All stories by Charles McNulty on BroadwayStars

Wednesday, September 25, 2013

Theater reviews: Solo performances with the power to touch many by Charles McNulty

The truths told by, respectively, Luis Alfaro ('St. Jude'), Roger Guenveur Smith ('Rodney King') and Trieu Tran ('Uncle Ho to Uncle Sam') at Kirk Douglas Theatre have a personal quality that…

SOURCE: Los Angeles Times at 10:00AM
Tuesday, September 24, 2013

Review: 'The Normal Heart' beats unsteadily, but with passion and love by Charles McNulty

The drama chronicling the early AIDS epidemic also serves as an emotionally searing character study.Larry Kramer's "The Normal Heart" holds such an important place in the history of the AIDS…

SOURCE: Los Angeles Times at 10:00AM
Wednesday, September 18, 2013

Review: 'Lost Girls' finds its heart after an unsteady opening by Charles McNulty

Gritty New Hampshire drama presents a truthful psychological study that ultimately proves moving and poetic.John Pollono, author of the much-feted "Small Engine Repair," has supplied Rogue M…

SOURCE: Los Angeles Times at 09:00AM
Tuesday, September 17, 2013

Theater review: 'R II' is a charming take on an ill-equipped ruler by Charles McNulty

Jessica Kubzansky's ingenious adaptation of Shakespeare's 'Richard II' at the Theatre @ Boston Court uses three actors and focuses on the tale of a ruler who is never more kingly than when g…

SOURCE: Los Angeles Times at 08:00AM
Thursday, September 12, 2013

Fall theater season listens to new voices and old by Charles McNulty

Such exciting new writers as Samuel D. Hunter, Amy Herzog and Young Jean Lee are on tap. So are stalwarts Neil Simon, Reginald Rose and, yes, Shakespeare.Theater festivals have the potential…

SOURCE: Los Angeles Times at 10:15AM
Tuesday, September 10, 2013

Review: 'Death of a Salesman' at SCR erratic yet still shattering by Charles McNulty

Charlie Robinson rises above inconsistent staging to get to the hard truth of the South Coast Repertory revival of an Arthur Miller classic.It's always a privilege to be in the company of an…

SOURCE: Los Angeles Times at 03:00AM
Sunday, August 25, 2013

An Appreciation: Julie Harris, Broadway saint by Charles McNulty

Julie Harris wasn’t simply one of the great American actors of the 20th century. She represented to those in her profession a reverential ideal.

SOURCE: Los Angeles Times at 01:20PM
Thursday, August 22, 2013

Review: 'Rapture, Blister, Burn' slyly upends fixed notions of life by Charles McNulty

Gina Gionfriddo's 'Rapture, Blister, Burn' at the Geffen Playhouse adds a comical edge to the old question of whether a woman can have it all.To judge by appearances, Catherine is a roaring …

SOURCE: Los Angeles Times at 09:10PM

Ian McKellen and Patrick Stewart on 'No Man's Land,' parallel paths by Charles McNulty

It's a Pinteresque reunion for English actors Ian McKellen and Patrick Stewart, performing the Broadway-bound 'No Man's Land' in Berkeley.BERKELEY — Their Stradivarius voices precede t…

SOURCE: Los Angeles Times at 04:00PM
Saturday, August 17, 2013

Review: 'A Midsummer Night's Dream' goes from merry to muddle by Charles McNulty

Jaunty Actors' Gang entertains mightily in 'A Midsummer Night's Dream,' but at eve's end it's stretched to the limit.The love games of Shakespeare's "A Midsummer Night's Dream" are as frolic…

SOURCE: Los Angeles Times at 08:00AM
Thursday, August 1, 2013

Cate Blanchett channels Blanche in 'Blue Jasmine' by Charles McNulty

Critic's Notebook: For Cate Blanchett, it's an inspired trip from 'Streetcar Named Desire' on stage to 'Blue Jasmine' on film.One of the joys for a theater critic of watching Woody Allen's …

SOURCE: Los Angeles Times at 08:30AM
Monday, July 29, 2013

Postscript: A few more thoughts about 'A Parallelogram' by Charles McNulty

In “Postscript,” a critic returns to works already reviewed to respond to readers, touch on points not covered, share second thoughts and extend the critical conversation.  

SOURCE: Los Angeles Times at 06:04PM

Review: 'Chicago' storms into the Hollywood Bowl by Charles McNulty

A fun Brooke Shields-directed production of 'Chicago' at the Hollywood Bowl features a vivid Ashlee Simpson and a strong Samantha Barks."Chicago" is a perfect fit for the Hollywood Bowl for …

SOURCE: Los Angeles Times at 08:30AM
Thursday, July 25, 2013

Anthony Weiner as a Broadway play: Tragedy or farce? by Charles McNulty

A colleague asked me the other day whether there was a character in Shakespeare to compare to disgraced former Congressman Anthony Weiner, whose New York mayoral campaign has spun out of co…

SOURCE: Los Angeles Times at 02:41PM

Review: 'Sideways' drives into La Jolla Playhouse with mixed results by Charles McNulty

Rex Pickett's 'Sideways,' directed by Des McAnuff at La Jolla Playhouse, is touching but struggles with both a stage car and memories of the film.The theater can do just about anything in my…

SOURCE: Los Angeles Times at 03:00AM
Saturday, July 20, 2013

Traveling to London in summer 2013 to see theater shows? by Charles McNulty

Adrian Lester, Rory Kinnear star in a can't-miss 'Othello.' You can miss 'Charlie and the Chocolate Factory.' Reviews of 'Passion Play,' more. LONDON — Traveling to London this summer …

SOURCE: Los Angeles Times at 02:00PM
Wednesday, July 10, 2013

'Sister Act' review: Stale musical can still be good for the soul by Charles McNulty

'Sister Act' is hackneyed. But up-tempo numbers and Ta'Rea Campbell's singing boost the musical at Pantages Theatre."Sister Act" has been on quite the pilgrimage since its world premiere at …

SOURCE: Los Angeles Times at 06:23PM
Tuesday, July 2, 2013

Review: 'Charlie and the Chocolate Factory' leaves a bitter taste by Charles McNulty

The much-anticipated West End stage production of 'Charlie and the Chocolate Factory' has little originality, lacks flavor and doesn't live up to its billing.LONDON — All the best ingr…

SOURCE: Los Angeles Times at 08:00AM
Saturday, June 22, 2013

Hollywood Fringe Festival, a theater party with room to grow by Charles McNulty

Critic's Notebook: There's no arguing with the event's success, but it's worth asking how the quality can improve without compromising its vision of openness.On a crowded sidewalk outside of…

SOURCE: Los Angeles Times at 11:00AM
Friday, June 14, 2013

Theater review: Life and art boundaries blur in fluid 'Neva' by Charles McNulty

Guillermo Calderón's powerful drama at the Kirk Douglas Theatre poses more questions than it answers as three actors grapple with the meaning of theater at a time of revolution in early-20t…

SOURCE: Los Angeles Times at 06:10PM
Thursday, June 13, 2013

Review: 'Yes, Prime Minister' gets lost in British politics by Charles McNulty

Tongues wag and accents flag in this witty yet wordy satire from Antony Jay and Jonathan Lynn. Too bad that much of it's lost on an American audience not up on parliamentary rules.Political …

SOURCE: Los Angeles Times at 07:30PM
Tuesday, June 11, 2013

Theater review: 'We Are Proud to Present' and a time of genocide by Charles McNulty

In Jackie Sibblies Drury's play at the Matrix Theatre Company, the depiction of a tragic period in African history is at issue.Theodor Adorno's oft-quoted, much misunderstood remark, "It is …

SOURCE: Los Angeles Times at 10:30PM
Monday, June 10, 2013

Tonys 2013 Q&A: 'Neil Patrick Harris is the god of awards show' by Charles McNulty

Charles McNulty , The Times theater critic, shared his insights about the 2013 Tony Awards and the upcoming theatrical season in an hourlong chat Monday with readers.

SOURCE: Los Angeles Times at 05:52PM

Tonys 2013: Incomparable host Neil Patrick Harris sells Broadway by Charles McNulty

A jubilant show marked by another stellar night from Neil Patrick Harris flaunts the Great White Way's unconventional spirit.Few may be popping Champagne corks for a Broadway season in which…

SOURCE: Los Angeles Times at 09:00AM
Saturday, June 8, 2013

How TV, movie stars fared on Broadway by Charles McNulty

How TV, movie stars fared on Broadway

SOURCE: Los Angeles Times at 12:05PM
Friday, June 7, 2013

Tony Awards 2013: Broadway's starry eyes by Charles McNulty

Critic's Notebook: The season's cavalcade of TV and movie stars teaches fresh lessons about when such casting works (Tom Hanks) and when it doesn't (Emilia Clarke).Another Broadway season, a…

SOURCE: Los Angeles Times at 04:49PM

Nathan Lane Varies HIs Pace by Charles McNulty

Nathan Lane announces that he's through with musicals

SOURCE: Los Angeles Times at 01:34PM

Nathan Lane varies his pace by Charles McNulty

With 'The Producers,' the actor inscribed himself in theatrical memory. He's grateful, but he keeps redefining himself, now with a Tony nomination for 'The Nance.'NEW YORK — If you wer…

SOURCE: Los Angeles Times at 10:00AM
Tuesday, June 4, 2013

Review: 'Sleepless in Seattle,' but not for the old reasons by Charles McNulty

The stage musical version of the 1993 movie, at Pasadena Playhouse, is so wrongheaded that it might keep musical theater lovers awake with worry.Awash in music, "Sleepless in Seattle," Nora …

SOURCE: Los Angeles Times at 08:00AM
Thursday, May 30, 2013

Review: 'Scottsboro Boys' a dazzling show about a travesty by Charles McNulty

The tale of the unjustly accused Scottsboro Nine is reenacted as an irreverent carnival show with stinging and stunning effect at the Ahmanson Theatre."The Scottsboro Boys" has finally arriv…

SOURCE: Los Angeles Times at 07:30PM
Monday, May 13, 2013

Spotlight: Glynn Turman in 'Joe Turner's Come and Gone' by Charles McNulty

Sometimes a performance is so finely adept that you forget the actor and see only the character. The dancer is inseparable from the dance, to borrow Yeats’ timeless formulation.

SOURCE: Los Angeles Times at 10:15AM

All that Chat

2024-2025 BROADWAY SEASON
Jun 05, 2024: Home - Todd Haimes Theatre
Jul 11, 2024: Oh, Mary! - Lyceum Theatre
Jul 30, 2024: Job - Hayes Theater
Sep 12, 2024: The Roommate - Booth Theatre
Nov 14, 2024: Tammy Faye - Palace Theatre
Nov 17, 2024: Elf - Marquis Theatre
Dec 12, 2024: Cult of Love - Hayes Theater
Dec 19, 2024: Gypsy - Majestic Theatre
Mar 17, 2025: Purpose - Hayes Theater
Apr 10, 2025: Smash - Imperial Theatre
TBA: Titanic
TBA: Ragtime