Angry young men Angry young men

Since April four wildly varied incarnations of Hamlet have been haunting New York City theaters; the most recent to arrive was Robert Icke’s chicly contemporary take on Shakespeare’s play which opened last week at the Park Avenue Armory.

Teeth like razors Teeth like razors

A broadcast of Weill and Brecht’s pungent Die Dreigroschenoper

Get off at Elysian Fields Get off at Elysian Fields

Nearly 70 years after its debut, A Streetcar Named Desire remains the greatest stage-to-screen adaptation of all time.

The Cat’s meow The Cat’s meow

This Cat seems more together than most. Unlike many of the teleplays we’ve considered so far, this one is actually directed by a Tony-winning theater director, and I’d venture that accounts for its relative success.

What the ‘Cat’ dragged in What the ‘Cat’ dragged in

Cat on a Hot Tin Roof is sometimes called the American King Lear, which nods to themes of a father and his disappointing children… but I think it’s also Shakespearean in its sprawl and grandeur.

Midwest side story Midwest side story

A theater-critic friend of my father once said that Laurence Olivier played American like it was a character choice.

Hold your peace Hold your peace

Benjamin Britten’s War Requiem with Anna Netrebko, Ian Bostrdge, and Thomas Hampson in an incredibly moving performance from the 2013 Salzburger Festspiele.

technicolor twaddle tonite!

La Cieca is sure that her cher public will not want to miss Sunday morning’s (4:30 AM) screening of the camp classic Yes, Giorgio. This 1982 crossover attempt by Luciano Pavarotti (from tenor to matinee idol) must have sounded like a good idea at the time, but, fortunately for music lovers, the film flopped mightily,…