All stories by Rex Reed on BroadwayStars

Friday, November 22, 2024

Surviving ‘Swept Away’: A Maritime Disaster in More Ways Than One by Rex Reed

Four shipwreck survivors sing their way through despair, but 'Swept Away' capsizes under its uninspired score.

SOURCE: The New York Observer at 05:26PM
Wednesday, November 13, 2024

‘Maybe Happy Ending’ Is The Most Original, Most Beautiful Musical In Eons by Rex Reed

This Broadway show about robots in love has rapturous music and lyrics, innovative staging and a superb cast. In short, an extraordinary work of theatre artistry.

SOURCE: The New York Observer at 11:11AM
Thursday, October 24, 2024

‘Left On Tenth’ Is Funny, Touching, Intelligently Written And Beautifully Acted by Rex Reed

Julianna Margulies and Peter Gallagher have sensational charm and chemistry, and this exquisitely directed stage adaption of Delia Ephron's best-selling memoir with put a catch in your throa…

SOURCE: The New York Observer at 04:27PM
Friday, September 13, 2024

Mia Farrow and Patti LuPone Are a Perfect Pair in ‘The Roommate’ by Rex Reed

Call 'The Roommate' glamorous summer stock. Sometimes, that’s enough, even on Broadway.

SOURCE: The New York Observer at 11:15AM
Monday, April 29, 2024

Jessica Lange Finds New Ways to Melt Hearts in ‘Mother Play’ by Rex Reed

All of the characters are halfway to madness, but I had a ball going bonkers with them. 

SOURCE: The New York Observer at 11:01AM

Rachel McAdams Invigorates ‘Mary Jane’ (When You Can Hear Her) by Rex Reed

How do you write about a play you cannot hear?

SOURCE: The New York Observer at 10:23AM
Wednesday, April 24, 2024

This ‘Cabaret’ Is the Worst ‘Cabaret’ by Rex Reed

I don’t like Eddie Redmayne; I love Eddie Redmayne. I have admired his work in all of his films and plays and consider him one of the few genuine icons in the world of acting. But not in …

SOURCE: The New York Observer at 04:11PM
Thursday, March 21, 2024

‘Water for Elephants’ Theater Review: “I’ve Never Hated Any Show More” by Rex Reed

Everything is so exaggerated and phony that it’s hard to believe the director is the same Jessica Stone responsible for the charming, imaginative Tony Award winner 'Kimberly Akimbo'

SOURCE: The New York Observer at 08:00PM
Tuesday, March 19, 2024

Theater Review: Broadway’s ‘The Notebook’ Is Shallow, Boring and Slow by Rex Reed

Maryann Plunkett and Dorian Harewood deserve a better showcase.

SOURCE: The New York Observer at 02:29PM
Tuesday, July 25, 2023

‘The Cottage’ Review: This New Broadway Farce Is A Fiasco by Rex Reed

An cast of six actors yell, shriek and swallow two hours of uniformly overwrought line readings in this noisy, witless farce. When everything else fails, one whole scene is devoted to fartin…

SOURCE: The New York Observer at 01:28PM
Friday, June 16, 2023

‘The Doctor’: Nearly Three Hours Socio-Political Debate And One Titanic Performance by Rex Reed

Run don't walk to see Juliet Stevenson in a production that marks her first trip across the pond in 20 years. As for the play, you're on your own.

SOURCE: The New York Observer at 03:07PM
Monday, June 5, 2023

‘The Days Of Wine and Roses’ Review: Love On The Rocks, With An Iffy Musical Twist by Rex Reed

The classic tale remains grim, graphic, and demanding, and Brian d’Arcy James and Kelli O’Hara give it all they've got. But burdened with bluntly conversational songs, this musical fails…

SOURCE: The New York Observer at 09:00PM
Friday, April 28, 2023

‘New York, New York’: Come For The Songs, Everything Else Is A Mess by Rex Reed

This show—questionably claiming to be inspired by Martin Scorsese's 1977 movie—piles up a tidal wave of old John Kander and Fred Ebb songs worthy of applause. But the rest of the evening…

SOURCE: The New York Observer at 06:20PM
Tuesday, April 25, 2023

Review: Sean Hayes Is a Miracle In ‘Good Night, Oscar’ by Rex Reed

Sean Hayes is entertaining without pause in his sensational portrayal of Oscar Levant in one of the few Broadway shows that unimpeachably deserves its tumultuous standing ovation.

SOURCE: The New York Observer at 10:51AM
Monday, March 27, 2023

‘Sweeney Todd’ Review: Sondheim’s Masterpiece Endures In An Aimless Revival by Rex Reed

Josh Groban is excellent as the Demon Barber of Fleet Street, but the production is ugly and chaotic.

SOURCE: The New York Observer at 08:00AM
Sunday, December 11, 2022

Review: ‘Some Like It Hot’ Is The Joyous Broadway Musical People Have Been Praying For by Rex Reed

Dusted off, polished and revitalized to reflect contemporary values, 'Some Like It Hot' remains close to perfect.

SOURCE: The New York Observer at 02:30PM
Friday, December 9, 2022

‘Ohio State Murders’: 75 Minutes of Waiting for Something To Happen by Rex Reed

In this Broadway revival of Adrienne Kennedy's 1992 play, Audra McDonald is more interesting than the show itself.

SOURCE: The New York Observer at 11:31AM
Friday, November 18, 2022

Review: The Excruciating “& Juliet” Fails on Every Level by Rex Reed

Set to the music of Max Martin, this moronic new Broadway show asks the question, "What if Romeo died but Juliet didn't kill herself and lived on to bore everybody else to death?"

SOURCE: The New York Observer at 03:54PM
Tuesday, October 18, 2022

She Screams, They Scream, We All Scream For Lea Michelle In ‘Funny Girl’ by Rex Reed

The ovations (many of them standing) greeting Lea Michelle as Fanny Brice are contagious.

SOURCE: The New York Observer at 01:20PM
Wednesday, April 27, 2022

Review: Billy Crystal Deserves Better Than ‘Mr. Saturday Night’ by Rex Reed

Whatever charm exists in 'Mr. Saturday Night' is due to Mr. Crystal, but even he needs proper material. 

SOURCE: The New York Observer at 10:00PM
Sunday, April 24, 2022

‘Funny Girl’: Move Over, Barbra. Welcome, Beanie. A New Star Is Born. by Rex Reed

The new production of 'Funny Girl' knocks your socks off before the intermission. By that time, the star's hidden magic has hit you squarely in the heart in ways you didn't see coming.

SOURCE: The New York Observer at 10:37PM
Monday, April 18, 2022

Review: ‘The Minutes’ Is a Haunting Examination of Who We Really Are and Have Always Been by Rex Reed

You will probably leave Tracy Letts' 'The Minutes' with very mixed feelings, but you will talk about it, think about it, and go away with the knowledge that you have never seen anything like…

SOURCE: The New York Observer at 11:17AM
Monday, April 4, 2022

Review: So Little Has Changed in Baseball That It Is Unquestionably the Right Time for ‘Take Me Out’ by Rex Reed

Real life has changed since 2003, but baseball has not. It's still the right time for a brave, powerful, poignant play about a gay professional baseball player who comes out of the closet at…

SOURCE: The New York Observer at 08:03PM
Friday, February 11, 2022

‘The Music Man’: Hugh Jackman Dazzles in the Perfect Role by Rex Reed

This is the kind of corn that never grows stale.

SOURCE: The New York Observer at 04:29PM
Monday, December 13, 2021

‘Flying Over Sunset’ Tries for Introspection but Achieves Self-Indulgence by Rex Reed

It's better than 'Mrs. Doubtfire', but you will not be singing these tunes as you walk home from the theater — unless you love to rhyme "penis" and "Venus" or "smelly" and "Botticelli.”

SOURCE: The New York Observer at 10:05PM
Tuesday, November 16, 2021

‘Morning’s at Seven’ Revives a Timeless Story About Pretending to be Content by Rex Reed

Old-fashioned in the best way, 'Morning's at Seven' is about the sense of isolation and failure that hides beneath the surface.

SOURCE: The New York Observer at 12:17PM
Friday, January 31, 2020

‘The Confession of Lily Dare’ Is a Side-Splitting Hoot From Charles Busch by Rex Reed

Laughs are abundant and a good time is guaranteed.

SOURCE: The New York Observer at 11:14AM
Monday, January 27, 2020

Even TV Sitcoms Pull Off Dysfunctional Family Humor Better Than ‘Grand Horizons’ Does by Rex Reed

Even if you like the easy, predictable clichés of dysfunctional family comedies, this is very boring theater.

SOURCE: The New York Observer at 03:30PM
Thursday, January 16, 2020

Laura Linney Is a Marvel in Solo Play ‘My Name Is Lucy Barton’ by Rex Reed

The one-woman show gives her a chance to access a darkness she can't often show in her films.

SOURCE: The New York Observer at 11:26AM
Friday, December 6, 2019

Poignant Performances Hoist ‘Harry Townsend’s Last Stand’ Above the Level of TV Sitcoms by Rex Reed

'Harry Townsend's Last Stand' takes a serious subject and dusts it with humor.

SOURCE: The New York Observer at 04:13PM
Wednesday, October 16, 2019

Marisa Tomei’s Fiery Performance Makes ‘The Rose Tattoo’ Well Worth Re-Visiting by Rex Reed

She is so fine in a role conceived for the volcanic Italian superstar Anna Magnani that holding center stage amid a swirl of overproduced, over-the-top distractions, she deserves an award of…

SOURCE: The New York Observer at 12:45PM

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
Dec 12, 2024: Cult of Love - Hayes Theater
Dec 19, 2024: Gypsy - Majestic Theatre
Mar 17, 2025: Purpose - Hayes Theater
Apr 01, 2025: Glengarry Glen Ross
Apr 10, 2025: Smash - Imperial Theatre
TBA: Titanic
TBA: Ragtime