Saturday, September 8, 2012

Baltimore Raven Brendon Ayanbadejo stands up for marriage equality by Esther

It only takes a quick Google search to find out how many Baltimore Ravens players have been arrested over the past decade. Here's a partial rap sheet: driving under the influence, assaulting…

SOURCE: Gratuitous Violins at 01:10PM
Monday, September 3, 2012

Tribes by Esther

Tribes, at the Barrow Street Theatre off-BroadwayGratuitous Violins rating: ***1/2 out of ****I love just about everything about Nina Raine's play Tribes, even the title.It made me think how…

SOURCE: Gratuitous Violins at 11:40AM
Saturday, August 25, 2012

One Man, Two Guvnors by Esther

One Man, Two Guvnors, at Broadway's Music Box TheatreGratuitous Violins rating: **** out of ****I always say it's easy to make me cry, harder to make me laugh.I've been to a few shows where …

SOURCE: Gratuitous Violins at 12:40PM
Sunday, August 19, 2012

Harvey by Esther

Harvey, at Studio 54 on BroadwayGratuitous Violins rating: **1/2 out of ****Even though it closed earlier this month, I just want to say a few things about the Broadway revival of Harvey sta…

SOURCE: Gratuitous Violins at 09:00PM
Thursday, August 16, 2012

Into the Woods by Esther

Into the Woods, at the Delacorte Theater in Central ParkGratuitous Violins rating: ***1/2 out of ****For me Into the Woods was more than a show, it was a practically 24-hour experience that …

SOURCE: Gratuitous Violins at 12:20PM
Sunday, August 12, 2012

Married and Counting by Esther

Watching Married and Counting made me sorry that Stephen Mosher and Pat Dwyer have completed their wedding tour because I would love to have been a part of it. But I'm glad that I got to joi…

SOURCE: Gratuitous Violins at 11:30AM
Wednesday, August 8, 2012

Remembering my friend Saundra Smokes by Esther

A dear friend died this week. Saundra Smokes and I worked together for 11 years at the Syracuse Herald-Journal, where she was then a columnist and editorial writer. Sandi was a compelling vo…

SOURCE: Gratuitous Violins at 08:40PM
Sunday, August 5, 2012

Uncle Vanya by Esther

Uncle VanyaSydney Theatre Company at Lincoln Center FestivalGratuitous Violins rating: *** out of ****Before Uncle Vanya, I didn't think you could go into a play too cold - at least one that…

SOURCE: Gratuitous Violins at 11:10PM
Monday, July 2, 2012

Truth and truthiness in theatre marketing by Esther

Theatre companies love me - they call, they write all the time. I know it's because they miss me and they really, really want to see me again but some of the lines they use to lure me back a…

SOURCE: Gratuitous Violins at 10:30AM
Thursday, June 28, 2012

Oreo celebrates Gay Pride Month by Esther

I'm not surprised that the haters came out in force when Oreo posted a picture on its Facebook page of a rainbow-themed cookie to celebrate Gay Pride Month. (Sadly it's only an illustration,…

SOURCE: Gratuitous Violins at 01:20PM
Tuesday, June 26, 2012

Playwright Kirsten Greenidge takes on the man who said "Eh." by Esther

Clearly, Kirsten Greenidge would like a better calibre of people to come see her plays. You know, the kind who appreciate her talent and would give her the adulation she deserves. At least t…

SOURCE: Gratuitous Violins at 02:30PM
Monday, June 11, 2012

Some thoughts on the 2012 Tony Awards by Esther

Watching the Tony Awards last night made me so happy that I braved a storm to see The Gershwins' Porgy & Bess before it came to Broadway, that Trinity Rep snagged Clybourne Park for a 30…

SOURCE: Gratuitous Violins at 12:48PM
Wednesday, June 6, 2012

My picks for the 2012 Tony Awards by Esther

The Tony Awards are Sunday night at 8 on CBS, hosted once again by the charming Neil Patrick Harris!Here are the nominees in (most of) the categories and my picks if I had a vote. I've marke…

SOURCE: Gratuitous Violins at 12:03PM
Monday, June 4, 2012

The Best Man by Esther

The Best Man, at Broadway's Schoenfeld TheatreGratuitous Violins rating: **** out of ****Usually I know way too much about a show going in, so I'm glad I restrained myself with The Best Man …

SOURCE: Gratuitous Violins at 10:32AM
Tuesday, May 29, 2012

Getting Kindled and iPadded by Esther

I always said I'd never get an e-reader. I like the feel of paper in my hands. I spend enough time staring at computer screens as it is. Plus, browsing in bookstores and buying books is one …

SOURCE: Gratuitous Violins at 07:20PM
Friday, May 25, 2012

Woody Sez by Esther

Woody Sez, at the American Repertory TheaterGratuitous Violins rating: ***1/2 out of ****My introduction to Woody Guthrie came in elementary school. We took a class trip to the symphony and …

SOURCE: Gratuitous Violins at 10:00AM
Sunday, May 20, 2012

Peter and the Starcatcher by Esther

Peter and the Starcatcher, at Broadway's Brooks Atkinson TheatreGratuitous Violins rating: ***1/2 out of ****Sure, I like plays that weigh in on serious subjects. But every once in awhile, i…

SOURCE: Gratuitous Violins at 06:11PM
Monday, May 14, 2012

End of the Rainbow by Esther

End of the Rainbow, at Broadway's Belasco TheatreGratuitous Violins rating: ** out of ****I'm old enough to remember when The Wizard of Oz was a highly anticipated television event. Before V…

SOURCE: Gratuitous Violins at 10:51AM
Saturday, May 12, 2012

Evita by Esther

Evita, at the Marquis TheatreGratuitous Violins rating: *** out of ****Years ago, someone loaned me a VHS copy of Evita - yes, it was that long ago - and I loved it. The story was fascinati…

SOURCE: Gratuitous Violins at 10:20PM
Wednesday, May 9, 2012

President Obama's "We Shall Overcome" moment on gay marriage by Esther

President Obama finally had his "We Shall Overcome" moment today when he endorsed the right of gay and lesbian Americans to marry the person they love.Congratulations, Mr. President. It's ab…

SOURCE: Gratuitous Violins at 08:25PM
Wednesday, May 2, 2012

Newsies by Esther

Newsies, at Broadway's Nederlander Theatre Gratuitous Violins rating: ***1/2 out of ****A plucky girl reporter and a story ripped from the pages of the history books. If the musical the…

SOURCE: Gratuitous Violins at 08:45PM
Thursday, April 26, 2012

Once by Esther

Once, at Broadway's Jacobs TheatreGratuitous Violins rating: **** out of ****One of the reasons I love going to the theatre is that it gives me a chance to keep the outside world at bay. It'…

SOURCE: Gratuitous Violins at 01:57PM
Tuesday, April 24, 2012

Death of a Salesman by Esther

Death of a Salesman, at Broadway's Barrymore TheatreGratuitous Violins rating: **** out of ****I read the play in high school and a few years ago I watched a production taped for TV but unti…

SOURCE: Gratuitous Violins at 10:30AM
Monday, March 19, 2012

Why I'm mad at Mike Daisey by Esther

I saw "The Agony and the Ecstasy of Steve Jobs" in October and I had my doubts about how much of it was true as I was sitting in my seat at the Public Theater in New York. (Which I noted in …

SOURCE: Gratuitous Violins at 07:00PM
Thursday, December 22, 2011

My favorite theatre of 2011 by Esther

This year, it's easy to pick my favorite theatre. Tony Kushner's Angels in America, at the Signature Theatre, and Larry Kramer's The Normal Heart, on Broadway, stood far above anything else …

SOURCE: Gratuitous Violins at 11:00AM
Saturday, December 17, 2011

Follies by Esther

Follies, at Broadway's Marquis TheatreGratuitous Violins rating: **** out of ****Because my opportunities to get to New York City are limited, I almost skipped the Broadway revival of Follie…

SOURCE: Gratuitous Violins at 12:30PM
Wednesday, November 23, 2011

Sons of the Prophet by Esther

Sons of the Prophet, at the Roundabout Theatre Company,Laura Pels TheatreGratuitous Violins rating: ***1/2 out of ****Sometimes a play connects with me for the way it depicts a slice of life…

SOURCE: Gratuitous Violins at 11:15PM
Monday, November 21, 2011

Asuncion by Esther

Asuncion, Rattlestick Playwrights Theatre off BroadwayGratuitous Violins rating: ** out of ****I think Jesse Eisenberg intended his play Asuncion to be about the clash of cultures: what hap…

SOURCE: Gratuitous Violins at 05:15PM
Wednesday, November 9, 2011

Good riddance to Brett Ratner by Esther

Good riddance to Brett Ratner and if Eddie Murphy wants to follow him, that's fine. The dignity of my gay friends is more important than allowing Ratner to produce the Oscars in the wake of …

SOURCE: Gratuitous Violins at 08:15PM
Friday, November 4, 2011

Other Desert Cities by Esther

Other Desert Cities, at Broadway's Booth TheatreGratuitous Violins rating: ***1/2 out of ****I've been hooked on a few nighttime soap operas over the years, most notably Dallas and Falcon Cr…

SOURCE: Gratuitous Violins at 01:15PM
Tuesday, November 1, 2011

Chinglish by Esther

Chinglish, at Broadway's Longacre TheatreGratuitous Violins rating: *** out of ****During the year I lived in Israel, my halting attempts to speak Hebrew resulted in lots of linguistic misad…

SOURCE: Gratuitous Violins at 10:20AM

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