995 stories by "Darryl Reilly"
Darryl Reilly, Critic English journalist John Heilpern died of cancer at the age of 78 on January 7, 2021, in New York City. Mr. Heilpern's sparkling reportage of the London theater scene be…
The great American actor died 20 years ago today at the age of 78. I became fascinated with him during his 1970's consecutive Oscar-winning renaissance.
The post Remembering Jason Robards ap…
Sam Fragoso, Gilbert Gottfried, Frank Santopadre and Studs Terkel's broadcasts have provided me with entertainment and enlightenment during this pandemic.
The post Listening Pleasures appe…
Darryl Reilly, Critic "This is my first award, so please be kind" cooed Noël Coward after he sauntered down a spiral staircase to accept his 1970 honorary Tony Award from Cary Grant, whil…
The atmosphere of a comedy club was replicated outside a NYC café at this Filipino-centric event held during the pandemic where polished comics entertained a masked audience.
The post St…
This Bronx-born Off-Off-Broadway dynamo strove to put people of color on the stage in her substantive and empowering material. Appearing in one of her plays was so memorable.
The post Steph…
With New York City theater in limbo for the foreseeable future, now seems the time to acknowledge the outstanding presentations of this COVID-19 era.
The post A 2020 Four Best List appear…
"Romeo and Juliet" at this unique theater was the first Broadway show I saw. Rex Harrison, George C. Scott and Brian Bedford were also memorable there.
The post My Circle in the Square ap…
This 1980's obscure and brief-running dark work is my favorite play. I later met the author's wife, which inspired Rupert Pupkin-style delusions.
The post Jules Feiffer's Grown Ups appeared…
Darryl Reilly, Critic Like many, I have sought solace through entertainment during these first weeks of shelter-in-place. This is a roundup of the most enriching such works. MarÃa Irene F…
Here are accounts of productions I attended just before live performances traumatically ceased in NYC due to COVID-19; one review was not published before.
The post The Last Theater Show app…
There are happy and distracting memories to ponder while the arts and life are in limbo due to COVID-19. Lauren Bacall also appears in this recollection.
The post Vincent Price Was Oscar Wi…
With its eloquent nods to conceptual art, good-natured comedic tone and superior performance, "The Artist Will Be With You in a Moment" is an intelligent entertainment.
The post The Artist W…
The declarative lyrics are written by Mr. Goldstein and the show's composer Michael Friedman. Mr. Friedman was a notable musical theater figure who died of HIV-related causes in 2017, at the…
"Spicy. Cajun. Alfredo. With Bourbon Infused. Crumbled. Bacon" is the hoped-for path to victory for the pivotal Memphis cooking competition in award-winning playwright Katori Hall's upliftin…
Wearing costume designer Janice Pytel's arresting black and red ensemble, Ms. O'Connell mostly sits in a chair on scenic designer Andrew Boyce's authentically detailed drab and ominous motel…
"Extremities" on a ship best sums up its playwright William Mastrosimone's adept, if off-kilter, new psychological thriller "Rules of Desire," that's been given a tidy production. In it, a d…
"Anatomy of a Suicide"'s title is more than accurate as two suicides are depicted. Dramatizing such subject matter would usually be intrinsically harrowing. However, acclaimed British playwr…
Mr. Droege's sharp and well-observed writing renders each of these familiar figures with biting depth, achieving grand mini-portraiture. Though preoccupied with comedy, an undercurrent of pr…
Amidst the hubbub that includes coerced audience clapping and singalongs, we attempt to discern what the point is. It appears to be the story of an outsider who takes up residence in a rural…
ICE raids, harrowing border crossing journeys and transferring money home are depicted in the rousing and moving play "Fandango For Butterflies (and Coyotes)." It's derived from undocumented…
"Producing theatrical works that feature compelling stories created by emerging theater artists" is from the New Light Theater Project's self-description. Their vastly and thoughtfully enter…
Writer and director Renee Philippi's appealing scenario is simple, heartfelt and dramatic. It's realized by Ms. Philippi's supreme command of stagecraft that revels in theatricality. Designe…
Smiling Faces, Skull, Princess, Pile of Poo and other notable emojis cavorting around might have made for a peppy contained sophisticated children's show. The creators of "Emojiland: The Mus…
The show was conceived, directed and designed by Theodora Skipitares. Her treatment of these biographical details is that of a fanciful saga with the awestruck tone of a children's book. The…
