The Knee Plays: Fair Game

I'll be away this weekend, in Saratoga for the races. But last night I managed to catch September 12th at the Nuyorican Poets Cafe and also a performance of La Vie at the Spiegeltent (I still don't like it quite as much as Absinthe, but it's improved a lot since it's showing earlier in the summer). On Monday I'll see Karl Gajdusek's Fair Game and I'm hoping to reschedule Iphigenia 2.0 for Thursday.

Life is a Dream: The Delacorte

Am spending this weekend in San Francisco for a wedding and the following one in Saratoga playing the ponies, but will try to sneak a little theatergoing into my busy life of leisure. On Wednesday evening I'll see Charles Mee's version of Iphigenia at Aulis, Iphigenia 2.0 at the Signature. Have to brush upon my Euripides. Will also try to get to Midsummer Night's Dream at the Delacorte, with picnic basket in hand.

Straight from the hipster: Williamsburg, the Musical

Well, this week it's 15 plays as I prepare to cover the New York Fringe. Sure, I've just written an article discussing the Fringe's rather lackluster offerings, but I do hope I'm proved wrong. My schedule includes:

An Air Balloon...
Hillary Agonistes
BASH'd
Farm Trucks
And Somewhere...
Bukowsical
Williamsburg!
Bucharest Calling
Winter's Tale Project
Theremin
Ladies of Eola Heights
Notes on the Motherland
Semi-Permanent
Lost in Hollywoodland
Orientalrhythm

How can you read a blog at a time like this!: Masked

A lull before a mad round of fringing. Tonight I see Masked at DR2, a play about Palestinians by an Israeli playwright. Well, if a Jew can write "Springtime For Hitler"...
Friday I see Carson Kreitzer's Flesh and the Desert at SPF, about Las Vegas. Saturday it's Opus at Primary Stages, where I'll turn my rather tin ears to a play about a string quartet.

The Black Eyed: Chadorable

Ah, the slow season continues, though an air conditioned theater is not perhaps the worst place to while away the hours at present. This weekend I'll attend The Black Eyed at New York Theater, which features four Arab women chatting in the afterlife. And then I'll cast my vote on Election Day, part of the Second Stage Uptown series. On Monday, various colleagues and I will speak on a panel at SPF regarding New Critics/New Plays. (After a decade at this I wonder if I'm really so new. I suppose it's flattering. The Panel will take place from 5:30pm to 7:00pm at the Acorn Theatre, Theatre Row. Theatre Row is located at 410 West 42nd Street, between 9th and 10th Avenues.

Tapehead: Rose Mary Woods of Stretch

Have to admit I'm enjoying the slow season a bit. (It would be a little faster if I could convince the Lincoln Center Festival to give me tickets. Alas!) But this does allow more time for reading (detective novels and Paradise Lost), baking (raspberry tarts), ostensibly working on my dissertation, and teaching the rabbit tricks via Skinnerian behavioralist principles. On Saturday I'll chill at the Ice Factory, seeing New Georges's Stretch, about Nixon's secretary. On Monday I'll attend Broken Watch's Two Thirds Home.

What else ahve you seen and enjoyed?

Chillin': Tom Crean: Antarctic Explorer

Tonight I'll be seeing burlesque in COney Island and tomorrow enjoying some Bastille Day street theater celebrations, but am giving the rest of the week over to more traditional theater, including the People vs. MONA at Abingdon, Surface to Air at Symphony Space, and Tom Crean: Antarctic Explorer at the Irish Rep.

What have you all seen and enjoyed?

Tent City

Hardly any plays this week, really. Delighted to catch up on my busy schedule of viewing of British policiers, cooking of chilled soups, and petting of my lovely rabbit. Devastated to realize I missed the East Village chronicles. Do hope they bring it back. And always happy to hear if you've seen anything really wonderful. Saturday I'll see two shows at the Spiegeltent, Absinthe and La Vie. I understand they're serving actual absinthe at the party before so expect a sufficiently wormwood-laced review.

Drinking and Thinking: The Dinner Party

Preparing for a busy long weekend of theatergoing. Tonight I'm continuing my chamber musical run with Passing Strange at the Public. Tomorrow it's the final performance of The Dinner Party and The Argument by the wonderful Target Margin at the Kitchen. Sunday it's a revival of Sylvia Regan's 1940 Morning Star by Peccadillo and Monday it's off to Here for Goodbye April, Hello May by playwright and perilously funny singer/songwriter Ethan Lipton.

And, yes, I do absolutely need to book in to East Village Fragments.

Case studies: Eurydice

Went to One Thing I Like to Say Is last night, the final show in Clubbed Thumb's Summerworks fest. Saturday I see Romeo and Juliet in the park. I'm looking forward to Lauren Ambrose, and a picnic beforehand. Maybe cold chicken and watercress sandwiches. Yum! Sunday I see Eurydice with the wonderful Maria Dizzia. I didn't much care fro Ruhl's The Clean House, but would like to have my mind changed. And on Wednesday it's Horizon at NYTW, which I had to see after reading Michael Feingold's ecstatic review.

What else should I see?

In a Dark, Dark House: It's going to be big! Well, this big.

My mothers' visiting, so I'm trying to keep my rota of dysfunctional family plays to a minimum. Only two this week. Tonight I see the first, Riverdale to Riverhead at Studio Dante. Tomorrow I'm off to a rock'n'roll show. Sunday it's Badge, about a boy scout gone bad, at the Rattlestick. On Monday I see Lear deBessonet's St. Joan of the Stockyards. I didn't love her last show, Transfigures, but am very eager top see what she'll do next. And then on Wednesday, it's the second family drama. Neil Labute's In a Dark Dark House. I may not like Labute so much, but I like Ron Livingston plenty.

The hills are alive...with me!

Off to Bavaria for a friends' wedding and a week of hillwalking, beer, and dirndls. See you in a little over a week, when I'll cover the London scene. Auf wiedersehen!

Palm Saturday: Madi Distefano

Spent tonight at the World Financial Center seeing some of the site specific Girls Just Wanna Have Funds performances, organized by the Women's Project. Tomorrow I spend my Saturday at P.S.122, seeing a day of solo plays (one is pictured above). Monday it's the OBIES! Tuesday is Silverland at 59E59. Wednesday I'd love to see Coram Boy but having a hard time running the press agent to earth. On Thursday I leave for a wedding in Bavaria. I'll be blogging until then but then I'll have to subject you loyal readers (hi, mom!) to a week without Sightlines. I'll pick up again on the 5th, in lovely London.

Hold Me To It: Radio Golf

Another busy week. Tonight I saw Radio Golf (well, okay, the first half, but that’s a story for another day). Tomorrow night’s devoted to karaoke. Saturday it’s Back From the Front. Sunday I’m off. Monday’s a benefit for Soho Rep, Tuesday’s Frost/Nixon (have been dying to see this!). Wednesday’s Gaslight at the Irish Rep and Thursday’s Jump at Theater Row.

Hair Wars: God's Ear

Not too busy a week. Tomorrow I'm to see Cymbeline at BAM, dragging my sweetheart along, continuing his education in both Shakespeare's "problem" plays and Declan Donnellan's typically unproblematic direction. Saturday it's a Cinco de Mayo party and Sunday I;m off. Monday I see God's Ear. Then Tuesday (after my driving test!) I see the Betrothed. And Wednesday I finally make it to the Coast of Utopia.

Tuesday show's at the Ohio and Wednesday's at Lincoln Center. Any cheap eats suggestions? On Wednesday I might just forego dinner to try out that new gelato place the Times fussed about. Yum!

Our Leading Blog

A few double-headers this weekend. Tomorrow I'm off to a work in progress showing of Target Margin's The Dinner Party and then I'll shoot over to MTC for Our Leading Lady. The next day, I'll leave the delights of the cherry blossom festival for Smoke and Mirrors at the Flea and then The Fall and Rise of the Rising Fallen at P.S.122. On Tuesday I'll swivel over to the hula-centric I Land.

Stories Left to Blog (courtesy Richard Termine)

A rather incomplete itinerary this week as needs must book into something for Tuesday. Maybe I Land or Jane Eyre or Smoke and Mirrors. Tonight I'm off to Realism at the Exchange (nee the Cocteau) and tomorrow it's Spalding Gray: Stories Left to Tell, featuring OBIE judge Ain Gordon.

Jack Goes Boating: Get the Hookah! (Photo Monique Carboni)

A lightish week as I’m working on a profile of the lovely Young Jean Lee in lieu of my usual reviewing duties. Tonight I embark upon Jack Goes Boating. Sunday I climb The Dark at the Top of the Stairs and on Monday I witness Lear deBessonet’s transfigures at the Women’s Project.

Thank you all who have written in with suggestions for shows to see. I will get to some of them, though perhaps not the ones in Queens. Do keep suggesting.

My Date for the Weekend: Socrates

A light week as I‘m spending Thursday through Sunday at MassMOCA watching Target Margin prepare their new adaptation of Plato’s Symposium, entitled The Dinner Party. Upon my return, I’ll see The Accomplices on Tuesday and I should also check and see when exactly I’m booked into Jack Goes Boating.

I know I need to book into Serendib, and transFigures. What else should I see?

Read the blog--or else!: Oliver Twist

On Friday I’ll visit a work-in-progress showing of Young Jean Lee’s Church and then, if time allows, dash over to 3LD for a later performance of The Curse of the Mystic Reynaldo The. On Saturday it’s another double bill, Oliver Twist in the morning and Essential Self-Defense (by OBIE Committee member Adam Rapp) at night. Sunday and Monday I’ll spend the day with my sweetheart. Tuesday it’s off to Losing Something, again at 3LD.

Anything else I should catch?

Just Say Noh: Aoi/Komachi at Japan Society

As I have some personal commitments to honor, this week will not be quite as jam-packed as the last several--welcome, as I could use a bit of rest for the wicked.

Tonight I see Stay at the Rattlestick. Tomorrow I see long neglected friends. Saturday it's Aoi/Komachi at the Japan Society. Sunday if I'm not too tired I'll see Volume of Smoke. Monday I'm at home. Tuesday it's off to Fugue and Wednesday to Edward Scissorhands.

After the jump, see how I plan to spend my nights off (this is just for you, Jason Zinoman):

That's right, dallying with my gentlemen friends--and maybe a bit of spring cleaning, too.

Aquila offers one way to keep the audience in their seats.

Only just back from my mini-break in the swamps of Florida and already cheerfully swamped with theater. Tomorrow I'll begin my Shakespeare marathon, starting with the Shakespeare inspired comedy Sweet Love Adieu, followed by a double-bill of actual Shakespeare comedies by Propeller Company (The Taming of the Shrew and Twelfth Night) and then finishing with another all-male production, new company poortom production's As You Like It at Here.

But wait! There's more...

Monday has me checking out director Rich Kimmels' film debut, Schwarzwald: The Movie You Can Dance To, which may offend my sensibilities (am a closet prude). Or forever alter them. Tuesday is a day of rest. Wednesday I'm shackled to Prometheus Bound and Thursday' I'll stay for Stay at Rattlestick.

The Cat Came Back, and so Will I

Well, I didn't make it to 8 plays last week. My Four Hour Tax Appointment (don't ask) meant that I missed Tom Bradshaw's twinned one acts at the Brick. And when I fell asleep on the subway (twice) on Tuesday, I realized I was in no fit shape to attend the TEAM's Particularly in the Heartland. Apologies all around.

I was pushing myself as I'm taking a long weekend in Florida (alligators, here I come) and was trying to put in some anticipatory overtime. I'll be back late Monday night, ready to blog again. And as soon as I'm back, I'll be seeing King Hedley II at the Signature and Sibyl Kempson's Crime or Emergency at Dixon Place.

See you soon!

The Team: Making a splash

I rested a bit last weekend, a movie, dinner, with friends, an Oscar party (well, two) and that's left me scrambling to see theater this week. Tonight I see to A Very Common Procedure, tomorrow it's The Attic. Saturday, if my tax appointment hasn't left me catatonic, it's Thomas Bradshaw's double-feature at the Brick and Dying City. Sunday I take a trip to My Trip to Al Qaeda. Monday I'm off (hurray), Tuesday I'm off to Particularly in the Heartland, and Wednesday to Defender of the Faith.

Then it's a long weekend in Florida for some much needed rest and playtime with the alligators. Although I've been warned I may not like their games.

Matched sets?

Had hoped to see both shows at the Flea this week, but pesky preview periods mean I have to settle only for Los Angeles. I'll be reviewing that and BFF by Anna Ziegler.

I also mean to book into A Very Common Procedure and while I was hoping to have a quietish week I received a very nice letter from Thomas Bradshaw and may well trek out to Williamsburg to see his double bill at the Brick. I bet I can convince my sweetheart to come with if I promise him a drink at Barcade afterward. Hooray for Frogger.

Give him a hand

Off to Nelsonhttp://www.partialcomfort.org/ tonight. A play produced by Partial Comfort productions, a company whose past works such as Booty Candy and 'Nami have received very good notices. I will admit, not proudly, to never having seen them, so it's about time I remedied this! Have seen director Kip Fagan's work before and liked it very much.

Friday I see Mary Rose at the Vineyard, which I'm greatly looking forward to. (More on that in a following post.) Our esteemed M. Feingold will be reviewing so I'll be attending merely as a civilian, and as an OBIE judge as well, I suppose.

Saturday I'll clean up for Your Face Is a Mess, the latest in lyrics-quoting offerings from Downtown farceur Mark Spitz. I've followed Spitz for quite a few years now. As this one is being billed as the tale of a hipster who finally embraces adulthood, I'll be curious to see if there's a tonal change present.

Anything else I should catch?

Well, really it's more like three or four, though I have some catching up to do. I took a long weekend in the wilds of Canada and have spent the rest of the week nursing my ailing sweetheart (and taking the occasional nips of his cough syrup with codeine) so I have been delinquent! Have booked into Every Day Above Ground and 6969 for next week's reviews. The latter because I was very much intrigued by the Vanity Fair article that informed it, and I understand it had quite a good workshop production, and the former as Michael Ondaatje's The Collected Works of Billy the Kid, on which the show's based, has long been a favorite text. Wouldn't mind seeing a theatrical version of Coming Through Slaughter, either.

Regarding 6969, am trying to think of plays besides Closer in which the Intenet has played a major theatrical role--as opposed to merely email as plot device.

Will also see Nelson and Your Face Is a Mess, the newest Marc Spitz play. Spitz writes balls out farces (I wish more playwrights dared the genre) and his plays always have gorgeous soundtracks.

Should be a good girl and book intp Toys in the Attic before it closes and also should see All That I Will Ever Be as little sis is a big Alan Ball fan and I'd like to take her. Also as a product of a Los Angeles upbringing, I like plays that endorse my view that it's a bad, bad town.

Anything else I should catch?