999 stories by "Darryl Reilly"
In his widely produced 1977 play," The Elephant Man," Bernard Pomerance employed the theatrical device of having the grotesque John Merrick portrayed by an actor (invariably a handsome one) …
A pulsating medley from Kander and Ebb's musical "Chicago" was the thrilling second act opening number of The New York Pops' pleasant concert of eclectic show music, "42nd on 57th: Broadway …
Director David Staller has ingeniously staged this small-scale production with numerous theatrical flourishes. Scene transitions are accomplished with actors in character moving furniture, …
Patrick Brian Scherrer plays Peter, appearing in all 11 scenes, often in intense situations. The very personable Mr. Scherrer's performance is quite heroic as he boldly embraces the play's …
When the audience enters, the curtain is up and Christopher Oram's imposing scenic design of the faded hotel lobby is in view. The visual effect of its industrial greenish walls, dirty ston…
Breezily delivering his erudite script from a music stand, black-backed cards that he occasionally held, and from memory, Naughton cited Jazz, Gospel, The Blues, Country and Doo-wop. He also…
Director Ruben Santiago-Hudson has inventively and thoughtfully staged the show with vibrant precision. Mr. Santiago-Hudson's work combined with Camille A. Brown's often stunning choreograp…
His great grandnephew, the French-born and raised Alexis Chevalier has written this well researched play with music that is based in part on Maurice Chevalier's memoirs. It is structurally …
Company XIV founder, director and choreographer Austin McCormick recycles his stylistic techniques that include a having troupe of physically attractive and dynamic dancers in skimpy costume…
Ms. Udofia's dialogue is richly expressive and she renders the four characters with depth and detail. The relationships between the characters are fully explored and their interactions wher…
Robert Langdon Lloyd's eloquent performance as the blind prophet Tiresias energizes what had been a stilted presentation of this small-scale production of "The Burial at Thebes." Before Mr.…
The collaborative script is by the One Idiot troupe's writers that include Jon Bershad, Aaron Burdette, Allie Kokesh, Kristy Lopez-Bernal, Nathan Min and Katelyn Trela. It's a smart mash-up…
This Grand Guignol concept is sensationally realized by the striking physical production. John Gromada's chilling sound design configures his spooky original score with its dominant organ a…
The opening one is British author Lexi Wolfe's delightfully wistful "Stand Up for Oneself."Â It's a Chekhovian romantic comedy with clipped Noel Coward-style dialogue taking place in the …
Asner's appearance in "A Man and His Prostate" is a delightfully thrilling opportunity to experience his considerable talents live. He vividly grouses, grimaces, and perfectly lands every j…
Director Laura Lindow's staging is a thrilling exhibition of pure stagecraft using very simple elements. The expressive actors are choreographed at times often in arresting tableaux especia…
Displaying her flawless vocal abilities, superb comic timing, dramatic range and exuberant presence, Ann Harada was the standout of the six-member company. She was in the original Broadway …
The title is never explained and remains a cryptic point of thought. Is it the name of the jet that the plot revolves around? Is it a reference to a woman? What could it mean? Knowing the …
The personable Mr. Mitchell is the evening's host and starts off the show by explaining the format. The six performers then go through the theater asking audience members for missing words …
Opening with a soaring symphonic "Deck the Halls" and then joined by the wonderful Essential Voices USA chorus for it, The New York Pops closed their concert, "It's Christmas Time in the Cit…
Darryl Reilly, Critic A good audition is one in which the actor finds a way to bring some real piece of himself to the proceedings. The lines don't matter. Those doing the hiring have heard …
Playwright Marsha Norman's book brilliantly and very faithfully streamlines and extracts the events and themes of the novel and film. These include racism, sexism, self-esteem and same-sex …
Playwright Jordan Harrison is a graduate of the Brown University M.F.A. program and the recipient of several prestigious awards such as a Guggenheim Fellowship and the Kesselring Prize. On a…
Besides playing Boyce, Gwyther depicts other British soldiers as well as Germans. It is an exhilarating display of rapid vocal and physical transformations subtly giving each brief characte…
This post is by Darryl Reilly
Marko MandiÄ is an award-winning acclaimed classical actor from Slovenia who has worked several times with Mr. Buljan. His talent, charisma, and physicality…
