FEBRUARY 2020 - 8 Broadway and Off-Broadway Shows

These are the 8 shows I saw in February -  on Broadway, and Off Broadway.

I reviewed 6 of them and have included links to those reviews if you are interested in checking them out. 




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Feb 1, 2020

Fun little musical based on the 1969 satirical film about self-actualization in the age of the "sexual revolution." Here, the satire is muted in favor of focusing more closely on its two middle aged couples who are alternately puzzled, intrigued, and jealous of the youth-oriented free love movement. Duncan Sheik and Amanda Green provide appropriately low-keyed songs that are reminiscent of Bert Bacharach/Hal David tunes of the era. Fans of "The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel" will enjoy seeing Michael Zegen, who plays Joel in that popular Amazon Prime series, while singer-songwriter Suzanne Vega does a nice turn as the narrator. Gotta put in a special mention to Jeff Mashie, who provides the perfect costumes that manage nicely to straddle the line between lampoon and nostalgia.  

Feb 5, 2020

Adaptations of short stories by two Russian literary giants are more of an educational curiosity than a successful page-to-stage production.  

Review link - https://bit.ly/38glFMv

Feb 15, 2020

Without masks or costumes, four actors bravely portray 28 different characters in this edgy adaptation of George Orwell’s political satire, Animal Farm.  

Review link - https://bit.ly/2wiQMZs

Feb 16, 2020

New Broadway revival of West Side Story shines most brightly when it is at its least gimmicky, when the actors are allowed to act, the singers to sing, the dancers to dance.  

Review link - https://bit.ly/2SZSpmJ

Feb 19, 2020

Encores! at New York City Center is back on top, doing what it does best with this first-class production of Jerry Herman’s

foray into darkness.  

Review link - https://bit.ly/37MUh7s

Feb 21, 2020

The Headlands is a noirish and inventive mix of gradually darkening humor, family drama, and the vicissitudes of memory.  

Review link - https://bit.ly/39U9e9s

Feb 25, 2020

A metaphysical monolog of a play that is most fortunate in having the skillful and charming Javier Muñoz on deck as solo performer. 

Review link - https://bit.ly/3ceNK9g

Feb 27, 2020

A short concert of a show that is better suited to a cabaret setting.  A celebration of -- you guessed it -- the fact that we're all gonna die eventually.  

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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 Broadway and Off Broadway plays from Yours Truly and many other New York critics and theatergoers.