Dear theatre friend,
Although this month is alive with burgeoning flora, my reports of theatre offerings have been less plentiful– I need to be outside to witness nature’s “theatre.”
From Scotland’s venerable Dundee Rep, you can stream the well-reviewed “Smile” which garnered great reviews just before lockdown. Please take a look at their other streaming productions, and perhaps “attend” their Festival– virtually, of course.
I’m going be seeing the mini-series version of Alan Ayckbourn’s “The Norman Conquests,” available with a subscription to Broadway HD or Acorn. It’s not the fabulous 2009 version seen in New York, rather an earlier taping with Tom Conti as Norman.If you’re not already a subscriber, browse the Acorn list of shows– you’ll find many gems of British shows worth revisiting, and some other foreign productions, new to me.
The Jewish Repertory Theatre is presenting a staged reading of “Exquisite Potential” by longtime playwright, Stephen Kaplan. Here’s a trailer for a previous production, which I found entertaining.
Until April 22nd, you can see nonagenarian star, John Cullum, in the well titled “An Accidental Star” from The Irish Rep, about the career of this musical theatre legend.
While at the irish Rep site, don’t miss “Little Gem,” filmed during their delightful, if slightly less Irish, revival starring Marsha Mason.I originally saw Elaine Murphy’s multi-generational drama at the Edinburgh Fringe in 2009 and fell in love with all three characters, led by an outstanding Anita Reeves. Here’s an article about this often produced “gem,” Elaine’s debut.
The Public’s digital platform is presenting the audio play cycle, “Shadow/Land” by Erika Dickerson-Despenza, about Hurricane Katrina and the resulting diaspora. You may like to read this New York Times article about Erika and her recent Susan Smith Blackburn Award.
In closing, here’s another rock opera inspired by Ovid’s Metamorphoses– “Weightless,”by the Kilbanes, from WP Theater. It was to have been an in-person show, but now can be seen as a “theatrical concert film” with many of the original cast members. The San Francisco reviews were stellar– calling it “magical.” See for yourself!
That’s all for now–
Carol Tambor publishes a monthly newsletter, which announces worthy shows coming to New York, along with occasional information about London theatre and, of course, the Edinburgh Fringe.