All stories by Rex Reed on BroadwayStars

Wednesday, April 24, 2019

‘Tootsie’ Is the Same Kind of Tasteless, Cartoonish Broadway Musical It Sets Out to Satirize by Rex Reed

Its rhyming of 'real good' with 'Gielgud' is a prime example of why 'Tootsie' is dead on arrival.

SOURCE: The New York Observer at 01:54PM
Tuesday, April 23, 2019
Friday, April 19, 2019

Laurie Metcalf Devours Her Role Like a Room Service Sirloin in ‘Hillary and Clinton’ by Rex Reed

Laurie Metcalf looks and sounds nothing like Hillary Clinton, yet in her role in Broadway's 'Hillary and Clinton' she is, as always, nothing less than mesmerizing.

SOURCE: The New York Observer at 05:32PM
Wednesday, April 17, 2019

Adam Driver’s Alpha-Male Histrionics Nearly Extinguish the Passion in ‘Burn This’ by Rex Reed

Even if 'Burn This' offers more ashes than flames, it's a fine chance to experience how bracing it is to hear real people saying real things.

SOURCE: The New York Observer at 02:08PM
Sunday, April 7, 2019

Broadway’s Latest ‘Oklahoma!’ Revival Is a Gimmicky Travesty with Corn Bread by Rex Reed

The landmark 1943 Rodgers and Hammerstein production that marked the beginning of a new era in American musicals has now been cheapened and vulgarized at New York's Circle in the Square Thea…

SOURCE: The New York Observer at 09:01PM
Wednesday, March 27, 2019

‘Smart Blonde’ Celebrates Judy Holliday’s Sad Life and Dazzling Career by Rex Reed

'Smart Blonde' is a sluggish, uneven work in progress, but still worth seeing if you want to discover a dynamic talent on her way to stardom.

SOURCE: The New York Observer at 09:46AM
Tuesday, March 12, 2019

Isabelle Huppert Is a Shrieking, Toxic Pillhead in the Off-Broadway Psychodrama ‘The Mother’ by Rex Reed

Isabelle Huppert's theatrics are quite a display, but you'll go away from 'The Mother' baffled and exhausted.

SOURCE: The New York Observer at 12:17PM
Wednesday, March 6, 2019

‘The Cake’ Is a Tasty-Looking Tale of Acceptance, but It Never Quite Rises to the Occasion by Rex Reed

'The Cake' is easy on the eyes and charming to the ears, but it doesn't provide much nutrition to take home.

SOURCE: The New York Observer at 03:18PM
Saturday, December 29, 2018

In Memoriam: Rex Reed Says Goodbye to the Biggest Stars of 2018 by Rex Reed

Looking back at a catastrophic year, 2019 has got to be better.

SOURCE: The New York Observer at 07:00AM
Saturday, December 15, 2018

Aaron’s Sorkin’s Talky ‘Mockingbird’ Has a Fresh Tune, Even if Jeff Daniels Mumbles Most of It by Rex Reed

This is the first time I have not been moved to tears by 'To Kill a Mockingbird,' but that's my can and I'll carry it.

SOURCE: The New York Observer at 10:53AM
Friday, December 7, 2018

Bryan Cranston Is an Excellent Lunatic, but ‘Network’ Feels as Dated as a Payphone by Rex Reed

Much of the antiseptic dilution is the fault of Ivo van Hove, a dour Belgian director.

SOURCE: The New York Observer at 03:22PM
Monday, November 19, 2018

‘Downstairs’ Is a Somber and Riveting Reflection on Family Dysfunction by Rex Reed

'Downstairs' doesn't add up to much, but what's there is suspenseful.

SOURCE: The New York Observer at 10:08AM
Friday, November 9, 2018

Broadway’s Disastrous ‘King Kong’ is a $35 Million Crime Against Puppets by Rex Reed

Strip away the ropes, cables, wires and pulleys, and what you've got is a brain-damaged story about a boy, a girl, and a monkey. The monkey is the only thing you'll remember.

SOURCE: The New York Observer at 10:52AM
Monday, November 5, 2018

Kerry Washington’s Fiery Performance in the Racially Charged ‘American Son’ Will Leave You Dazed by Rex Reed

'American Son' turns over the rocks in the political climate to reveal Democracy-challenging toxins you might not have even considered before.

SOURCE: The New York Observer at 11:58AM
Friday, October 26, 2018

‘The Waverly Gallery’ Tugs at the Heart but Never Really Shatters It by Rex Reed

'The Waverly Gallery' lacks force because as Gladys' mental state disintegrates, her exchanges grow from amusing to confusing.

SOURCE: The New York Observer at 09:22AM
Wednesday, October 17, 2018

Stockard Channing Dominates ‘Apologia’ by Rex Reed

The play is ultimately about a woman who established her independence before it was fashionable.

SOURCE: The New York Observer at 03:06PM
Thursday, October 4, 2018

A.R. Gurney Listened to Critics, Wrote This Triptych of Stupidity by Rex Reed

I've never seen anything from A.R. Gurney as superficial and unfocused as 'Final Follies'

SOURCE: The New York Observer at 11:04AM
Friday, August 17, 2018

Bryan Adams Is One of Many Reasons ‘Pretty Woman: The Musical’ Is Awful by Rex Reed

There's no song lyric so bad it can't be improved by screaming it into cacophonous incoherence.

SOURCE: The New York Observer at 12:50PM
Friday, June 29, 2018

‘On a Clear Day You Can See Forever’ Revival Proves It’s a Musical Worth Revisiting by Rex Reed

It opened in 1965 as a disappointment, had a movie that flopped and has not aged well, but even so 'On a Clear Day You Can See Forever' is worth revisiting.

SOURCE: The New York Observer at 01:30PM
Monday, June 25, 2018

Playwright Joshua Harmon Makes the Same Big Mistake With ‘Skintight’ by Rex Reed

His problem (and my one caveat) is that he doesn't know when to stop writing.

SOURCE: The New York Observer at 09:53AM
Friday, June 15, 2018

There Is Nothing Good to Say About Off-Broadway’s ‘First Love’ by Rex Reed

It's embarrassing to watch two distinguished artists playing meatheads beyond their prime, stripping down to their underwear and dancing in semi-nude pulchritude around a barbecue grill.

SOURCE: The New York Observer at 02:54PM

Jessica Walker Dominates as Suzy Solidor in ‘All I Want is One Night’ by Rex Reed

'The most famous woman you've never heard of.'

SOURCE: The New York Observer at 01:53PM
Friday, June 1, 2018

‘The Boys in the Band’ Is Sad, Hilarious, and Gratifying by Rex Reed

Nothing shocks anyone anymore, but 'The Boys in the Band' still resonates with a sound of fury Faulkner never dreamed of.

SOURCE: The New York Observer at 12:08PM
Friday, May 25, 2018

‘Peace for Mary Frances’ Is So Good It Will Shatter You by Rex Reed

'Peace for Mary Frances' is so beautifully written that it is impossible to believe it's the playwright's first play.

SOURCE: The New York Observer at 10:30AM
Friday, May 4, 2018

A New Revival of ‘My Fair Lady’ Dazzles…Until It Doesn’t by Rex Reed

A new production of 'My Fair Lady' delivers a different ending that is not exactly disastrous, but decidedly disappointing.

SOURCE: The New York Observer at 12:00PM
Friday, April 13, 2018
Wednesday, April 11, 2018

‘Mean Girls’ Musical Is Every Bit as Vapid and Tasteless as You’d Expect by Rex Reed

Tina Fey proves she is not above trashing her talent to make money.

SOURCE: The New York Observer at 12:20PM
Friday, March 30, 2018

‘Three Tall Women’ Sets the Benchmark for Broadway in 2018 by Rex Reed

Glenda Jackson returns to Broadway—alongside Alison Pill and Laurie Metcalf—to star in Edward Albee's 'Three Tall Women,' the writer's vengeful depiction of the woman who raised him.

SOURCE: The New York Observer at 03:30PM
Thursday, March 8, 2018

Ed Harris Stars in ‘Good For Otto,’ a Long Play Where No One Is Named Otto by Rex Reed

At one point, Ed Harris plays the tuba while everyone sings "Carolina in the Morning." I wish I could tell you it was for a reason.

SOURCE: The New York Observer at 06:30PM
Monday, January 29, 2018

Despite a Great Performance From Hayley Mills, ‘Party Face’ Shows Its Wrinkles by Rex Reed

It took seven decades to get Hayley Mills to the New York stage, let's hope she returns—in a vehicle more rewarding and less forgettable than 'Party Face.'

SOURCE: The New York Observer at 12:20PM
Tuesday, January 16, 2018

John Lithgow’s ‘Stories by Heart’ Breathes New Life Into the One-Man Show by Rex Reed

You'll marvel at the tsunami of words John Lithgow has managed to memorize, wondering how he masters the feat off making them sound fresh eight times a week.

SOURCE: The New York Observer at 12:30PM

All that Chat

2023-2024 BROADWAY SEASON
May 30, 2023: Grey House - Lyceum Theatre
Jun 26, 2023: Just For Us - Hudson Theatre
Jul 24, 2023: The Cottage - Hayes Theater
Nov 16, 2023: Spamalot - St. James Theatre
Dec 18, 2023: Appropriate - Hayes Theater
Mar 07, 2024: Doubt - Todd Haimes Theatre
Apr 14, 2024: Lempicka - Longacre Theatre
Apr 17, 2024: The Wiz - Marquis Theatre
Apr 18, 2024: Suffs - Music Box Theatre
Apr 25, 2024: Mother Play - Hayes Theater
Jun 10, 2024: The Drama Desk Awards