All stories by Alexis Soloski on BroadwayStars

Sunday, May 10, 2015

Review: ‘Major Barbara’ at Brave New World Repertory in Brooklyn by Alexis Soloski

George Bernard Shaw’s 1905 play pits a Salvation Army officer’s “blood and fire” and against her munitions manufacturer father’s “money and gunpowder.”

SOURCE: The New York Times Subscription at 05:52PM
Thursday, May 7, 2015

Review: In ‘Cool Hand Luke,’ the Ultimate Escape by Alexis Soloski

The Godlight Theater Company brings a hero back to life at 59E59 Theaters.

SOURCE: The New York Times Subscription at 10:00PM
Wednesday, May 6, 2015

Lydia Leonard Talks About ‘Wolf Hall’ by Alexis Soloski

The actress, who plays Anne Boleyn in the plays, has been nominated for a Tony for her role.

SOURCE: The New York Times Subscription at 01:03PM
Tuesday, May 5, 2015

Review: ‘Let Us Now Praise Susan Sontag,’ by Sibyl Kempson by Alexis Soloski

The inaugural production by Ms. Kempson’s company, 7 Daughters of Eve Thtr. & Perf. Co., is a consideration of how stories are told and who gets to tell them.

SOURCE: The New York Times Subscription at 10:25PM

Review: ‘The Floatones,’ Making Song and Sense of Life and Nonsense by Alexis Soloski

Jim Neu’s musical about four characters who form a doo-wop group based on nonattachment.

SOURCE: The New York Times Subscription at 05:18PM
Sunday, May 3, 2015

Review: ‘Six Rounds of Vengeance,’ in Vegas, No Actual Boxers Necessary by Alexis Soloski

This Vampire Cowboys show relies on westerns, samurai stories, action movies, blaxploitation flicks and vampire chillers.

SOURCE: The New York Times Subscription at 06:21PM
Thursday, April 30, 2015

Review: ‘Your Blues Ain’t Sweet Like Mine’ Takes On Race by Alexis Soloski

Ruben Santiago-Hudson’s drama, at Two River Theater in New Jersey, is less a play than a poignant, often powerful polemic.

SOURCE: The New York Times Subscription at 05:32PM
Tuesday, April 28, 2015

Tony nominations aren’t kind to new American plays by Alexis Soloski

British imports dominated the awards announcement, with The Curious Incident or Wolf Hall likely to win best play. But where is Hugh Jackman’s nomination? Continue reading...

SOURCE: The Guardian at 11:41AM
Monday, April 27, 2015

Grounded review – Anne Hathaway goes full throttle in one-woman show by Alexis Soloski

The Public theater, New YorkHathaway gives a heightened performance as a drone pilot and director Julie Taymor turns up all the dials, in a chilling play about the effects of killing by remo…

SOURCE: The Guardian at 06:25AM
Sunday, April 26, 2015

Review: ‘Yokohama Rosa,’ With Michiko Godai, at Japan Society by Alexis Soloski

A homeless Japanese woman inspired Ms. Godai’s performance in this play.

SOURCE: The New York Times Subscription at 05:31PM
Friday, April 24, 2015

Airline Highway review – down and out in New Orleans and on Broadway by Alexis Soloski

Samuel J Friedman theatre, New YorkLisa D’Amour’s play about life in a hopeless motel is an orgy of tinsel and beer with no sight of a story Continue reading...

SOURCE: The Guardian at 08:59AM

The Visit review – vengeful Chita Rivera sharpens Kander and Ebb’s dark vision by Alexis Soloski

Lyceum theatre, New YorkThis musical treatment of Dürrenmatt’s revenge satire has star turns from Rivera and Roger Rees, but a romanticised plot plays weakly beside its macabre twists Con…

SOURCE: The Guardian at 06:46AM
Thursday, April 23, 2015

Something Rotten! review – Shakespeare musical is comfortable but not clever by Alexis Soloski

Though it features a twerking Bard and a song called I Hate Shakespeare, this new comedy about his rival playwrights is too nice to be truly iconoclastic Continue reading...

SOURCE: The Guardian at 12:10AM
Tuesday, April 21, 2015

Doctor Zhivago review – a mega-musical sprinkled with inadvertent comedy by Alexis Soloski

The Broadway Theater, New YorkMore overblown than overwhelming, this melodramatic musical has minimal impact despite some good songs – and Lara’s wig is ridiculous Continue reading...

SOURCE: The Guardian at 09:00PM
Monday, April 20, 2015

Review: In ‘Emily Climbs (Machine Méchant),’ a Botched Rebirth by Alexis Soloski

“Emily Climbs” seems like a singular story, but it’s actually two stories told by three actors playing the same character.

SOURCE: The New York Times Subscription at 06:03PM

Fun Home review – Alison Bechdel's childhood trauma revisited with songs by Alexis Soloski

Circle in the Square Theater, New YorkBased on a graphic novel memoir about growing up gay in a funeral home, this smart, sophisticated Broadway musical includes one astonishing performance …

SOURCE: The Guardian at 11:53AM
Sunday, April 19, 2015

Review: ‘The Tailor of Inverness,’ a Father-Son Tale at Brits Off Broadway by Alexis Soloski

In this solo show at 59E59 Theaters, Matthew Zajac returns to Poland to spool back the lost threads of his father’s life.

SOURCE: The New York Times Subscription at 08:58PM
Friday, April 17, 2015

Review: ‘Revenge of the Popinjay’ at Dixon Place by Alexis Soloski

A killer who has been hacking straight people’s arms off is the villain in this Animal Parts production.

SOURCE: The New York Times Subscription at 06:28PM

Review: ‘Se Llama Cristina,’ a Search for Identity, at the Intar Theater by Alexis Soloski

“Se Llama Cristina,” by Octavio Solis at the Intar Theater, puts its two main characters through a series of flashbacks to reveal more of their calamitous pasts.

SOURCE: The New York Times Subscription at 05:16PM

The King and I review – a glorious Siamese dream by Alexis Soloski

Lincoln Center, New YorkIt takes a while to get to know the saturnine King, but this rapturous revival will have the audience whistling a happy tune Continue reading...

SOURCE: The Guardian at 10:36AM
Thursday, April 16, 2015

Hamlet review – Peter Saarsgard plays the Dane for the emoji age by Alexis Soloski

Classic Stage Company, New YorkWith a constantly shifting emotional landscape and little sense of pacing or plot, this Hamlet is hard work Continue reading...

SOURCE: The Guardian at 11:53AM
Wednesday, April 15, 2015

Finding Neverland review – Gary Barlow's dull songs sink muddled show by Alexis Soloski

Lunt-Fontanne Theater, New YorkHarvey Weinstein has spent millions trying to make a film about Peter Pan’s author fly on stage – but though the child stars shine, the music is leaden Con…

SOURCE: The Guardian at 11:15PM
Monday, April 13, 2015

An American in Paris review – Wheeldon’s fine, fanciful entertainment by Alexis Soloski

Palace theater, New York CityChristopher Wheeldon’s retread of the 1951 musical may falter in its pacing but it’s funny and sometimes divineLet’s get some uncomfortable truths out of t…

SOURCE: The Guardian at 08:47AM
Sunday, April 12, 2015

Review: In ‘Ludic Proxy,’ a Blur of Actual and Virtual Reality by Alexis Soloski

The drama, written and directed by Aya Ogawa for the Play Company, shows how the simulated can adjoin, infuse or ultimately replace the actual.

SOURCE: The New York Times Subscription at 10:00PM
Friday, April 10, 2015

Wolf Hall review - action comes thick and fast in this thrilling marathon by Alexis Soloski

The RSC’s six-hour production lands with a bang on Broadway – thanks to Ben Miles’ intricate portrayal of Tom Cromwell as a bruiser with brainsWinter Garden Theater, New York Ladies, g…

SOURCE: The Guardian at 07:01AM
Thursday, April 9, 2015

The Indomitable Chita Rivera, Back on Broadway in ‘The Visit’ by Alexis Soloski

At 82, Chita Rivera is back on Broadway, starring in the Kander and Ebb musical “The Visit” as a rich woman set on revenge.

SOURCE: The New York Times Subscription at 08:00AM
Wednesday, April 8, 2015

Gigi review – dubious age-gap musical fails to fizz by Alexis Soloski

Neil Simon Theater, New York The girls are now above the age of consent, but there’s still not much else to thank heaven for in this awkward stage version of the 50s film Continue reading.…

SOURCE: The Guardian at 11:00PM

Hand to God review – blasphemous puppet show is a filthy triumph by Alexis Soloski

Booth Theater, New YorkA sock puppet turns Satanic in this savage, profoundly irreligious satire which is at its funniest when it’s at its most purile, and contains a masterful central per…

SOURCE: The Guardian at 12:05AM
Monday, April 6, 2015

Review: ‘R&J&Z’ Is ‘Romeo and Juliet’ for the Zombie Age by Alexis Soloski

The “Z” in the title stands for zombies in this gory riff on a Shakespeare tragedy by Melody Bates, at the New Ohio Theater.

SOURCE: The New York Times Subscription at 06:04PM

Review: ‘Daily Life Everlasting’ at La MaMa by Alexis Soloski

Plato and Dante are name-dropped in this dance-theater piece staged by Dan Safer, but love and lust set the play’s libidinous heart aflutter.

SOURCE: The New York Times Subscription at 05:25PM
Friday, April 3, 2015

Skylight review – Bill Nighy and Carey Mulligan have a melancholy pull by Alexis Soloski

Golden Theatre, New YorkDavid Hare’s play is about the state of the nation and matters of the heart, as two former lovers with differing political views are reunited 20 years after their a…

SOURCE: The Guardian at 08:23AM