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
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'Small Craft Warning'
Small Craft Warnings at the 13th Street Repertory is one of Tennessee Williams' least produced plays, or at least one that is not talked about much. After seeing A Lovely Sunday at Creve Coer last month, another of Williams hidden gems, one never tires of this great writer and last night was no different. Set in California by the sea and not the South, his usual modus operandi, it has Williams usual characters, some we see as strong, some weak and some emotionally as well as mentally void. We see all the characters solo at different points of the play. Director Barnaby Edwards does an excellent job of this. He brings forth each and every character during the performance. We find out what is on each and every person's mind. In many of Tennessee Williams' books, we are pretty sure about each character and where each person stands in the pecking order of life. Edwards takes that away, and we know what is going through each drunken mind. We see first hand the fears, the delusions and the hope that each person has and it all works so well. Many of the performers have been with the Regeneration Theater and are both comfortable and fluid in Regenerations works.
By Robert M Massimi. ( Broadway Bob).7 years ago in Geeks
'Pound'
Pound begins in the dark with Christopher Lloyd (Ezra Pound), quoting Pound's play Pull Down Thy Vanity, which sums up the play, Pound at the Lion Theater. The play takes place in the St. Elizabeth's Psychiatric Center in Baltimore, Maryland. Pound holds court with his "groupies." He receives people as he wishes and orders the workers around like they work for him. He has been charged with treason, from his socialist rants against America, capitalism and Jews. Having lived in Italy for many years, he was deported under treason charges and ended up where the entire play takes place, the insane asylum. Pound is ornery, indignant, and a tyrant in this facility. Some of the things he says to nurse Priscomb are downright cruel. He refers to her as blue hair and tells her that she could never be married and compares her to the newest Doctor, Dr. Polley (Kate Abbruzzese). Pound is equally cruel to his so-called friend Archibald Mac Leish, a poet who was trained by Pound, who is also a lawyer because as he says, "Poets need to pay their bills." Mac Leish knows Pound, or at least he thinks he does. He is ever grateful for what Pound did for him and is doing his best to get Pound out of there and clear his name and take him on tour as well.
By Robert M Massimi. ( Broadway Bob).7 years ago in Geeks
'The Waverly Gallery'
Robert Massimi. In what is a chock full of theater season, The Waverly Gallery is another great one. Elaine May who has not been on a Theater stage for fifty years is just magnificent. May plays Gladys Green, a women who when we first meet her has the beginning of dementia. She is at the breakfast table talking to her grandson Daniel (a brilliant Lucas Hedges), she flashes her winning smile as she tells him about her grandfather, her ex lover after grandpa died and her life. She is hard of hearing and that hearing aid leads to a night full of comedy. Kenneth Lonergan has written an autobiographical piece as he recalls his own mother suffering this disease. Lonergan who wrote Lobby Hero, performed on Broadway last year, has written some remarkable pieces, Gangs Of New York and Manchester By The Sea to name a few, has a winner with Waverly. Lila Neugebauer is flawless in her direction of this play. The cast are all terrific and Neugebauer delivers a gentile yet a nuance of a play that deals with a horrible subject. In straddling a very fine line of comedy and what could be offensive, the direction takes us on a blissful theatrical experience.
By Robert M Massimi. ( Broadway Bob).7 years ago in Geeks
'You Can't Take It with You'
Robert Massimi. You Can't Take It with You opened last night at The Players, the great play by George S. Kaufman and Moss Hart. This play was a Tony Winner in the 80s and is a very difficult play to do and put on. The Bergen County Players did an admirable job in this opening night production. The comedic timing at times was slightly off, but none the less it was a pleasant evening. It is a story about the very eccentric Vanderhof/Sycamore family and the buttoned up Kirby's. When Alice falls in love with Tony Jr, it is a matter of time before both families have to meet. Realizing that she is completely different from her family she tells Tony that she does not think it a good idea that they get serious. Nothing could be further from Tony's wishes, he is deeply in love with Alice will not stand for any family matters getting in the way of their marriage plans. Alice is basically the only one who works, yes Ed delivers candy but this family does not have a care in the world. Martin Vanderhof quit his job 35 years ago and has never regretted it, nor has he ever paid taxes as he never saw the reason too.
By Robert M Massimi. ( Broadway Bob).7 years ago in Geeks
"A Lovely Sunday"
The first thing that strikes you at "A Lovely Sunday For Creve Coeur" is the cluttered stage by Harry Feiner. The symbolism is too great, as we see the lives of four women unwind. Like many of Tennessee Williams plays, we see the symmetry of many of the characters that he presents to us. We saw it in "Streetcar Named Desire" and we see it in "Creve Couer". Four women, all with an agenda, some good, some not so good and of course some with cunning, bad intentions. The play takes place in St. Louis, the home of many German immigrants after World War Two. These immigrants were hard working, blue collar people who strove to have a better life here in America. We meet for most of the first hour both Dorothea (Jean Lichty), a young vibrant school teacher who posses a Southern charm. She is a transplant from Memphis and teaches at the local school where she is a civics teacher. She is smitten by the schools principal who we never see. Ralph Ellis is the schools principal and apparently a heart throb, at least to Dorothea. He comes from the "right family", is thrusted onto the social calendar even though he decided to a teacher instead of a lawyer like his father. The play is two hours and set in one day and the action is at a very even pace and moves nicely. Austin Pendleton did a nice job moving his characters about in true Williams fashion. Tennessee Williams plays need to keep the audience looking, watching and studying the actors wondering what is going through their minds. "Sunday" is no different. One of Tennessee Williams lesser know plays, but a good one no less.
By Robert M Massimi. ( Broadway Bob).7 years ago in Geeks
'Pop Punk High'
Robert Massimi. Pop Punk High is a fun musical at La Poisson Rouge in the West Village. The show is based on a school where music and skate boarding is king. The shows nexus is a geek who wants to date the hot chick named Amanda Bunkface (Jess Kaliban), who barely knows his name until a dead Avril Lavigne (Kelly Krauter), grants him three wishes. Skeet (Patrick Sweeney) becomes a different person. He beats his arch rival Derek in skate boarding, music, you name it. He is changing by the second and he has no time for loyal Tib, who stood by him no matter how desperate his situation became. Pop Punk High is an R Rated School of Rock, it's up there with Fast Times at Ridgemont High. What Pop Punk adds is a lot of music, good songs sung by a young talented cast. We see humor in this musical, especially by Skeet and his parents. His dad (Eric Wiegand) was a tremendous dancer and shed humor on this already raucous show. Mom (Mclean Peterson) was equally wonderful in her role, her comedic timing was flawless.
By Robert M Massimi. ( Broadway Bob).7 years ago in Geeks
'The Ferryman'
Robert Massimi. The Ferryman at the Jacobs Theatre begins with two characters leaning up against a brick wall. It is a blighted out area in Belfast, Northern Ireland. We hear helicopters and sirens faintly in the background as one sips his beer and the other watches intently. On the wall are spray painting of "We Are The People" and "BOBBY." The audience finds out in short order how ruthless the IRA is and what they will do to succeed in there efforts. No one is safe from this organization, not even the local priest nor members of this terrorist organization.
By Robert M Massimi. ( Broadway Bob).7 years ago in Geeks
'Before We're Gone'
Robert Massimi. Before We're Gone at the 13th St. Repertory is a very productive play in that it gives the audience so much inside an hour and forty minutes. Its plot is about a very successful woman, Kathleen Maguire (Leenya Rideout). she is an actress, writer, award winner in her craft, and an activist. Her life was fast and loose, she is married and yet had many lovers. The person most influential in her life was Myron Glaser (Jay Russell), who played many different parts in this play. Russell played a priest, Richard's father, Kathleen's agent, a Fr. Cyprian, and Mark. Myron, she contends, would never lie and take a bullet for her.
By Robert M Massimi. ( Broadway Bob).7 years ago in Geeks
'The Lifespan of a Fact'
The Lifespan of a Fact is a play about three people. It is based on a true story about a writer and a person who committed suicide by jumping off a building in Las Vegas. The show, however, is much more than that, much more. With three really strong actors on one stage and strong direction, this evening was a hit on all points. Emily (Cherry Jones) brings in Jim (Daniel Radcliffe) to fact check John D' Agata (Bobby Cannavale). John has been known to embellish on his past stories and Emily wants to keep him and the essay in line. The entire timeline of the play is on a Wednesday to Monday morning, when the deadline for the essay is due. Jim, just out of Harvard, does not see the difficulty of getting this done. In the opening scene, Jones and Radcliffe exchange some wonderful bantering which is both highly comical and somewhat enlightening as to how the publishing business works. Emily tries to warn Jim that John can be very difficult, especially when it comes to his writing as he is very protective of it.
By Robert M Massimi. ( Broadway Bob).7 years ago in Geeks
'Danny and the Deep Blue Sea'
Danny and the Blue Sea is complicated. It has a minimal stage, it has very good acting but it also has a so-so plot. Danny would be recommended to all aspiring actors, they're that good. The plot, however, just does not add up. The show is about two people who meet in a bar, Danny (Jonathan Crimenti) and Roberta (Hannah Beck). Danny is anti social; he spends most nights in fist fights. He even believes he killed a man at a party the previous night. He is devoid of any feelings toward his mother, people he meets, or people he works with. Dubbed "The Beast" by his fellow workers in a trucking company, he is an outcast everywhere. He keeps to himself more by society's aloofness towards him rather than by his wishes. We think this as an audience, but writer John Patrick Shanley does not make this clear.
By Robert M Massimi. ( Broadway Bob).7 years ago in Geeks
'Shame'
The Theater for The New City presented its street fair (they perform several times a summer in different Boroughs). In its beginnings as in now, New City wants to give both free theater throughout the city and at the same time wants to promote their in-house festival, which has been going on for the last two months. The Theater for The New City's mission statement is to provide radical theater as well as new works from new artists. At times, this theater can be hit or miss. It is difficult having consistent new works that are really good. As far as radical theater, it pales from the radicals in the 80s with the no nuke plays in the East Village. This year at the theater, it was mostly #metoo, LGBTQ movement plays, and equality in pay and some climate change plays. The Festival, however, is different. It gives authors leeway to put forth one acts, two acts, or any kind of set up the author wishes. The rates at the New City are encouraging for these aspiring playwrights.
By Robert M Massimi. ( Broadway Bob).7 years ago in Geeks
'Private Peaceful'
Private Peaceful Written by Michael Morpurgo is a a resonant piece. Morpurgo has also written some other great pieces as well, War Horse being one of them. Peaceful is just as deep and meaningful as War Horse. The play is about a soldier, private Tommy Peaceful (Shane O'Regan"). It is his last night on earth, he will be shot in the morning for cowardice. Although he is anything but, and I will get to this later, he counts down the hours with the audience and his past as he spends his last time on earth in his cell. It is 10:30 AM, he talks passionately about his brother and hero, Charlie, who is three years older then him. He relives his childhood from Charlie carrying him on his shoulders to Sunday School with teacher Mrs. McCallister. He talks about how his father died chopping down a tree on the Colonels property. tommy would later blame himself for that death. He was present when the tree fell, his dad told Tommy to run and his dad didn't run himself.
By Robert M Massimi. ( Broadway Bob).7 years ago in Geeks
