Things better left unsaid

June 26, 2009

THEATER REVIEW | 'TWELFTH NIGHT'
I Love You, You’re Perfect. You’re a Girl?
By CHARLES ISHERWOOD

“Most wonderful.” The exclamation of joyous surprise that bursts from the lips of Countess Olivia at the climax of “Twelfth Night,” when she discovers that her new husband appears to have divided himself in two, seems an apt reaction to the scintillating new production of Shakespeare’s romantic comedy that opened Thursday night at the Delacorte Theater in Central Park.

“Twelfth Night” is a perennial favorite, and with its multifaceted plot mixing sweetness, sadness and silliness it is also about as surefire as Shakespeare plays get. If the romances are dreary, the comedy may still crackle. And vice versa. But this polished staging, expertly directed by Daniel Sullivan, is the most consistently pleasurable the city has seen in at least a decade. And it is certainly one of the most accomplished Shakespeare in the Park productions the Public Theater has fielded in some time. Incidentally — or perhaps not — the varied talents of its all-American lead cast help restore faith in the city’s ability to cast Shakespeare in depth.

All together now: most wonderful!

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Butler, Gemignani, Margulies, Stites and More Set for Dec. 18 Night Job

By Andrew Gans
December 12, 2008

Don't Quit Your Night Job — which was a downtown favorite at Joe's Pub before playing an extended run at the HA! Comedy Club — will return to the Zipper Factory Theater Dec. 18.

The 11:30 PM performance of Night Job, described as a "late night happening of improv, music, sketches and stories," is scheduled to feature co-creators Dan Lipton (The Coast of Utopia), Steve Rosen (Spamalot), David Rossmer (Fiddler on the Roof) and Sarah Saltzberg (The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee) as well as Kerry Butler, Tara Copeland, Josh Gad, Alexander Gemignani, Asmeret Ghebremichael, Joshua Henry, Rebecca Kasper, Emmy winner Julianna Margulies, Maurice Murphy, David Pittu and music director Kevin Stites.

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The discovery of Mark Twain's Is He Dead? marks the return of Norbert Leo Butz to the Broadway stage, this time in a play. Leading an ensemble cast including: Jenn Gambatese, Byron Jennings, Michael McGrath, David Pittu, and John McMartin, Butz turns the notions of death and gender upside down and inside out.

( The reports of my death are greatly exaggerated )