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March 16, 2010. Nice clincher that "Maybe if I'd come to the show fortified with a drink, I would have been more in the loop of the laugh-out-louders who seemed to love this Tallulah-cum-Valerie". I felt sorry for Hutchinson but sorrier for the money my husband and I wasted on Looped tickets.—Bestsy SiegelMarch 15 The wind and rain smashed my umbrella on the way to the theater to see--guess waht-- When the Rain Stopped Falling. Per your blog, indeed Life imitating art--but I liked the show even though the play is definitely too pretentiously confusing. — Daniel Greene, QueensMarch 15, 2010. I agree with what you didn't like about Looped-- I didn't even think Harper was such a hoot. The whole thing seems so thoroughly UNNECESSARY! I don't have a single disagreement with your review of Next Fall and Clybourne Park-- two thoroughly original and thoughtful plays.
March 10, 2010. Yea to Gay. I think having all these gay plays open up around the same time makes it all somewhat special. However, I theought The Pride the weakest of the lot. Didn't really find these people especially interesting.— George FortunaMarch 10, 2010. Saw a number of so-so writeups on THE DUCHESS OF MALFI at The Red Bull Theater and decided to listen to your Gregory Wilson who raved about it. Right on. Well directed, acted. . .everything. See it while you can. —Melissa GibbonsFebruary 16, 2010. I'm with you on The Pride-- the time conceit is great fun to follow, the actors are dynamite and it's not just another gay play but really about dealing with loneliness and differences.
I think it will be a hit despite some of the negative reviews of people like Ben Brantley -- MollyFebruary 15, 2010. I too thought the small cast narrating and acting worked just fine and dandy for Hard Times at the Pearl. What's with your sour colleagues?-- Ben Aragut, Manhattan.February 12, 2010. I agree with your review of Enemy of the People-- it is a model of how to be critical but not cruel and instructive but not destructive. --AnonFebruary 12, 2010. You seem to have been in the minority with your review of Happy Now?-- but you were right. Well worth seeing -- Marcy and Jim Hollander, visitors to New YorkJanuary 8, 2010. I fully agree with your review of the Cassavetes Husbands play at the public-- too long and pretentious. And there were just as many walkouts when we attended. My two friends and I did, like you, stay the course and thought the actors were way too young to play these roles. We had fun trying to figure out that older woman in the silver lame gown. One of us thought she was the dead man's grieving mother but finally agreed that she probably represented a sort of ueber mother of all the men. Except for the one scene with one of the men at the bar to the left of the stage, she seemed to add little except another layer of confusion. -- Margot Friedman, Brooklyn. January 3, 2010. I'm so sad to be missing Ragtime-- was so looking forward to seeing this during March visit to New York. Hope Next to Normal which is also on my list hangs in. -- Barbara Billingsley, Akron, OhioJanuary 2, 2010. I like your Blog Annex-- nice quick read. -Bob Kinney, Bronx, NYDecember 3, 2009. My husband and I just returned from NYC and one of the highlights of the week was going to be seeing the "God of Carnage". While we were disappointed that the original cast had changed. we were certain it would be a treat with the new cast. It was NOT. Jimmy Smits appeared to be half asleep, the portrayal of Michael was the best part of the play. We thought the accoustics were dreadful. The play seemed unusally brief. There were 5 of us who expected a wonderful theatrical experience and perhaps if the actors were miked better than they were, we might have felt engaged in the theatrics. We were in NYC to see 4 different plays in 5 days...which included "Next to Normal", "Wishful Drinking" and "My Wonderful Day" Sadly to say, the comedy we were most enthusiastic about seeing turned out to be a real downer. We will not be suggesting to any of our many friends who love NYC theater, to see "God of Carnage". It will be a waste of good dollars.
Sincerely, Bernis Kretchmar November 23, 2009.
I agree with the review of Zero Hour. It was an extraordinary opening night!!! —Bev Sykes
November 22, 2009. About our review of In the Next Room Or The
Vibrator Play: This play is so much worse than your review would lead anyone to
believe. The humor is of the one joke variety that might appeal to
an adolescent boy. It doesn't belong on Broadway so much as Saturday
Night Live. That women in the 19th Century were sexually repressed is
not news so the point of this play was lost on me.— M Poerio
November 15, 2009. I saw Love Child tonight using a ticket service that papers the house. It's very meta, sort of like Title of Show, but without costume changes, props, or music. Your review was actually very kind. When a person papers the house, the producers ask that no negative comments or reviews be posted anywhere, but I feel duty bound after using up three hours of my time to protect the rest of the theater going public from doing likewise. — Joel Friedland November 15, 2009. Re, your review of Or,. . .The show was fabulous. I liked it so much that I might go see it a second time! — Melissa S. Cohen
November 3, 2009. Dear Ms. Sommer, Hair is the only show that I've ever seen
that felt like an experience. The cast aka The Tribe is excellent, the production is fantastic and the songs sound better then ever. The shows themes (Sex, War, Drugs, Race) are as relevant today as they were forty years ago. The best part is the bond that the Tribe forms with the audience. It resonates with everyone long after they've
left the theater. I urge all theatergoers to order tickets, participate in the show and dance in the finale. I've also written a small essay called "How I released my Inner Hippie" in which I wrote about my experiences seeing the show and the lasting impressions it has had on me. I'm not submitting this for profit but to share my
feelings about Hairwith the visitors to your website. Sincerely, Robert D. Grandinetti
Robert's Essay follows:
My Mom recently told me, "You definitely would've been a hippie during the 60's."” She based this on my "curious nature" and "the way you think." I've always saw myself with long hair, participating in protest marches and embracing the ideals of the love generation.
Hair allowed me to release my inner hippie. I can't think of a better time to bring a show back that celebrates freedom and individuality. Face it; everyday our ideals are pitted against each other whether it's about how we live or think. The characters aka the Tribe reminds us that it's our differences that make us unique. They also remind us that it's OK to be ourselves even when we're not understood by those around us.
I always knew that “Hair” would come back to Broadway. I didn't imagine a war would be going on at the same time. The biggest difference is there are few protests against the current war. Now, we express our views through the Internet or on talk radio. I chanted, “Peace now, freedom now” along with the Tribe as they protested against the Vietnam war. I chanted louder as I thought about every soldier who has been killed in Iraq and Afghanistan.
The show's relevant themes of sex, drugs and race are one of the reasons behind its current success. They're issues that are still being dealt with by today's youth. Another, is watching how the Tribe express themselves. I would like to be as carefree as the tribe's leader, Berger or as in-your-face direct as the black militant, Hud. I related mostly to the main character, Claude. He's looking for someplace to belong and struggles to make the right decisions in life. I'm not the only one who has felt this way, because we all goes through this when we're young and even as we get older.
I've seen Hair three times. For me, it remains the ultimate theatrical experience. Listening to people sing James Rado and Gerome Ragni's lyrics and watching them sway to Galt MacDermot's music reminded me how music can bring us together. Then, there's the cast. They have a special presence and a contagious energy that is felt by everyone in the theater. By the end, the theatrical walls have been broken down between us and we've become one.
I've danced on stage during the finale each time I've seen the show. The first time was surreal, the second tine was liberating, but the third time was special. It was the first time that I looked at everyone's faces as I danced through the crowd and they all smiled at me in return. I saw people of different ages, races and orientations having the time of their lives. It's as if the Tribe expanded in only a couple of hours.
I wish I could've been the hippie my Mom envisioned, but at least I was part of a tribe of them on three separate occasions. “Hair” openly deals with drugs and sexuality, but that's not what I took away from the show. Its powerful final moments reminded me to always let a light shine through lives darkest moments. That's what helped me get through any crisis since and will help me get through the ones in the future.
November 1, 2009. I was given a gift of tickets for Finian's Rainbow. Thought it would be too quaint and dated for my taste. What a great and pleasant surprise. I had no idea all those songs came from that show. — Mary Jasperson, Bronx.November 1, 2009. Shame on these producers for being such chickens. A show like this needs 3 months to get on its feet-- why put it on if you don't have the wherewithall to let it do so? I'm glad I got to see it. The jokes are still hilarious. That young man seems to be born to play Eugene. The rest of his "family" was also great-- and as you say, they could be anything even though they were very much Jewish. -- Paul Rockwood, Manhanttan
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