As you may have ascertained by now, I’m an Anglophile! Therefore, I’m allowed to reiterate last month’s recommendation: the Brits Off Broadway Festival at 59e59 continues through July. There are some enticing offerings, including two by the prolific master, Alan Ayckbourn — these are highlights of my June calendar.
For new writing, I’ll be seeing “Friend Art” by Sofia Alvarez, at 2nd Stage Uptown — her bio suggests this might be well worth a look.
“Indian Summer” by Gregory Moss is at Playwrights Horizons and seems appropriate for the season — a theatrical “beach read?”
Next, two at Lincoln Center: “War” by Brandon Jacobs-Jenkins, the author of “An Octoroon” and “Appropriate” — this one’s not a beach read!
And, “Oslo” by J.T. Rogers (“Blood and Gifts”), concerns the lead up to the Oslo Peace Accords, directed by the eminent Bartlett Sher.
More new work — “The Healing” by Samuel D. Hunter, is being presented by Theater Breaking Through Barriers, a company which includes actors with disabilities. Mr. Hunter’s “The Whale” was a hugely empathetic look at a morbidly obese man, which gave me new insight into a subject not often raised.
I’ll be at Abingdon for “Stet” by Kim Davies, whose “Smoke” received excellent reviews. This one is about the current apparent increase in campus sexual violence.
When was the last time you heard that Israel Horovitz has written a new play? He’s back with “Out of the Mouth of Babes” at Cherry Lane. Don’t miss this chance to see both Estelle Parsons and Judith Ivey among others — I won’t!
I woke up to “Turn Me Loose” after reading this review and hearing raves from friends. So, if you too haven’t yet seen this bio of Dick Gregory — maybe we can meet at the Westside Theatre, or at any other!
Enjoy Summer!
Carol Tambor publishes a monthly newsletter, which announces worthy shows coming to New York, along with occasional information about London theatre and, of course, the Edinburgh Fringe.