Tonight I sat through a show that was probably the least interesting I've seen this entire summer. To be frank, there was nothing else playing tonight. And I suddenly realized - yep, the summer is over. Fringe starts in a few days, and I start my second year of law school late next week.
But compared with the past four summers I've been reviewing theater in the city, this summer has offered some pretty great theater, surprisingly. Let's take a look:
1. Spring Awakening - well, this had already opened in December, but I ended up re-attending Spring Awakening about five or six times since early May.
2. Gyspy at City Center - saw it four times. what a shame it won't transfer anywhere.
3. Intimate Exchanges - what a wonderful octet of Ayckbourne comedies
4. Ring Cycle - no, this was a pretty bad production, but still the first time I've sat through all four pieces. As such, it stands out.
5. Xanadu - musical fun with roller skates and leg warmers
6. Romeo and Juliet - I really grew to like this park production
7. Pirates! - one of the best Papermill shows I've seen in a while. I wish them luck with their upcoming season, lots of financial luck
8. Fantastia in The Color Purple - I need to see her again in the role...
9. Grey Gardens - I saw it three more times over the summer prior to its closing. What an underappreciated gem...
10. Opus - the best new play I saw all summer. Still need to write the review for later this week.
11. Company - went back two more times. has Bobby ever been so clear, "Being Alive" so rewarding a musical experience?
12. Summer Broadway Festival - thank you, Scott Siegel, for providing programming to fill my Monday nights.
13. Musicals in Mufti - the first time I've attended all four productions in a row, all of which were excellently produced. I look forward to attending the fall season, dedicated to the work of Joseph Stein. In particular, THE DAY BEFORE SPRING was a revelation. Based on how moving the York production was, this deserves a shot at Encores or in regional revivals, or as a full-scale York production.
Honorable Mention:
1. Gaslight at the Irish Rep
2. People v. Mona at Abington Theater
3. Passing Strange the Public Theater
4. Absinthe at the Spiegeltent
5. Beyond Glory at Roundabout
6. Offstage: The East Village Fragments
7: The Notebooks of Spalding Grey at Minetta Lane
8. Seussical at the Lucille Lortel