First Nighter: Richard Strand's Funny "Butler," Norman Shabel's Taut "A Class Act" by David Finkle

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First Nighter: "The Merchant of Venice" in Jonathan Munby's First-Rate Shakespeare's Globe Production by David Finkle

It could be that Munby's extreme depiction of Shylock's relentless repudiation is the reason behind the moneylender's obdurate

First Nighter: "The Merchant of Venice" in Jonathan Munby's First-Rate Shakespeare's Globe Production by David Finkle

Perhaps wanting to stress the unmissable evidence of bigotry continuing rampant in this 400th year after Shakespeare's death

First Nighter: "The Merchant of Venice" in Jonathan Munby's First-Rate Shakespeare's Globe Production by David Finkle

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First Nighter: C. P. Taylor's "Good," Howard Barker's "No End of Blame" Celebrate PTP/NYC's 30-Year Anniversary by David Finkle

Let's just say that Good is not only good but better than No End of Blame, because Taylor has a much more graspable attitude

First Nighter: C. P. Taylor's "Good," Howard Barker's "No End of Blame" Celebrate PTP/NYC's 30-Year Anniversary by David Finkle

Yet, as the playwright contrives to drop Hungarian native Bela into and out of Russia, England and the United States at his

First Nighter: C. P. Taylor's "Good," Howard Barker's "No End of Blame" Celebrate PTP/NYC's 30-Year Anniversary by David Finkle

First Nighter: Brian Murray Returns in Mat Schaffer's "Simon Says," Lady Liberty stars in New Musical "Liberty" by David Finkle

The music throughout is generically rousing and the figures depicted are also generic--among them a woman pushing a cart

First Nighter: Brian Murray Returns in Mat Schaffer's "Simon Says," Lady Liberty stars in New Musical "Liberty" by David Finkle

Because of Williston's betrayal involving a stopped college tuition check, James is threatening to do no more channeling

First Nighter: Brian Murray Returns in Mat Schaffer's "Simon Says," Lady Liberty stars in New Musical "Liberty" by David Finkle

First Nighter: Acting Runaways Run Away With Swados's "Runaways" by David Finkle

What Swados had going for her then, though, and what director Sam Pinkleton and choreographer Ani Taj have now are young

First Nighter: Acting Runaways Run Away With Swados's "Runaways" by David Finkle

Not sold on Swados as much as I am on predecessors MacDermot-Rado-Ragni, there is one song I would like to get to know better

First Nighter: Acting Runaways Run Away With Swados's "Runaways" by David Finkle

First Nighter: London's Impressive "Macbeth," "The Taming of the Shrew," Charlene James's "Cuttin' It," Daniel Evans's S by David Finkle

Both 15-year-olds, who are at the same school in a downscale neighborhood, feel slightly alienated among their classmates

First Nighter: London's Impressive "Macbeth," "The Taming of the Shrew," Charlene James's "Cuttin' It," Daniel Evans's S by David Finkle

Surely flashy choreographer Alistair David deserves some credit for the immediate confrontational look. And that's only for

First Nighter: London's Impressive "Macbeth," "The Taming of the Shrew," Charlene James's "Cuttin' It," Daniel Evans's S by David Finkle

First Nighter: London Offers Ralph Fiennes as "Richard III," Mike Bartlett's Somewhat Wild "Wild," Michael Crawford as "The G by David Finkle

There and before understanding what he's agreed to do, Leo becomes an eager "postman" delivering letters between upper-class

First Nighter: London Offers Ralph Fiennes as "Richard III," Mike Bartlett's Somewhat Wild "Wild," Michael Crawford as "The G by David Finkle

The beloved 1953 L. P. Hartley novel--that famously begins "The past in a foreign country; they do things differently there

First Nighter: London Offers Ralph Fiennes as "Richard III," Mike Bartlett's Somewhat Wild "Wild," Michael Crawford as "The G by David Finkle

First Nighter: London Hosting Terence Rattigan's "The Deep Blue Sea," Alexi Kaye Campbell's "Sunset at Villa Thalia" and Arthur Mi by David Finkle

By the way, Freddie is the real irony here. A hero during World War II, he's now a society discard and incensed about it

First Nighter: London Hosting Terence Rattigan's "The Deep Blue Sea," Alexi Kaye Campbell's "Sunset at Villa Thalia" and Arthur Mi by David Finkle

There's no question that this is a volatile time and certainly for the nearly destitute Simons, but Turner has them and those

First Nighter: London Hosting Terence Rattigan's "The Deep Blue Sea," Alexi Kaye Campbell's "Sunset at Villa Thalia" and Arthur Mi by David Finkle

First Nighter: London Currently Serving Multi-Star Takes on "The Threepenny Opera," "Funny Girl," "Romeo and Juliet" and by David Finkle

A few years back there was talk of a New York City revival. If those producers are still thinking about one and willing to

First Nighter: London Currently Serving Multi-Star Takes on "The Threepenny Opera," "Funny Girl," "Romeo and Juliet" and by David Finkle

It should also be noted that although this Threepenny Opera--announced at the get-go as "cheap" but blessedly devoid of standard

First Nighter: London Currently Serving Multi-Star Takes on "The Threepenny Opera," "Funny Girl," "Romeo and Juliet" and by David Finkle

First Nighter: In 'Hello, Dillie!' Dillie Keane Celebrates Love Gone Wrong. Gone Very Wrong And Gone Right by David Finkle

With her songs and stories, Dillie Keane is interested in--no, possessed by--the lives, mostly romantic, as lived by women of a certain age. Often it's herself about whom she's chatting and …

First Nighter: Five Worthies From Alan Ayckbourn, Eugene O'Neill, The Marx Brothers, Philip Ridley and God by David Finkle

As the author of 79 -- count 'em, 79 -- plays, Alan Ayckbourn rarely falls below a certain laugh level.

First Nighter: Dan Hoyle's Outstanding "The Block," Jonathan Brielle's Not Outstanding "Himself and Nora" by David Finkle

If the following four plays are anywhere near as strong as the initial entry, audiences throughout the City are in for a tremendous treat.

Easy Listener: Sizzling-Hot Jazz/Cabaret CDs From Barb Jungr, Dane Vannatter, Barbara Fasano, Tony Yazbeck by David Finkle

Busy Being Free - Barbara Fasano - Human Child Records: Another ultra-classy cabaret singer, she realized some time ago that

Easy Listener: Sizzling-Hot Jazz/Cabaret CDs From Barb Jungr, Dane Vannatter, Barbara Fasano, Tony Yazbeck by David Finkle

The Floor Above Me -- Tony Yazbeck - PS Classics: A hot Broadway triple-threat man of the moment, he's sticking strictly

Easy Listener: Sizzling-Hot Jazz/Cabaret CDs From Barb Jungr, Dane Vannatter, Barbara Fasano, Tony Yazbeck by David Finkle