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'The Great MacDaddy' Surveys a Century of Black Experience

The first revival in more than 30 years of Paul Carter Harrison’s “The Great MacDaddy” proves the musical’s relevance today, despite Alfred Preisser’s indulgent direction.

In 'A Celebration of Harold Pinter,' Julian Sands Is Warm, Witty, and Winning

Julian Sands’ “A Celebration of Harold Pinter,” now at the Irish Rep in a production directed by John Malkovich, winningly remembers the human side of the Nobel Prize–winning author.

NY Review: 'Re-Animator: The Musical'

George Wendt from "Cheers" provides some laughs in "Re-Animator: The Musical," a gory, guts-spilling offering at the New York Musical Theatre Festival.

NY Review: 'The Bad Guys'

Playwright Alena Smith aims for explosive dramatic fireworks in “The Bad Guys,” at Second Stage Theatre Uptown, but succeeds only in achieving a punchy bleariness.

NY Review: 'Galileo'

F. Murray Abraham is too tentative as the great astronomer Galileo in an otherwise worthy CSC revival of Bertolt Brecht's epic biography.

The Infernal Comedy: Confessions of a Serial Killer

While John Malkovich portrays a real-life serial killer, sopranos sing arias from composers such as Mozart and Beethoven between his monologues, lifting the jukebox musical to rarified heights.

Standing on Ceremony: The Gay Marriage Plays

Eight playwrights deliver an in-depth examination of gay marriage, providing laughter and tears while handily avoiding propaganda. Richard Thomas and Harriet Harris stand out in a fine ensemble.

Motherhood Out Loud

Anyone who is or has a mother, a stepmother, a foster mother, or anything in between will be able to relate to and enjoy this insightful piece, conceived by Susan Rose and Joan Stein.

The Devil's Music: The Life and Blues of Bessie Smith

While it's always a treat to hear a Bessie Smith song set, and Miche Braden has the chops to deliver this one believably, Angelo Parra's biographical musical unfolds too sketchily.

Desperate Writers

This misguided screwball comedy misses the mark, and the unruly number of clichés paints a horrible picture of writers everywhere and proves that some of them should probably remain desperate.