The Tragedy of Julius Caesar

The Tragedy of Julius Caesar

Theatre for a New Audience

Polonsky Shakespeare Center

March 23, 2019

Photo courtesy of Theatre for a New Audience

The Theatre for a New Audience production of William Shakespeare’s The Tragedy of Julius Caesar is intense and compelling.  Director Shana Cooper constructs a country torn between loyalty and honor.  She shapes characters ruled by a strong lust for power.  The audience experiences a conspiracy commit high treason, the watches them collapse in a brilliantly staged climax.  Choreographer Erika Chong Shuch and Fight Director U. Jonathan Toppo collaborate to deliver a highly stylized and brutal battle that will leave you speechless.

Julius Caesar (played by Rocco Sisto) is celebrated and adored by the citizens of Rome.  A resentful Cassius (played by Matthew Amendt) meets with his brother Brutus (played by Brandon J. Dirden) to see how he feels about Caesar’s political ambition and dominance over the people of Rome.  With Brutus on their side, Cassius and Caska (played by Stephen Michael Spencer) feel confident they can build a conspiracy to assassinate Caesar.  After a soothsayer (played by Michelle Hurst) warns Caesar to “beware the ides of March,” his wife Calphurnia (played by Tiffany Rachelle Stewart) has a dream that the statue honoring Caesar that was erected by the people of Rome is oozing blood.  She sees this as an evil omen and begs her husband not to go to the Senate meeting.  Caska uses Caesar’s ambition against him to convince him to attend.  The conspirators are successful in their plan.  Brutus enacts a scheme to use Mark Anthony (played by Jordan Barbour) to get the citizens of Rome on their side.  He underestimates Mark Anthony’s loyalty and love for Caesar, and the people of Rome rebel. 

Jordan Barbour & Rocco Sisto
Photo courtesy of Theatre for a New Audience

Jordan Barbour delivers a flawless portrayal of Mark Anthony.  He is convincing when addressing the Senate conspirators.  He is genuine in his love for Caesar.  He skillfully and meticulously layers the scene at the funeral of Julius Caesar with sincere emotion and political manipulation.  His effect on the crowd builds and the power of his character is fulfilled.

Brandon J. Dirden portrays Brutus with the duality of the honor bestowed on him by Mark Anthony and the rebellious force needed to lead the conspiracy.  We feel for him when he is haunted by the ghost of Caesar.  We see the depth of grief when he receives the news of the death of his wife, Portia.  We also see his cowardice at the climax of the play.

The Theatre for a New Audience production of The Tragedy of Julius Caesar is well conceived and directed.   The large and skillfully commanding cast all deliver strong performances.  It is playing at the Polonsky Shakespeare Center downtown Brooklyn through April 28.  Don’t miss it.

Domenick Danza

Superhero

Superhero

Second Stage Theater

Tony Kiser Theater

March 16, 2019

Photo courtesy of Second Stage Theater

If you need a superhero, who would you conjure or draw?  Would he save the planet, or just you?  Could you be his side-kick, or would you get kicked aside?  These are some of the questions that Simon, the main character of Superhero, now playing at Second Stage Theater, grapples with and tries to answer.  Tom Kitt’s music and lyrics take the audience on an emotionally impactful journey as Simon faces the truth and gains his footing in order to move forward.

Simon (played by Kyle McArthur) draws and writes superhero stories.  His mother, Charlotte (played by Kate Baldwin), is worried about how distant he has become since his father died.  She has been overwhelmed trying to keep her life together.  When Simon witnesses his unassuming neighbor, Jim (played by Bryce Pinkham), perform an act of superhuman strength, he starts believing Jim is a superhero, sent from another galaxy to save the planet.  He convinces his mother to have dinner with Jim to gather details of his personal life.  Once the unresolved thread of their family starts to unwind, it will take a real superhero to help Simon and Charlotte pull their lives back together.

Kate Baldwin & Kyle McArthur
Photo courtesy of Second Stage Theater

Mr. Kitt’s songs superbly develop the characters and relationships.  Kate Baldwin, Kyle McArthur, and Bryce Pinkham make every one of these moments soar.  Their vocal skills are astonishing.  They give every lyric meaning, revealing their characters’ inner need and propelling them forward to connect on a deeper level.

Beowulf Borritt’s scenic design transforms the space into the world of this play.  The transitions from one scene to the next are quick, smooth, and always unexpected.  Every set design of Mr. Borritt creates a specific atmosphere that defines the production and keeps the action moving.  He skillfully delivers that consistent quality in Superhero.  Illusion design by Chris Fisher and projection design by Tal Yarden are imaginative.  They vividly depict the world inside Simon’s head, which is vital to the action of the play. 

Superhero is playing at the Tony Kiser Theater through March 31.

Domenick Danza

King Kong

King Kong

The Broadway Theatre

March 9, 2019

Photo courtesy of King Kong

This was my second time seeing King Kong on Broadway.  The first time was during previews.  The show has grown tighter and stronger over the past five months.  I stand by what I wrote back in October (see my post dated October 20, 2018 for details).  The production is truly spectacular.  Drew McOnie’s choreography and staging are brilliant.  Kong himself is truly magnificent.  He is phenomenally conceived and collaboratively performed by a number of highly skilled theatre professionals.  Christiani Pitts, Eric William Morris, and Erik Lochtefeld have grown and solidified their performances since previews.

The reason I went to see it this second time was for a planned field trip with coworkers.  It was great to come together for a Saturday matinee and share this experience.  Everyone had a good time.  I highly recommend King Kong on Broadway for a group outing.  It is a show for the whole family, young and old alike.  Check out Broadway Inbound for group rate tickets.  The operators are courteous and helpful.

Domenick Danza

Hurricane Diane

Hurricane Diane

New York Theatre Workshop

March 9, 2019

Photo courtesy of New York Theatre Workshop

If Dionysus (Greek) / Bacchus (Roman), the god of wine, winemaking, grape cultivation, fertility, ritual madness, theater, and religious ecstasy, were to return to Earth to save the planet, where would they start?  A cul-de-sac in Morris County, New Jersey, of course.  That is the premise for Hurricane Diane, Madeleine George’s play at New York Theatre Workshop.  Co-produced with WP Theater and originally developed at Two River Theater, this play is all laughs, until reality hits and you realize that saving the planet is not an easy feat.

Michelle Beck, Kate Wetherhead, Mia Barron & Danielle Skraastad
Photo courtesy of New York Theatre Workshop

Carol (played by Mia Barron) wants her yard re-landscaped.  She meets with Diane (played by Becca Blackwell) to discuss the design, which surprisingly does not match Diane’s landscape philosophy.  Diane is really Dionysus (or Bacchus) returning to Earth to save the planet from the destructive forces creating devastating climate change.  When Diane is unable to convince Carol to turn her yard into a balanced ecosystem, she turns to the other three ladies in the cul-de-sac.  Pam (played by Danielle Skraastad) is an easy mark, followed by Renee (played by Michelle Beck).  Beth (played by Kate Wetherhead) is tough to convince, but Diane does have her ways.  She needs four women for the Greek traditional initiation ceremony.  Carol is the final holdout. 

Becca Blackwell as Diane
Photo courtesy of New York Theatre Workshop

Mia Barron, Michelle Beck, Danielle Skraastad, and Kate Wetherhead create four distinct and powerful women who live on the cul-de-sac in Morris County, New Jersey.  Their characters are very much drawn on types, then delve deep into the core of their individual truths.  These actors deliver genuinely funny and riveting portrayals.  Becca Blackwell, as Diane, skillfully and humorously leads these characters down a path to self-awareness.  When Diane’s main objective proves most difficult, playwright Madeleine George makes a cold and brutal statement as to where the responsibility lies for the future of our planet.  Director Leigh Silverman masterfully builds the tension from the humor into a quiet and stunning realization of the truth. 

Hurricane Diane is playing at New York Theatre Workshops through March 24.  Get a ticket and go see it! 

Domenick Danza

Be More Chill

Be More Chill

Lyceum Theatre

March 2, 2019

Photo courtesy of Be More Chill

How do you survive high school… or any tough situation that life dishes out?  You need to Be More Chill.  This musical is beautifully written by Joe Tracz with bold and edgy music and lyrics by Joe Iconis.  Based on the novel by Ned Vizzini, it evaluates the voices in your head that rule your behavior.  Director Stephen Brackett brilliantly brings together all the elements for this energetic, fast paced production.  The choreography by Chase Brock is sharp and tight.  Costumes by Bobby Frederick Tilley II are bright and defining.  Lighting design by Tyler Micoleau and scenic design by Beowulf Boritt are distinct and unified.  The cast is simply phenomenal, most of them taking on more than one role in the show.

Jeremy (played by Will Roland) is a geek.  His goal is to survive another day in high school.  His Dad (played by Jason SweetTooth Williams) is in a state of depression since his wife left them, causing him to stay at home and not put his pants on.  Jeremy has a crush on Christine (played by Stephanie Hsu).  She is a free spirited theatre geek who doesn’t notice him.  He is bullied at school by Rich (played by Gerard Canonico), who tells him about the squip, a micro-chip in a pill that programs your brain and controls your behavior.  This was Rich’s answer to becoming popular, and can be Jeremy’s solution as well.  Jeremy tells his best friend, Michael (played by Troy Iwata), who goes with him to purchase the squip.  Things move very quickly for Jeremy when The Squip (played by Jason Tan) takes over his brain.  Before you know it, everything is out of control.  His father has to put on his big boy pants to help Jeremy before it’s too late.

Stephanie Hsu & Will Roland
Photo courtesy of Be More Chill

Will Roland and Stephanie Hsu have a strong chemistry as Jeremy and Christine.  Amid the fast paced momentum of the show, they find genuine moments of connection.  Troy Iwata, the understudy for the role of Michael, rocks the house.  Jason Tam is beguiling and commanding as The Squip.  Tiffany Mann blows the roof off the theatre as Jenna with her powerful vocal range.  Strong performances are also delivered by Britton Smith, Katlyn Carlson, and Lauren Marcus. 

Photo courtesy of Be More Chill

Be More Chill already has a strong cult following after successful productions at Two River Theatre in New Jersey and Off Broadway at The Pershing Square Signature Center.  Get a ticket and experience it for yourself.  It will dazzle and energize you! 

Domenick Danza