THIS WEEK IN THEATER, NOV. 27
So...I'm watching THE SIMPSONS, and out of nowhere, Krusty the Clown mentions that he won a Drama Desk Award for his one-man show. I happen to be a Drama Desk member, which is an organization meant to honor not just Broadway, but all of New York theater. And while that is a very benevolent decision, the group has very mixed perceptions among the theater industry. Some people like it, some could care less about it. Funny, but I don't remember Krusty appearing at last year's awards....Maybe he went on after the Jersey Boys sang "Walk Like a Man."
Anyhow, this week will feature the openings of no less than THREE Broadway productions. First, Part One, VOYAGE, of Tom Stoppard's huge three part trilogy of Russian intellectualism pre-revolution, THE COAST OF UTOPIA. My review will be out on Tuesday, but I'll tell you the gist: it's very beautiful, extremely impressive, but this part is also extremely expository and overlaiden with plot points and details. But as long as you get the general idea thematically, that being a society on the verge of change politically and culturally, you're fine. It's definitely worth catching.
Next on the list is the John Doyle minimalist revival, a la his SWEENEY TODD, of Stephen Sondheim's relationship musical COMPANY. I don't see it till tomorrow night, which will be reviewed on Thursday.
Finally, there is David Hare's THE VERTICAL HOUR. Hare, another prominent English contemporary playwright like Stoppard, made a splash Off-Broadway last season with STUFF HAPPENS. It's been noted that VERTICAL HOUR is his first play to open cold in New York without a prior London engagement. Julianne Moore stars.
