Although I usually open each month’s newsletter with new plays coming to New York, I must tell you about the first revival of one of my winners:”Little Gem” by Elaine Murphy won the Best of Edinburgh Award for the most notable dramatic work at the Edinburgh Festival Fringe in 2009. It will be revived at the Irish Rep this summer. If you missed this heartwarming play during its first run at The Flea– don’t fail to see it this summer.
Another wonderful revival is “Underground Railroad Game” returning to Ars Nova, but only until June 15th. After it’s sold out NY run, it transferred to Edinburgh and London, among other cities, and audiences again went wild! Read this rapturous New York Times review to see if this one is for you.
A much older play (although not for this theatre company) will be revived in this American premiere at the Mint, “The Mountains Look Different” by Micheal mac Liammoir, a co founder of the venerable Gate Theatre in Dublin. I couldn’t discover much about previous productions, but I trust Jonathan Bank, Artistic Director, and his unfailing ability to unearth forgotten treasures and create beautiful productions.
Manhattan Theatre Club‘s newest, “Long Lost,” by Pulitzer Prize-winning author, Donald Margulies, looks promising. It will be directed by veteran Tony winner, Daniel Sullivan. For more about the play, read this interview with Margulies.
Although not a musical fan, I’ll be going to the Atlantic Theatre for “The Secret Life of Bees” by Lynn Nottage, based on the wonderful novel by Sue Monk Kidd. Since Atlantic also produced “The Band’s Visit,” I have high hopes for this adaptation with music.
Another musical I’ve heard friends rave about is “Octet” at the Signature Theatre. Since Dave Malloy is responsible for the transcendent “Natasha, Pierre, and the Great Comet of 1812,” I have no doubt “Octet” is worth your time as well. It has extended until the end of the month.
For those of you who enjoy modern versions of the classics, you may want to try “Life Sucks” by Aaron Posner, a very loose adaptation of Chekhov’s “Uncle Vanya.” It was very well reviewed in the New York Times earlier this year.
Enjoy the sun and fun of Summer, and I’ll see you in the theatre!
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.