{"id":300,"date":"2012-03-31T11:52:32","date_gmt":"2012-03-31T15:52:32","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/playfixer.com\/wordpress\/?p=300"},"modified":"2012-03-31T11:52:32","modified_gmt":"2012-03-31T15:52:32","slug":"on-the-aisle-with-larry-31-march-2012","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"http:\/\/playfixer.com\/wordpress\/?p=300","title":{"rendered":"“On the Aisle with Larry” 31 March 2012"},"content":{"rendered":"
Lawrence Harbison<\/strong>, The Playfixer, brings you up to date with what\u2019s hot and what\u2019s not in New York. This week, Larry reports on AN ILIAD, TRIBES, THE BIG MEAL, THE SOAP MYTH, LIFELINE, TIN PAN ALLEY, MY OCCASION OF SIN, NO PLACE TO GO, GIVE ME YOUR HAND, NOW.HERE.THIS, DEATH OF A SALESMAN <\/em><\/strong>and LOST IN YONKERS.<\/em><\/strong>\u00a0<\/div>\n

Imagine what it must have been like to sit around the camp fire listening to Homer sing of the wrath of Achilles, the fall of Troy. That\u2019s what it\u2019s like at New York Theatre Workshop where two actors, alternating performances, are giving a contemporary spin on Homer, An Iliad. <\/em><\/strong>Denis O\u2019Hare and the director, Lisa Peterson, have adapted Homer\u2019s epic, and O\u2019Hare and Stephen Spinella take turns telling it. Both are very different, but both are extraordinary \u2013 sometimes funny, sometimes moving; always spellbinding.\u00a0<\/p>\n

Don\u2019t miss this one.\u00a0<\/p>\n

Also on your don\u2019t-miss list: Nina Raines\u2019 Tribes<\/em><\/strong>, at the Barrow Street Theatre. This is a drama about a contentious family. Three adult children live at home. The youngest \u2013 and quietest \u2013 is Billy, who is deaf although he can speak. Billy has been raised not to view his deafness as a handicap \u2013 until he meets Sylvie who, it turns out, is slowly losing her hearing. Sylvia is active in the \u201cdeaf community,\u201d and through her Billy comes to an understanding about himself which leads him to challenge his parents\u2019 opinions about his deafness.\u00a0<\/p>\n

David Cromer\u2019s production is absolutely wonderful, as you would expect from this gifted director, and the cast is uniformly first-rate. My faves were Russell Harvard (who is himself deaf) as Billy and Susan Pourfar as Sylvia.\u00a0<\/p>\n

Tribes <\/em>is one of the high points of what has turned out to be an excellent season.<\/p>\n

Dan LeFranc\u2019s The Big Meal<\/em><\/strong>, at Playwrights Horizons, rips off Thornton Wilder\u2019s The Long Christmas Dinner<\/em> \u2013 but I mean that in a good way. LeFranc has borrowed Wilder\u2019s structure, which showed several generations of a family at table over time. His play is set in a generic restaurant, and covers four generations as young people fall in love and grow old together. Sam Gold\u2019s production is one of his best, although I felt that occasionally he lets it get a little languid \u2013 but his cast is terrific.\u00a0<\/p>\n

Jeff Cohen\u2019s The Soap Myth<\/em><\/strong>, produced by the National Jewish Theatre at the basement theatre of the Laura Pels and directed by that organization\u2019s Artistic Director Arnold Mittelman, is a compelling about an elderly Holocaust survivor\u2019s obsession with getting the truth out that the Nazis made soap from human beings. I always thought that this was a historical fact, but apparently there is no concrete evidence. When a Holocaust institute will not accept Milton Saltzman\u2019s eye-witness testimony as proven fact, he enlists the air of a young journalist to get the word out and to put pressure on the institute. Greg Mullavey is all towering rage as Saltzman. He\u2019s great, but so are the other actors. Highly recommended!\u00a0<\/p>\n

Frank Tangredi\u2019s Lifeline<\/em><\/strong>, at Abingdon, is an everything-is-not-it-seems drama. A man named Ken rents an apartment in Pete\u2019s basement, where he licks his wounds over the breakup of his marriage. Pete befriends Kenny, helping him get over his anger and depression. Then Kenny\u2019s mother arrives, and that\u2019s when we see that a lot of what Kenny has told Pete about himself just may not be true. Jules Ochoa\u2019s direction is excellent, and there are strong performances from Buzz Roddy (Pete), Brian Wallace (Kenny) and Caroline Monferdi (Phyllis, the mother).\u00a0<\/p>\n

Tin Pan Alley<\/em><\/strong>, at the Actor\u2019s Temple, is a revue of the American popular songbook circa 1890-1940, conceived and directed by Gene Castle who also performs in it. If you love this music, as I do, you\u2019ll have a good time. The four performers are delightful, and Castle\u2019s choreography is wonderfully goofy.\u00a0<\/p>\n

My Occasion of Sin<\/em><\/strong>, at Urban Stages, by Monica Bauer, is an earnest drama set in the turbulent sixties, about a husband and wife who have a music store which is going under until they hire a Black jazz musician named Luigi Wells to change their inventory to drums and guitars and to give lessons in rock \u2018n\u2019 roll. Inevitably, racism rears its ugly head. Also in the mix is a spunky Black teenaged girl who comes in from time to time to talk about her life. The mystery is \u2013 who is she and what is her connection to the other characters in the play? Urban Stages\u2019 Artistic Director Frances Hill has directed the play with a steady hand, getting fine performances from her cast. My faves were Royce Johnson as Luigi and Danielle Thompson as Vivian, the Black teenager.\u00a0<\/p>\n

No Place to Go<\/em><\/strong>, at Joe\u2019s Pub, is a revue\/musical by Ethan Lipton wherein Lipton talks about what he decided to do when the company he worked for decided to move its operation to Mars. This whimsical premise allows Lipton to make many humorous observations about the tenuousness of employment in These United States. He\u2019s sort of a Mose Allison\/Woody Guthrie kind of singer \u2013 more of an actor than a singer \u2013 but his\u00a0 songs are mordantly witty. Recommended.\u00a0<\/p>\n

I also enjoyed Give Me Your Hand<\/em><\/strong>, at Irish Rep, wherein two wonderful Irish Actors perform the poetry of Paul Durcan, which consists of whimsical riffs on paintings in London\u2019s National Gallery. Dermot Crowley and Dearbhla Molloy are charming, and hearing them made me want to get Durcan\u2019s poetry and read it \u2013 it\u2019s delightful.\u00a0<\/p>\n

Now.Here.This.<\/em><\/strong>, at the Vineyard, is a new musical by the team who gave us (title of show)<\/em>. Here, Our Heroes again basically play themselves. They start off ruminating about The Cosmic Meaning Of It All, then go to the Museum of Natural History where they make jokey observations and talk about themselves. These four actor\/writers have turned self-referential\/reverential into an art \u2013 but just not a very interesting art, because these just aren\u2019t very interesting people. The show\u2019s a hit and has been extended \u2013 but I found it a dud.\u00a0<\/p>\n

Mike Nichols\u2019 production of Arthur Miller\u2019s Death of a Salesman<\/em><\/strong>, at the Ethel Barrymore Theatre, is very strong. I had my doubts about Philip Seymour Hoffman as Willy, but Hoffman quickly dispelled them. His is a beautifully-modulated, touching performance; but everyone\u2019s terrific. Linda Emond, as Willy\u2019s wife Linda, will break your heart.\u00a0<\/p>\n

Nichols has used the iconic Jo Mielziner set from the original production, so influential on scenic design ever since, to beautiful effect. Don\u2019t miss this fine production.\u00a0<\/p>\n

Another don\u2019t miss: TACT\u2019s lovely production of Neil Simon\u2019s Lost in Yonkers<\/em><\/strong>, at the Samuel Beckett Theatre. Director Jenn Thompson has gotten superb performances from her cast all around. Particularly good are Finnerty Steeves as addled Aunt Bella, Alec Beard as shady Uncle Louie, Cynthia Harris as mean ol\u2019 Grandma Kurnitz and Matthew Gumley and Russell Posner as the two hapless boys left in Grandma\u2019s care. As you would expect from a play by Simon, this is often quite funny; but it is often quite poignant too. I love the play, and loved this production.\u00a0<\/p>\n

AN ILIAD. New York Theatre Workshop, 79 E. 4th St.<\/p>\n

\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 TICKETS: www.ticketcentral.com<\/a> or 212-279-4200<\/p>\n

TRIBES. Barrow Street Theatre, 27 Barrow St.<\/p>\n

\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 TICKETS: 212-868-4444<\/p>\n

THE BIG MEAL. Playwrights Horizons, 416 W. 42nd St.<\/p>\n

\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 TICKETS: www.ticketcentral.com<\/a> or 212-279-4200<\/p>\n

THE SOAP MYTH. Basement Theatre, Laura Pels, 111 W. 46th St.<\/p>\n

\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 TICKETS: 212-352-3101<\/p>\n

MY OCCASION OF SIN. Urban Stages, 259 W. 30th St.<\/p>\n

\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 TICKETS: www.smarttix.com<\/a> or 212.868.4444<\/p>\n

TIN PAN ALLEY. Actors Temple, 339 W. 47th St.<\/p>\n

\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 TICKETS: www.telecharge.com<\/a> or 212-239-6200<\/p>\n

LIFELINE. Abingdon Theatre Co., 312 W.36th St.<\/p>\n

\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 TICKETS: www.abingdontheatre.org<\/a> or 212-868-2055 <\/em><\/p>\n

NO PLACE TO GO. Joe\u2019s Pub, 425 Lafayette St.<\/p>\n

\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 TICKETS: 212-967-7555<\/p>\n

GIVE ME YOUR HAND. Irish Repertory Theatre, 132 W. 22nd<\/sup> St.<\/p>\n

\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 TICKETS: 212-727-2737<\/p>\n

NOW.HERE.THIS. Vineyard Theatre, 108 E. 15th<\/sup> St.<\/p>\n

\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 TICKETS: 212- 353-0303<\/p>\n

DEATH OF A SALESMAN. Ethel Barrymore Theatre, 243 W. 47th<\/sup> St.<\/p>\n

\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 TICKETS: www.telecharge.com<\/a> or 212-239-6200<\/p>\n

LOST IN YONKERS. Samuel Beckett Theatre, 410 W. 42nd<\/sup> St.<\/p>\n

\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 TICKETS: www.telecharge.com<\/a> or 212-239-6200\u00a0<\/strong><\/p>\n

For discount tickets for groups of ten or more, contact Carol Ostrow Productions & Group Sales. Phone: 212-265-8500. E-Mail: ostrow1776@aol.com<\/a>.\u00a0<\/p>\n

“It requires a certain largeness of spirit to give generous appreciation to large achievements. A society with\u00a0a crabbed spirit\u00a0and a\u00a0cynical urge to discount and devalue will find that one day, when it needs to draw upon the reservoirs of excellence, the reservoirs have run dry.”<\/strong>\u00a0<\/p>\n

\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 \u00a0 — George F. Will<\/strong>\u00a0<\/strong><\/p>\n

\u201cIt is not the critic who counts; not the man who points out how the strong man stumbles, or where the doer of deeds could have done them better. The credit belongs to the man who is actually in the arena, whose face is marred by dust and sweat and blood; who strives valiantly; who errs, and comes short again and again, because there is no effort without error and shortcoming; but who actually does strive to do the deeds; who knows the great enthusiasms, the great devotions; who spends himself in a worthy cause; who at the best knows in the end the triumph of high achievement; and who at the worst, if he fails, at least fails while daring greatly, so that his place shall never be with those cold and timid souls who know neither victory nor defeat.\u201d<\/strong>\u00a0<\/strong><\/p>\n

\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 — Theodore Roosevelt<\/strong><\/p>\n

\u00a0<\/strong><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Lawrence Harbison, The Playfixer, brings you up to date with what\u2019s hot and what\u2019s not in New York. This week, Larry reports on AN ILIAD, TRIBES, THE BIG MEAL, THE SOAP MYTH, LIFELINE, TIN PAN ALLEY, MY OCCASION OF SIN, NO PLACE TO GO, GIVE ME YOUR HAND, NOW.HERE.THIS, DEATH OF A SALESMAN and LOST […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":[],"categories":[1],"tags":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"http:\/\/playfixer.com\/wordpress\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/300"}],"collection":[{"href":"http:\/\/playfixer.com\/wordpress\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"http:\/\/playfixer.com\/wordpress\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/playfixer.com\/wordpress\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/playfixer.com\/wordpress\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=300"}],"version-history":[{"count":2,"href":"http:\/\/playfixer.com\/wordpress\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/300\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":302,"href":"http:\/\/playfixer.com\/wordpress\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/300\/revisions\/302"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"http:\/\/playfixer.com\/wordpress\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=300"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/playfixer.com\/wordpress\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=300"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/playfixer.com\/wordpress\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=300"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}