Robert M Massimi. ( Broadway Bob).
Bio
I have been writing on theater since 1982. A graduate from Manhattan College B.S. A member of Alpha Sigma Lambda, which recognizes excellence in both English and Science. I have produced 14 shows on and off Broadway. I've seen over700 shows
Stories (310)
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'The Sound Inside'
Robert Massimi. The Sound Inside, self described by Bella Baird (Mary-Louise Parker), is a nerdy English professor at Yale University. She describes Yale to a tee, she knows the ins and outs of this prestigious school and Parker is witty about it and her life as well. Before we meet Christopher Dunn (Will Hochman), we hear Bella talk about her life in the opening scene which at times Parker fades in and out and even being in the fourteen row, she was difficult to hear.
By Robert M Massimi. ( Broadway Bob).6 years ago in Geeks
Strong Direction and Its Effects
Robert Massimi. With all the Off Off (We Are Going To Stay Just There), many plays out shine others and for one simple reason, strong direction. A strong director is able to tighten up its cast; a play is able to thrive if it is directed well. A director's view of what the play should be can even make a badly written play look bearable. In today's theater, we see many of the Off Off (used a lot for experimental theater) trying to be avant-garde. That's not the problem, however, Off Off has always been avant-garde, the problem is that it deals too much with climate change, LGBTQ, and man issues, as in we had them.
By Robert M Massimi. ( Broadway Bob).6 years ago in Geeks
'For All the Women Who Thought They Were Mad'
Robert Massimi. For All the Women Who Thought They Were Mad has some good things in it: good lighting, scenic design, costumes and excellent sound design. This show also has some talented actors Joy (Bissera Tseggai), and Angela (Nicole Lewis).
By Robert M Massimi. ( Broadway Bob).6 years ago in Geeks
'Ominous Men'
Ominous Men at the 14th st Y is a body of work that tries to touch on racial tension (a lot of hatred for whitey), drugs, poverty and misogyny. The problem is that the nexus of the plays writing never does more than scratch the surface.
By Robert M Massimi. ( Broadway Bob).6 years ago in Geeks
'Linda Vista'
Robert Massimi. Wheeler (Ian Barford) is too young to be called a curmudgeon, so we will call him a misanthrope. He is a man who life has passed by, and why not, as he never really thought about his life to begin with. A former photographer who is now a camera repair man, he had heaps of accolades thrust upon him for his great pictures, yet he discounts others' opinions about his work. Although we never know why he actually quit being a photographer (the paper he worked at in Chicago cut its staff), we can surmise that it has to do with his aloofness toward life, his deep down hatred towards it. Or it could be that the birth of his son Gabe threw him into life's tailspin. Tracy Letts never fully explains the turmoil in Wheeler's life, he only dabbled in it.
By Robert M Massimi. ( Broadway Bob).6 years ago in Geeks
'The Wrong Man'
Robert Massimi. The Wrong Man playing at MCC's new digs is a musical about a man who struggles in his life and gets accused of murder. Set with really good songs, choreography, lighting and costumes, this 90-minute intermission-less play glides through its plot. Both enjoyable and resonant, Joshua Henry and ensemble are terrific.
By Robert M Massimi. ( Broadway Bob).6 years ago in Geeks
'Killing An Evening With Edgar Allan Poe'
Robert Massimi. Why do we really go see off-off Broadway? For me it has always been about finding that hidden gem, whether it was a really cool theater, that undiscovered actor, director or show that will make it to Broadway or have some credit of note. Off-off Broadway has always been about the aforementioned but more, or equally important, the use of these smaller spaces and how they use great imagination to put these shows on in such economical areas.
By Robert M Massimi. ( Broadway Bob).6 years ago in Poets
'Pippin'
Robert Massimi. When you talk about great theater that has been performed not just on Broadway or London's West End, but around the world, Pippin is one show that will always come up as one of the great one's. Pippin is a show that has a little something for everyone... good songs, staging, and a very interesting story. It is the story about Charlemagne, or King Charles The First. Charlemagne was a religious man, he spread Christianity over Saxony and much of Western Europe in the 700s. He was King of the Franks, King of the Lombard's, and emperor of the Romans in 800 AD.
By Robert M Massimi. ( Broadway Bob).6 years ago in Geeks
'The Height of the Storm'
Robert Massimi. Plays about old age can vary significantly; from Waverly Gallery to On Golden Pond, it can be sad, humorous, devastating, or confusing. With great acting in in this play, it is still the latter that is The Height Of The Storm. The audience is never sure what is going on throughout the performance. We grapple with the death of either the husband Andre (Johnathan Pryce), or his wife Madeline (Eileen Atkins). Never sure where the show will take us, we watch these two legends perform magnificently.
By Robert M Massimi. ( Broadway Bob).6 years ago in Geeks
'Boogieban'
Robert Massimi. Boogieban is a play that tugs at your heart in many respects... the play lays out the horrors of war, its victims and the after-effects of being in war. We first meet Lt. Col. Lawrence Caplan (David Peacock); he is a Military Psychologist with all the degrees and polish to go with his rank and profession. His twenty-five years as a man serving his fellow soldiers is about to come to an end in a week. Caplan has one more patient to see before he retires, and he must determine if this young man is fit to go back into combat.
By Robert M Massimi. ( Broadway Bob).6 years ago in Geeks
'LULU XX'
Robert Massimi In a very creative, very well-played show, LULU XX IS ONE of the best staged plays I have seen in a long time. This avant-garde play was marvelously set up to put the actor above the audience. Slanted upward, Erika Latta looked like a giant onstage. Regal, this woman was head and shoulders above the audience and she commanded her role
By Robert M Massimi. ( Broadway Bob).6 years ago in Geeks
'In the Heights'
Robert Massimi. In The Heights is a story about a young man who sees his neighbor (Washington Heights) in the course of three days. First appearing on Broadway at The Richard Rodgers Theater, In The Heights is a light, warm story with great songs and superb dancing.
By Robert M Massimi. ( Broadway Bob).6 years ago in Poets
