The Brothers Size

 The Brothers Size
The Shed
August 30, 2025

Photo courtesy of The Brothers Size

Tarell Alvin McCraney’s play, The Brothers Size, is a beautifully crafted piece of theatre.  In an interview (from the program), Mr. McCraney said, “The story is based on a Yoruba tale that I heard when I was younger.  It’s about the ways in which siblings exist in the world, and how we have to let go of who we are in order to be a better sibling.”  The storytelling style is crisp, rhythmic, and impactful.  The action is driven by raw emotion and urgent need.  Co-directors Bijan Sheibani and Tarell Alvin McCraney worked closely with choreographer Juel D. Lane to create a seamlessly stunning production.  The performances are flawless. 

Oshoosi Size (played by Alani iLongwe) has recently been released from prison.  His brother, Ogun (played by André Holland) pushes him to get motivated first thing in the morning.  When Oshoosi tells him he is presently in search of employment, Ogun immediately gives him a job at his mechanic shop.  He refuses to allow Oshoosi to say no, and even threatens to tell his parole officer if he turns down the work.  At the shop, Oshoosi meets up with Elegba (played by Malcolm Mays).  They previously knew one another, then bonded while serving their prison terms.  Ogun has a dream that Elegba is taking Oshoosi from him.  He tries to keep them apart.  When Elegba gives Oshoosi a car, their bond tightens.  Elegba’s motive becomes clear, but it is too late for Ogun to keep his brother safe. 

André Holland, Alani iLongwe, & Malcolm Mays
Photo courtesy of The Brothers Size 

André Holland and Alani iLongwe are brilliant together.  Their characters are strongly connected,
while being opposite in every way.  André Holland portrays Ogun as strict and structured.  Since their parents passed away, Ogun has always kept an eye on his younger brother, forcing him to be the responsible one.  Alani iLongwe’s Oshoosi is lighthearted and adventurous.  His older brother carries the weight of his always getting in trouble.  Mr. Holland emotionally and vividly expresses this burden, and Mr. iLongwe humorously portrays his character’s dependence and vulnerability.  You can’t help feeling their frustration, disappointment, and yearning.  They are amazingly in sync.  

Malcolm Mays brings a sense of danger to the character of Elegba, while also expressing his loneliness and susceptibility.  Oshoosi’s attraction to him is evident, as is Ogun’s mistrust.  Mr. Mays delivers a visceral portrayal that immediately establishes his character and invites the audience to discover his deeper longings, when he decides to reveal them. 

The Brothers Size is playing at The Shed through September 28.  It is a slick and unique production.  You need to experience it.     

Domenick Danza

Kind Stranger… a memory play

 Kind Stranger… a memory play
The Dream Up Festival
Theater for the New City
August 24, 2025

Photo courtesy of Kind Stranger... a memory play

Kind Stranger… a memory play is part of The Dream Up Festival, now running at Theater for the New City.  It is a one-character play based on Tennessee Williams’ Memoirs.  Steven Simone-Friedland, who adapted and directed the piece, captures the voice and candor of Tennessee Williams.  He focuses on specific events in the life of the playwright, giving the audience a chance to get to know him in an informal manner.  The piece is charming and inspiring.  It is skillfully written and directed, and beautifully performed by Rick Simone-Friedland. 

We meet Tennessee Williams (played by Rick Simone-Friedland) as he is writing his memoir.  He admits it is an undertaking quite different from his theatrical projects.  It has a distinct goal and requires a new approach.  He goes on to share the events leading up to the opening of The Glass Menagerie and A Streetcar Named Desire.  He tells of the challenges he faced with The Rose Tattoo, and why he is most proud of Cat on a Hot Tin Roof.  He reveals his professional partnerships in these projects and how they sustained his work throughout the years.  He then shares about his long-time relationship with Frank Merlo, and how life changed after his passing.  Through all these stories, we gain a tender and personal insight into Mr. Williams’ thoughts and feelings. 

Rick Simone-Friedland as Tennessee Williams
Photo courtesy of Kind Stranger... a memory play

Rick Simone-Friedland is captivating and honest as Tennessee Williams.  He embodies the character’s rhythm and artistic perspective.  There is an ease to his portrayal, which warmly invites for the audience to develop a visceral understanding of the man. 

Steven Simone-Friedland expertly chose specific chapters from the memoir for this piece.  They center around the more well-known plays, giving the audience the opportunity to connect to the character.  The transitions are all smoothly written and seamlessly performed. 

Kind Stranger… a memory play is running through September 3.  If you are a Tennessee Williams fan, you will appreciate this work.  It is an excellent opportunity to get to know a different side of him.  Check the Theater for a New City website for the festival dates and times. 

Domenick Danza

Call Me Izzy

 Call Me Izzy
Studio 54
August 20, 2025

Photo courtesy of Call Me Izzy

Jean Smart delivers a brilliant performance in Call Me Izzy.  Playwright Jamie Wax crafted a beautifully rhythmic script with a character who is full of hope.  Director Sarna Lapine molded this piece with layers for Ms. Smart to explore in an intimate manner.  She invites the audience into her story, sharing her secrets and revealing her innermost desires. 

Isabelle (played by Jean Smart) decides at an early age she wants to be called Izzy, but only a few people do.  She performs a poem in a third-grade assembly, which opens the world of words to her.  She decides she wants to be a poet, and writes as often as she can.  She shares her notebook with her teacher, who buys her a book of verse to study.  When she turns nineteen, Izzy’s father marries her off to a man five years her senior.  They move to a trailer park, where he severely limits her social connections.  He does not allow her to write, so she does it secretly, keeping her notebooks hidden.  She befriends a neighbor behind her husband’s back, who takes her to the local library.  She pushes Izzy to join a writing class.  When Izzy wins a writing contest, her husband finds and burns all her notebooks.  She starts over, pushes against her husband’s abuse, and does not stop sharing her writing. 

Jean Smart as Izzy
Photo courtesy of Call Me Izzy

Jean Smart is warm and natural in the role of Izzy.  She commands the stage for 90 minutes.  Her
character is open and honest, yet holds back on sharing the physical and emotional damage her husband causes her.  The reveal of this abuse is powerful and jarring.  Ms. Smart’s portrayal of her character’s ability to rise up and move on is stunning. 

Call Me Izzy is playing at Studio 54 through August 24.  It is an emotional and inspirational story of creativity and perseverance.  Don’t miss Jean Smart in this role! 

Domenick Danza

Operation Mincemeat

 Operation Mincemeat
Golden Theatre
August 5, 2025

Photo courtesy of Operation Mincemeat

Operation Mincemeat is a boldly crafted, ingenious new musical.  The ensemble cast of five (David Cumming, understudy Jessi Kirtley, Natasha Hodgson, Jak Malone, and Zoë Roberts) play numerous roles, weaving together a complex and highly detailed story.  It has a fantastic score and a brilliantly comedic script.  Jenny Arnold’s choreography is sharp and witty.  Amid the fast pace, tight timing, quick costume changes, and heightened style, Director Robert Hastie skillfully transitions the energy to deliver sincere moments of touching humanity that give this raucous musical a truthful heart and soul. 

We are in England during World War II.  Hitler is planning to invade Sicily and enter into Italy.  British Intelligence is challenged with developing a plan to make Hitler believe the Allied Forces are taking over Sardinia.  If the Nazis shift their plan and invade Sardinia, the Allied Forces could move into Sicily and protect Italy from Nazi invasion.  The British Intelligence puts this challenge to their most respected agents.  They all submit a plan.  When one is chosen, they take quick action to move the plan forward.  They work out every minute detail and face unexpected obstacles. 

The Cast of Operation Mincemeat
Photo courtesy of Operation Mincemeat

This does not sound like an ideal plot for a raucous musical, but in the hands of the writing team (David Cumming, Felix Hagan, Natasha Hodgson, and Zoë Roberts), it all comes together with amazing style.  The score is uplifting, and the lyrics are clever.  The characters are distinct, over the top, and empathetic.  Since this is based on historical facts, Act II gets complex.  The plan is almost foiled when an American pilot crashes his plane on the same date and one of the supervisors is suspected of being a double agent.  This all motivates the hijinks to get even more audacious. 

Photo courtesy of Operation Mincemeat

The essential part of the plan is for the body of a British pilot to be washed up on the shore of Spain, carrying a briefcase with the Allied Forces’ top-secret plan for taking over Sardinia.  This plot point keeps the action of the play cohesive through to the end.  The agents procure a body from the morgue, but its identity is unknown.  The characters carefully create a fictional identity for the deceased pilot, evidence of which will be found on the body by the Spanish authorities.  This adds vital credibility to their plan.  The need to identify the corpse is brought up numerous times, but the truth is held back.  This builds a tension that keeps the audience fully engaged throughout the story.

Operation Mincemeat is a unique musical, skillfully crafted and flawlessly performed.   It is playing at the Golden Theatre.  You MUST see it! 

Domenick Danza