OFF-BROADWAY
(Starred reviews by Frank Scheck)
Posted: 12:51 am
June 27, 2008
"ADDING MACHINE": *** ½ A powerful chamber-music theater adaptation of Elmer Rice's 1923 Expressionist classic. Minetta Lane Theatre, 18 Minetta Lane; (212) 307-4100.
"ARIAS WITH A TWIST": *** Hilarious cabaret act featuring drag queen Joey Arias performing amid celebrated puppeteer Basil Twist's imaginative visual surroundings. HERE Arts Center, 145 Sixth Ave.; (212) 352-3101. Closes Aug. 31.
"BASH'D": *** Entertaining musical tells its story about a pair of gay lovers entirely through rapping. Zipper Factory Theater, 336 W. 37th St.; (212) 352-4101.
"THE BULLY PULPIT": *** Michael O. Smith plays Teddy Roosevelt in an entertaining if formulaic solo show. Beckett Theatre, 410 W. 42nd St.; (212) 279- 4200. Closes Sunday.
"EDWARD ALBEE'S OCCUPANT": * ½ Prosaic bio-play about sculptor Louise Nevelson (Mercedes Ruehl), in the form of an interview with her in the afterlife. Peter Norton Space, 555 W. 42nd St.; (212) 244-7529. Closes July 13.
"HAMLET": ** Slow-paced production hamstrung by the mannered performance of its Hamlet, Michael Stuhlbarg. Central Park's Delacorte Theater, midpark at 81st Street; (212) 539-8750. Closes Sunday.
"THE HIRED MAN": *** ½ Terrific chamber production of 1984 British musical about farmers and miners in rural England at the turn of the century. 59E59 Theaters, 59 E. 59th St.; (212) 279-4200. Closes Sunday.
"JACKIE MASON: THE ULTIMATE JEW": *** The veteran comic delivers politically incorrect humor. New World Stages, 340 W. 50th St.; (212) 239-6200. Closes July 20.
"JOHN LITHGOW: STORIES BY HEART": *** A wonderful one-person show, highlighted by a comic performance of a P.G. Wodehouse classic. Mitzi E. Newhouse Theatre, 150 W. 65th St.; (212) 239-6200.
"JUMP": ** Martial arts stunts meet slapstick comedy. Union Square Theatre, 100 E. 17th St.; (212) 307-4100.
"PALACE OF THE END": ** ½ This triptych of monologues inspired by real-life figures from the Iraq war fails to have dramatic impact. Peter Jay Sharp Theatre, 416 W. 42nd St.; (212) 864-5400. Closes July 13.
"PATRIOTIC BITCH": ** ½ Actress/writer Alanna Ubach delivers a well-acted but slight and disjointed solo show in which she portrays seven multi-ethnic female characters. Clurman Theatre, 410 W. 42nd St.; (212) 279-4200. Closes Sunday.
"A PERFECT COUPLE": *** Brooke Berman's entertaining play depicts the romantic confusions of several 30-something New Yorkers. DR2 Theatre, 103 E. 15th St.; (212) 375-1110. Closes July 12.
"REASONS TO BE PRETTY": *** ½ Neil LaBute's scathingly funny and moving play continues his exploration of the battle of the sexes. Lucille Lortel Theatre, 121 Christopher St.; (212) 279-4200. Closes July 5.
"SAVED": *** Fun new musical set in a Christian high school, based on the 2004 film of the same name. Playwrights Horizons, 416 W. 42nd St.; (212) 279-4200.
