Thursday, February 25, 2010

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Theater Review | 'Whatever, Heaven Allows'

If Douglas Sirk and Milton Walked Into a Bar and Started Trading Yarns

By BEN BRANTLEY
From left, Eric Dyer, Maggie Hoffman, Mark Jaynes, Erin Douglass and Joseph Silovsky of Radiohole in “Whatever, Heaven Allows,” a riff on two classics.
Ari Mintz for The New York Times

From left, Eric Dyer, Maggie Hoffman, Mark Jaynes, Erin Douglass and Joseph Silovsky of Radiohole in “Whatever, Heaven Allows,” a riff on two classics.

The poet John Milton and the filmmaker Douglas Sirk are the main sources of inspiration for the latest act of cultural deconstruction from the rowdy theater company Radiohole.

Theater Review | 'Yank!'
“Yank!”: Bobby Steggert, left, and Ivan Hernandez in this new musical about a gay romance during World War II, at the Theater at St. Peter’s.

Stealing Kisses Before ‘Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell’

By NEIL GENZLINGER

A delightful first act gives way to a muddled Act II in “Yank!,” a musical about a gay romance during World War II.

Theater Review | 'The Boys in the Band'
From left, Jonathan Hammond, Graham Rowat, Kevyn Morrow, Christopher Innvar and Kevin Isola in “The Boys in the Band.”

Broken Hearts, Bleeding Psyches

By BEN BRANTLEY

The site-specific revival of “The Boys in the Band” brings to mind an epigram of Jean-Paul Sartre: “Hell is just other people.” Or to tweak it for the occasion: “Hell is just other homos.”

Theater Review | 'Romeo and Juliet'
“Romeo and Juliet”: Laura Esposito and Sonny Valicenti star at the Baruch Performing Arts Center.

In a Name, Unleashed and Intense

By KEN JAWOROWSKI

This production of “Romeo and Juliet” more consistently nails the big events while sometimes barreling through the finer points.

Bobby Steggert, left, and Ivan Hernandez in “Yank!”

New Gay Theater Has More Love Than Politics

By PATRICK HEALY

A new breed of theater is replacing the political messages of 1990s shows with more personal appeals for social progress.

Theater Review | 'Mr. & Mrs. Fitch'
“Mr. & Mrs. Fitch”: Jennifer Ehle and John Lithgow in a new comedy at the Second Stage Theater.

In a Gilded World, Theirs Is but to Quip and Sigh

By BEN BRANTLEY

The formidable team of Jennifer Ehle and John Lithgow star in “Mr. & Mrs. Fitch,” a shrill new comedy by Douglas Carter Beane.

Martin Sheen is back in “The Subject Was Roses” at the Mark Taper Forum.

Sheen’s Circle, From Son to Father

By DAVID BELCHER

Martin Sheen, who played the son in the 1964 production of “The Subject Was Roses,” is now playing the father in a revival in Los Angeles.

Arts Beat

'Evita' Revival Planned for Broadway

February 24, 2010

'Neighbors' Opens Its Doors to Theater Critics

February 24, 2010

From President Charles Logan to Kenneth Lay

February 23, 2010

More Theater News in Arts Beat »

Multimedia
Slide Show
Love Stories

A look at modern gay plays, from “Angels in America” to a revival of “Boys in the Band.”

Audio Slide Show
Walken's Way

Christopher Walken talks about his career on stage.

Slide Show
Repeating Modern Classics

Photos and reviews of revivals of "Ragtime," "A View From the Bridge" and "Present Laughter."

Theater Listings: Feb. 19 — 25

By THE NEW YORK TIMES

Selective listings from theater critics of The New York Times.

The New Season
Christopher Walken backstage at the Gerald Schoenfeld Theater.

Please, No More Mr. Bad Guy Roles! (But Creepy Is Fine)

By PATRICK HEALY

After playing troubled men for so long, Christopher Walken has become a pro at finding a sunny side in the spookiest of souls.

A scene from Green Day’s “American Idiot,” coming to Broadway in the spring.

To Be Topical in a Time Out of Joint

By BEN BRANTLEY and CHARLES ISHERWOOD

The theater critics for The New York Times looked at the spring season’s offerings and found a number of productions that addressed pressing issues.

Act I, Scene I: The Cellphone Must Not Go On

By STEVEN McELROY

How to ask patrons to turn off anything that beeps or glows is often the subject of serious consideration.

Cast members of the Broadway musical “Ragtime” in 2000.

Play It Again, Broadway, and Again

By STUART MILLER

Familiar titles are being revived on and off Broadway more frequently.

The playwright Lucy Prebble told a producer in 2006 she wanted “to do a really big, musical, kind of spectacular show” about Enron.”

Drama! Music! Financial Shenanigans!

By ALASTAIR GEE

After two sold-out runs in Britain, Lucy Prebble’s “Enron” is to begin previews on Broadway.

Spring and Summer Theater Listings

By STEVEN McELROY

A select list of forthcoming shows. Dates are subject to change.

The New Season: Faces to Watch

Features and Reviews

Top Grossing Broadway Shows

Week Ending Feb. 21
  1. Wicked, $1,602,783
  2. The Lion King, $1,454,918
  3. Billy Elliot, $1,190,501
  4. Jersey Boys, $1,145,386
  5. West Side Story, $1,087,016
  6. Mary Poppins, $933,852
  7. The Phantom of the Opera, $916,411
  8. A View From the Bridge, $880,386
  9. Mamma Mia!, $855,846
  10. In the Heights, $728,321
Source: The Broadway League

Opening Soon

Many of these shows are currently in previews.

Readers’ Favorites

The following shows have received ratings of at least four stars from Times readers.

BROADWAY OFF BROADWAY

Most Highly Rated Shows »

From the Archive
Multimedia Features
Multimedia Features

Interviews with performers, designers and others in the theater, on Broadway and off.

Critics’ Picks

Ben Brantley RECOMMENDS Charles Isherwood RECOMMENDS

More New York Times Critics' Picks »

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