he’s recovered from the illness that took him out of last week’s performance) and last minute replacement Sonya Yoncheva as Mimi.