The Disappear

 The Disappear
Audible Theater at Minetta Lane Theatre
January 21, 2026

Photo courtesy of The Disappear

Playwright/Director Erica Schmidt creates truthful and humorous characters in The Disappear.  The relationships are compelling and realistic, allowing her theme to be viscerally understood.  Love, fame, and creativity can easily disappear in a moment, unless effort and value are put into their viability.  When they’re gone, they can be rebuilt or recreated.  If that is not possible, a simple fabrication can keep things in perspective. 

Filmmaker Benjamin Braxton (played by Hamish Linklater) finds his muse in young upcoming actress Julie Wells (played by Madeline Brewer).  His wife, Mira (played by Miriam Silverman) is tolerant of Ben’s indiscretions.  She is fully dedicated to their twenty-year marriage.  Ben’s producer, Michael Bloom (played by Dylan Baker) refuses to cast Julie Wells, and drops the project.  When Ben starts a new project to feature Julie, she insists he hire Raf Night (played by Kelvin Harrison Jr.) to star with her.  Raf is big box office, so Michael Bloom agrees to back it.  When Raf insists Mira, who is his favorite novelist, writes the screenplay, the creative process gets extremely complicated. 

Hamish Linklater & Miriam Silverman
Photo courtesy of The Disappear

Hamish Linklater plays the role of the neurotic, self-possessed, egotistical movie director to perfection.  His timing and mood swings are both humorous and genuine.  Miriam Silverman balances his quirky character by being grounded and sincere.  They are wonderful together.  The dynamic of their relationship is clear from the very first scene.  The complications they face cause them to poke at and spar with one another.  Again, this is both comic and genuine, until it hits the point of no return.  They admit the truth, make a spontaneous decision, then face an imperative transformation. 

Anna Mirodin, Madleine Brewer, & Hamish Linklater
Photo courtesy of The Disappear

Madeline Brewer is charming as Julie Wells.  At first, she comes across as naive and flirtatious.  As the action rises, her controlling and manipulative side is revealed.  Ms. Brewer portrays this dichotomy beautifully.  Kelvin Harrison Jr. has a strong presence as Raf Night.  He seduces Mira, getting her to agree to write the screenplay with Ben.  Mr. Harrison and Ms. Silverman have strong chemistry, adding a layer of intrigue to the plot.  Raf opens up to her about his background, giving Mr. Harrison a chance to dive into the complexities of his character.

The character of Michael Bloom acts as a foil for the conflicts.  Dylan Baker builds a dynamic character in this role, making it an effective catalyst for the action.  Anna Mirodin plays Dolly, Ben and Mira’s teenage daughter.  She observes all the events of the story, even though she is unseen by her parents.  She reflects the turmoil they are feeling and sets up the transformation they all need to experience.

The Disappear is playing at Audible Theatre at Minetta Lane Theatre though February 22.  The characters are well developed, and the performances are equally strong. 

Domenick Danza

The Frogs

The Frogs
Master Voices
Lincoln Center’s Rose Hall
November 4, 2023 

Photo courtesy of Master Voices

The Frogs, with music and lyrics by Stephen Sondheim, was performed in concert by Master Voices at Lincoln Center’s Rose Hall.  It was a rare opportunity to experience this unique  musical theatre piece.  Based on the 405 BC comedy by Aristophanes, the book was adapted by Burt Shevelove in 1974.  It was revived by Lincoln Center in 2004, with additional music by Mr. Sondheim.  That production was directed and choreographed by Susan Stroman, with book revisions by Nathan Lane.  Mr. Lane introduced and narrated this concert presentation.  

Dionysos, the god of theatre and wine (played by Douglas Sills), realizes there is a desperate need for truth and humor in present day theatrical productions.  He takes his servant, Xanthias (played by Kevin Chamberlin), on a quest.  They travel to Hades to bring back George Bernard Shaw (played by Dylan Baker) to write new work.  While crossing the River Styx, Xanthias and Charon, the Boatman (played by Chuck Cooper), save Dionysos after he is captured by a group of frogs.  Upon arrival in Hades, they meet Plato (played by Peter Bartlett), who allows Shaw to leave for a short period of time.  They are all set to depart until Dionysos encounters a few other surprises that alter his original plan. 

This stellar cast and brilliant chorus presented this lesser-known Sondheim gem with skill and grace.  There were masterful and humorous performances by Douglas Sills, Kevin Chamberlin, Marc Kudisch, Chuck Cooper, Peter Bartlett, Dylan Baker, Jordan Donica, and Candice Corbin.  The choreography by Lainie Sakakura was creative and energizing.  Director/Conductor Ted Sperling delivered a stunning concert event. 

This presentation of The Frogs played for only one weekend (November 3 & 4).  Congratulations to Master Voices for making it memorable.  Check out their website for future concert performances (mastervoices.org).  They are sure to be valuable experiences.      

Domenick Danza

Peer Gynt

Peer Gynt

Classic Stage Company

May 22, 2016

Photo courtesy of Classic Stage Company

Peer Gynt, Henrik Ibsen’s five act play written in verse and loosely based on a Norwegian fairy tale, is presently in production at Classic Stage Company.  Ibsen’s script is said to “blend poetry with social satire and realistic scenes with surreal ones.”  This holds true in this production, especially the social commentary, which rings relevant to our present day political dilemma.  Directed and adapted by John Doyle, these moments are strongly focused, yet he has omitted the depth and expanse of the main character’s experiences on his journey by diminished the show to a mere one hour and fifty minutes without an intermission. 

Peer Gynt (played by Gabriel Ebert) longs for greatness.  To be specific, he yearns to be emperor.  He rides a wild stag and steals the virginity of the bride of a fellow townsperson.  He gains wealth and dubs himself a prophet.  He is told he has become an emperor, but only of himself.  This achievement is not enough for him.  In the final moments he realizes he has not been true to himself, and is therefore not able to receive the rewards he desires.

Gabriel Ebert as Peer Gynt
Photo courtesy of Classic Stage Company

The actors (Gabriel Ebert, Quincy Tyler Bernstine, Becky Ann Baker, Adam Heller, Jane Pfitsch, Dylan Baker, and George Abud) all do an amazing job creating true characters whose objectives are clearly and realistically motivated.  The final section of the play (Act 5 from Ibsen’s script) is powerful and provocative, yet outweighs the surface skimming of the previous sections.  The most memorable scene is when Peer Gynt peels an onion trying to find the center.  He compares each of the layers to an experience he had on his journey.  When he realizes there is no center to the onion, only continual layers, he feels a sense of despair.  His response offers an understanding that he was searching for something deeper all along.  The production, however, lacks the heightened sense of adventure and visceral connection needed to make that moment, and others like it, compelling and meaningful.

Peer Gynt runs at ClassicStage Company thought June 16.

Domenick Danza