Did ya miss me?

Hi again, internet friends. It’s been a moment. Sorry I disappeared for a while. I know you’ve all been anxiously waiting for me to pop back into your inbox. At least…a handful of you have told me so. Yes, I’m very popular. Anyway, I’ll put on my theatre blogger prom queen crown and provide a brief update:

In early 2024, I started working at a theatre company in Toronto in a managerial role. I didn’t feel it would be appropriate to continue reviewing shows, so I put the blog on pause. I ended up quitting that job a few months ago, and I’ve been spending the majority of my time since being a new mom to the best boy in the entire world.

Up until recently, I hadn’t been going to the theatre much. Being a new parent can be overwhelming, and I really had no energy. And, if I’m being fully transparent, I’ve been feeling quite alienated from the Toronto theatre community lately. I have lots of thoughts that I’m happy to share offline, but for now, take my word that I needed a breather.

Anyway, enough exposition. Nothing can kill a blog like too much exposition. Onto the good stuff:

My husband and I (and baby) recently went to New York. In those 10 days, I saw 7 shows. Thank you to my mother-in-law for the free childcare. You’re a real one. I’m a bit rusty at reviewing, so I thought I’d ease my way in by writing a bit about my recommendations for what to see in New York this season – what I’ve loved so far, and what I’m most excited about.

Musicals

1. Little Shop of Horrors continues to hit 5 years into their Off-Broadway run. This production is so good, and the music is so playful and lovely. This show has been continually recruiting celebrities/pseudo-celebrities to tackle the leading roles, but the producers tend to pick people that actually have talent. The current leads, Milo Manheim (teeny-bopper dreamboat) and Liz Gillies (Victorious/Dynasty), are really wonderful. Also, we happened to catch the understudy for the dentist, Teddy Yudain, and he was giving major theatre kid energy in the best way. He made every line count, and he was clearly having a blast up there. Snaps.
2. Maybe Happy Ending is the best new Broadway show I’ve seen in the past 10 years or so, and the only one of recent memory at which I bought a t-shirt. It’s about two retired helper-bots (50 years into the future) going on an adventure and falling in love. I know that sounds silly, and perhaps it is, but this show has so much heart, I promise it’s worth it. I saw this three weeks ago, and I’m still thinking about it every day. The music is clean, modern and crisp, with a sprinkling of jazz thrown in. Darren Criss in particular was exceptional in the lead role of Oliver. His physicality, his vocal inflections…his performance was brilliant. This show is quite technically advanced, but it’s only a cast of four, so I wouldn’t call it a big “spectacle”. If you prefer old-school musicals with a big orchestra, dancing, and glitz, this may not be your favourite show, but I would argue that it’s the best executed musical of its style – and my favourite new musical of recent memory – so you may still appreciate it for what it is.
3. Operation Mincemeat is a new West End import. Five actors play dozens of characters in this loud comedy about a British World War II deception plan. It’s a bit goofy and has quite a few laugh-out-loud moments, and there’s a sentimental moment that creeps up on you toward the end of the first act. It’s in the Golden Theatre, which is one of the smaller Broadway houses with only 800 or so seats. The set is pretty minimal and the sound mixing isn’t perfect, but I enjoyed it nonetheless. It’s a contender for Best Musical this year, so worth seeing if for that reason alone. Thanks to Larry for taking me to this show (and to Russell for the ticket booking!)
4. Death Becomes Her is the show for people who want a big Broadway spectacle. If you’ve seen the 1992 movie starring Meryl Streep and Goldie Hawn, then you know the plot. I hadn’t, so to summarize: two frenemies take potions for eternal beauty, but things don’t go exactly as planned. It stars one of my favourite Broadway actors, Megan Hilty, and it’s a romp. The glorious costumes are by Paul Tazewell, who just won the Oscar for Best Costume Design for Wicked. It’s big, it’s in-your-face funny, it’s glitzy, there’s lots of dancing. It’s a fun time.
5. Dead Outlaw is something I’m looking forward to seeing. My in-laws liked it off-Broadway, and my MIL really likes the lead actor, Andrew Durand. I don’t know too much about it, but it’s high on my [hit] list.
6. Heathers is coming back to New York this summer, Off-Broadway at New World Stages. Heathers is a personal fave – think Mean Girls with murder. It tends to skew younger (Millennial/Gen Z).

Plays

1. Grangeville at the Signature Center Off-Broadway just closed, but it was excellent. This was my second Samuel D. Hunter 2-hander show of the season, and his style of writing really appeals to me. Grounded, funny, moving (but not in a forced way), quick-paced. It’s a brand new play, so if a theatre near you produces it sometime soon, check it out.
2. Danger and Opportunity is in a teeny theatre off-Broadway until April 20, so sadly I’m going to be missing this one, but I wish I could see it! Jack Serio is directing, who also directed Grangeville. I honestly don’t know too much about it, either, but their marketing campaign has been fantastic. It looks bold, innovative, intimate, and exciting.
3. John Proctor is the Villain is getting a lot of buzz right now.
4. We Had a World is playing until May 11 at MTC Off-Broadway. It’s written by Joshua Harmon, and I like Joshua Harmon. It stars Andrew Barth Feldman, and I like Andrew Barth Feldman.

Those are my picks for now! Let me know if you have anything to add in the comments below. If not, I’ll see ya in the next post, which hopefully won’t be a year from now.