Category: theatre

“While it is sadly true that the loss of illustrious theater critics in print hasn’t been offset by the arrival of equally potent voices online, the Internet has helped make the work of critics more accessible. Yet the hue and cry and feverish haste of the Web have had a homogenizing effect. The individual voice has been drowned out in the digital din.”

“Since an initial burst of summer activity from shows in the Hollywood Fringe Festival abated (festival reviews were discounted [by half] to $75), Bitter Lemons has posted just 12 paid reviews over the past 11½ weeks. … Colin Mitchell, Bitter Lemons’ founder, said Wednesday that there were no additional reviews in the pipeline.”

Bill Rauch: “The Play on! translations are not being commissioned because we despair that people will never understand the original language … Instead, the translation project is about creating a new body of work … By commissioning 36 playwrights and pairing them with dramaturgs to examine each of Shakespeare’s plays, we have the opportunity to delve more deeply into the language of the texts and to create companion pieces (not replacements) to the original texts.”

“Hamilton has managed to grab the greater culture by the lapels and give it a good shake unlike any show since The Book of Mormon. It’s been called historic and game-changing … How does a show make that leap from a simple piece of boffo box office – which only means the show is popular and selling tickets – to the kind of attraction that becomes part of the cultural conversation?”

The Dorothy and Lillian Gish Prize goes to “highly accomplished artists … who have pushed the boundaries of their art forms, contributed to social change and paved the way for the next generation.” Among previous winners are Bob Dylan, Frank Gehry, Ornette Coleman, Arthur Miller, Spike Lee, and Maya Lin.

“It feels appropriate that the audience members have been advised to bring their passports. Never mind that this is on the off chance – as has happened to other audiences – they might be arrested by the Belarussian K.G.B.” Ben Brantley visits Minsk to see a secret production of the Belarus Free Theater.

“During a performance that begins as a monologue, and which slowly and organically develops into a conversation, we all make a vegetarian soup together: cutting vegetables and garlic – lots and lots of garlic – and gradually turning up the heat so that the smells fill the room like memory itself.”

Michael Billington: “Olivier, for all his genius as an actor, had a strange capacity for picking duds. … The case with Branagh is totally different. Even at the start of his career, he successfully created and co-ran the Renaissance Theatre Company. He is shrewd enough to know the public craves stars.”

“In fact, some at the opening commented that, except for the new red carpet, the 46-year-old building looks much like it did before the makeover, which, in a city where nearly everything is torn down, is a positive thing.”

“All white actors, writers, directors, designers, and audience members have a role to play as allies pushing against the pervasive gaze of whiteness. Here are seven specific steps that you can engage in. It will require sacrifice of time, friendships, gigs, money.”