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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'To Kill a Mockingbird'
Robert Massimi. Just when I thought The Ferryman would run away with every Tony Award for Best Play, Best Actor, Actress and every other thing, along comes To Kill a Mockingbird, Harper Lee's gem from back when. It is the story of a man, Tom Robinson, falsely accused of rape by a young white girl. Robinson, a black man in 1934 living in Maycomb, Alabama never had a prayer for being found innocent, not even with the brilliant Atticus Finch (Jeff Daniels), as his lawyer.
By Robert M Massimi. ( Broadway Bob).7 years ago in Geeks
'Selkie'
Robert Massimi. Selkie at The Wild Project is a fun play. It has humor, absurdism, it makes you think a little and has a very creative set. Set in a fishing village, Deanna and Keaton are in love. Keaton is a gentile soul, who cares for Deanna. We don't know what brought them here, but we soon find out. Keaton is not the person we think—not by a long shot. Keaton is a stealthy, greedy person who we come to know as not caring at all about Deanna. Deanna, is a weak person who puts up with him because she lacks the courage to leave him and go home. It gets worse for her as the play goes on—drugs, confinement and complete dominance has engulfed her life.
By Robert M Massimi. ( Broadway Bob).7 years ago in Geeks
'Fool For Love'
Robert Massimi. Fool For Love at The Theater For The New City is an electric piece of work. Part of Sam Shepard's trilogy, Fool For Love is his most recognized work. It is the story of four characters, Eddie, May, The Old Man and Martin. Set in a motel in the Mojave Desert, it is a one set, one scene and a no intermission play. The play opens to The Rolling Stones "Wild Horses" as it should. The music sets the scene for three rough and tumble, hard drinking people, and Martin, an outsider in every way. Martin is softer than the other three. He is civil, polite and cares about his fellow human being. The other three have a past, a history that only a writer like Sam Shepard can put forth.
By Robert M Massimi. ( Broadway Bob).7 years ago in Geeks
'I'm Not a Comedian... I'm Lenny Bruce'
I do not understand the title of the play I'm Not a Comedian... I'm Lenny Bruce at the Cutting Room. The entire 90 minutes, or most of it, dealt, albeit, loosely on his comedic life. Lenny Bruce (Ronnie Marmo), spoke about his showbiz mom—formerly from Brooklyn, but now residing in Long Island. The show opens up with Bruce M. Cing at a young age. He immediately goes to 1947 where he took the stage as Lenny Marcelle. Marmo has a whiney Long Island accent (a cross between Tony Curtis and Andrew Dice Clay). Bruce does the Jewish schtick with his mom. He spoke about his shock value and how he was gaining popularity by it. In real life, Bruce made a killing in the Borscht Belt (for some reason that fact was not written into the play).
By Robert M Massimi. ( Broadway Bob).7 years ago in Geeks
'The Thanksgiving Play'
The Thanksgiving Play at Playwrights Horizon starts out well enough. The four actors in the play sing a Thanksgiving song and are pretty campy about it. In fact, the four actors are all pretty good in this show. After the opening scene before the curtain lifts on what is a good classroom set, (Wilson Chin) the audience is ready for a great show. This, however, never came to fruition.
By Robert M Massimi. ( Broadway Bob).7 years ago in Geeks
'Bohemian Rhapsody'
Robert Massimi. Rami Malek plays Freddie Mercury and he is sure to get an Oscar nomination for his performance. Bohemian Rhapsody is the story of Queen and how Farrokh Bulsara met the band Smile, a band that would eventually become Queen. Mercury came from a traditional Indian- Butish Parsi family. Farrokh wanted more then his father's life, more than his father's "kind thoughts, deeds, and words." Bulsara meets what is left of Smile (the lead singer/bass player quits to join Humpybong). The band brings him in regardless of Mercury's teeth, (he had four extra that made his vocal cords open more), they also bring in John Deacon, a terrific bass player. From the first club appearance, Bulsara is wild, does his own thing. He is flamboyant and has a rather aloof attitude to what people think.
By Robert M Massimi. ( Broadway Bob).7 years ago in Geeks
'Dear Evan Hansen'
A women at intermission sitting next to me asked me "Why is this show so popular"? I thought about it a few seconds and my answer was that "It has a little something for everybody." By that comment I meant that it had teen suicide, a person who was socially awkward, some really good songs in it and a good story behind it. Dear Evan Hansen will not go in the books as a great musical. It is, however, everybody's musical. In the era of teen suicide awareness and people on the look-out for loners who are most likely to commit suicide, it keeps the audience interest.
By Robert M Massimi. ( Broadway Bob).7 years ago in Geeks
'Network'
Network at the Belasco Theatre has more production bells and whistles than one can handle. The Belasco has been turned into a shiny contemporary landscape with a massive screen acting as a backdrop for a set, divided into three principal components. They are: a glass box TV production gallery, a newsroom studio, and a Manhattan-style restaurant and a bar (at which audience members can book a table if they're willing to pay up). It all looks very glitzy.
By Robert M Massimi. ( Broadway Bob).7 years ago in Geeks
'Girl from the North Country'
Robert Massimi. Girl From The North Country is a rugged body of work, much like the songwriter himself, Bob Dylan. Straight out of a Dylan song, this play attempts to show us the lives of many people, most of whom are full of despair and desperation. With some fine acting and a good story line, throw in Bob Dylan's songs and what should have been a winner ended up in the fair to midland range.
By Robert M Massimi. ( Broadway Bob).7 years ago in Geeks
'Gemini'
Robert Massimi. When I saw this Tony Award winner in the early 80's, times were different then today, however, Gemini (short for Geminiani, the father and son that are at the forefront of this performance), is timeless. Set in South Philadelphia, it is about Frank and Francis, who is on summer break from Harvard University. There neighbors, the Weinberger's, Bunny and Herschel are a cooky duo. Herschel has an over the top IQ but is a functioning moron. Bunny, who was once a looker is older, heavier and likes the sauce a little too much. Of Irish decent, Bunny complains about how she married a selfish Jew who cared less about her or Herschel. Reminiscent of All In The Family, the stereotypes fly about people's nationalities and religions. When the Hastings come to visit Francis, their White Anglo-Saxon background does not escape the comedy either. Fran's girlfriend Lucille Pompi ties the entire play together.
By Robert M Massimi. ( Broadway Bob).7 years ago in Geeks
'King Kong'
Robert Massimi. King Kong at the Broadway Theatre should have been the show of the year. Unfortunately, it was not even close. There are several reasons this musical falls flat. The first is the casting of Kong. Aside from the leading stars, Christiani Pitts, Eric William Morris and Erik Lochtefeld having little to no Broadway experience, to really speak of, they do not mesh or ever blend together. The next problem is the music. The music is not really linked to the plot of King Kong. The songs are neither relevant nor resonant to the audience as well. The third and final bewilderment is Kong himself. It was very distracting to see ten puppeteers move this behemoth around all evening. Two puppeteers had to put Ann Darrow in the apes hand for her to be lifted. When I say, "should have been the show of the year" it falls beyond flat and lifeless.
By Robert M Massimi. ( Broadway Bob).7 years ago in Geeks
