One of
these play revivals will win the Tony for 2018-2019. Which will
it be? Read on to see my prediction.
Play Revivals
As you may have heard, Adam Driver gives a mesmerizing madman's performance in BURN THIS, and it is not possible to take your eyes off him when he is on stage. But this is a play, not a one-person show, and none of the other performances nor the way the plot unfolds holds up nearly as well. No Tony. Read on.
Much the same can be said about THE WAVERLY GALLERY, where it is Elaine May who grabbed and held our attention as a woman who is losing her independence and her mental capacity to the unstoppable monster that is dementia. No quibbles with the rest of the cast, but they had precious little to do but serve as foils to Ms. May, and I say no Tony. Read on.
An outstanding ensemble production of this 50-year-old play that examined the lives of a group of gay men in New York makes the revival of THE BOYS IN THE BAND a strong contender. The fact that it is in the process of being adapted for Netflix has probably caused some Tony voters to sit up and take notice, especially since it may otherwise have gotten lost in the shuffle after its intentionally short run last summer. It's definitely an important play, and so it certainly has a real shot at winning. But I don't think it will. Read on.
This is an altogether terrific production of ALL MY SONS, Arthur Miller's first major play, with a message that remains relevant today. The cast and direction, as well as the set, lighting, and sound design could hardly be surpassed. I'm predicting it will take the Tony.
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Feel free to share this blog with your friends, and to offer up your own theater stories by posting a comment. I also invite you to check out the website Show-Score.Com, where you will find capsule reviews of current plays from Yours Truly and many other New York critics. I saw and reviewed all four of these nominees, so if you want more information, you know where to go.
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