Robert M Massimi. ( Broadway Bob).
Bio
I have been writing on theater since 1982. A graduate from Manhattan College B.S. A member of Alpha Sigma Lambda, which recognizes excellence in both English and Science. I have produced 14 shows on and off Broadway. I've seen over700 shows
Stories (232/0)
'Real'
Robert Massimi. Real is a 70-minute show that starts quickly and picks up the pace even faster as it goes on. Real is the type of play where you cannot blink or you can miss a relevant part to what writer Rodrigo Nogueira is putting forth. An abstract play that has great lighting and some serious moments to it. Lighting designer Kia Rodgers does a terrific job with romantic lighting as well, in between scenes hitting the bare brick wall with just one sexy blue light to give this play a further allure of abstract, bordering on sultry.
By Robert M Massimi. ( Broadway Bob).5 years ago in Geeks
'Vice'
Robert Massimi. Vice is a weak attempt at Dick Cheney's life. Cheney, played excellently by Christian Bale, was a movie that, like Mr. McKay's The Big Short, tries its hand at comedy in a serious movie and fails miserably. Even by Mr. McKay's liberal standards, the movie incorporates fire, flooding, opioids and rioting into the movie without reason. Is McKay saying that it is Dick Chaney's fault? The audience was left confused by this scene.
By Robert M Massimi. ( Broadway Bob).5 years ago in Geeks
2018: A Look Back On New York City Theater
Robert Massimi. 2018 had a lot of great theater, some so-so and some, terrible. Here is a look back at 2018. Let's begin, first, with the really good. Ferryman was the best thing I saw all year, that is saying something since this was a great year for both plays as well as musicals. Even though To Kill A Mockingbird was met with good reviews, I think it is a prime contender for many Tony Awards. Jeff Daniels and Celia Keenan-Bolger should easily be nominated for their rolls in Mockingbird. Waverly Gallery was also a great show. Eline May should be nominated for best actress in her roll as a women suffering from dementia. A Lifespan of a Fact, will, or should get a few Tony nominations, but Lifespan just wasn't in the league of the aforementioned. Lifespan never lived up to the hype. I personally liked it. It had three great actors in it and was very amusing, however, critics were lukewarm towards it.
By Robert M Massimi. ( Broadway Bob).5 years ago in Geeks
'Noura'
Noura at Playwrights Horizon is a play written by and starring Heather Raffo. The story premise is that the characters are all Iraqi immigrants. Unlike most genres of this type, all the people in this story are successful. The husband and long time friend are both doctors. Noura herself is an architect. Noura's husband begs her for a daughter (they have a son), but she doesn't want one, and we find out at the end of the play why.
By Robert M Massimi. ( Broadway Bob).5 years ago in Geeks
'Daniel's Husband'
Few plays make you think about and debate a play the way Daniel's Husband does. The play is set at Daniel Bixby (Ryan Spahn) and Mitchell Howard's (Matthew Montelongo) home. It focuses on gay marriage, but it is much, much more than that. The premise is five main characters... Mitchell and Daniel, Mitchell's agent Barry, Barry's newest love interest, Trip, and Daniel's mother, Lydia (Anna Holbrook). Michael McKeever the Playwright gives us the obvious, but he gives us the not so obvious that hits us one way or the other. Who is really selfish? Who is willing to give a little? What character will we side with?
By Robert M Massimi. ( Broadway Bob).5 years ago in Geeks
'Wounded'
Wounded is a complex play. It is the type of play that has you forming an opinion and then changing it half way through the show and then has you in another direction by the end. Set in Tommy and Angelica's apartment, it is the story of a wounded veteran who is now incapacitated and has his wife and wife's boyfriend to care for him. The set looks like something thrown together, but as the show goes on you begin to realize that it is made to look like hell because that is where all three are, in hell. Kerry Kazmierowicztrimm has written this play about not one, but two wounded warriors. Samuel's (Kyle Felts) injuries are not known until well into the play. Angelica (Tanya Gorlow) has a difficult task in that she still loves Tommy (Scott Kuza), but wants a somewhat normal life for herself. She had to quit school and put her architectural aspirations on hold to care for Tommy. She tries her best to comfort Tommy and tries to make him think as if that should help him snap out of his mental disability.
By Robert M Massimi. ( Broadway Bob).5 years ago in Geeks
'To Kill a Mockingbird'
Robert Massimi. Just when I thought The Ferryman would run away with every Tony Award for Best Play, Best Actor, Actress and every other thing, along comes To Kill a Mockingbird, Harper Lee's gem from back when. It is the story of a man, Tom Robinson, falsely accused of rape by a young white girl. Robinson, a black man in 1934 living in Maycomb, Alabama never had a prayer for being found innocent, not even with the brilliant Atticus Finch (Jeff Daniels), as his lawyer.
By Robert M Massimi. ( Broadway Bob).5 years ago in Geeks
'Selkie'
Robert Massimi. Selkie at The Wild Project is a fun play. It has humor, absurdism, it makes you think a little and has a very creative set. Set in a fishing village, Deanna and Keaton are in love. Keaton is a gentile soul, who cares for Deanna. We don't know what brought them here, but we soon find out. Keaton is not the person we think—not by a long shot. Keaton is a stealthy, greedy person who we come to know as not caring at all about Deanna. Deanna, is a weak person who puts up with him because she lacks the courage to leave him and go home. It gets worse for her as the play goes on—drugs, confinement and complete dominance has engulfed her life.
By Robert M Massimi. ( Broadway Bob).5 years ago in Geeks
'Fool For Love'
Robert Massimi. Fool For Love at The Theater For The New City is an electric piece of work. Part of Sam Shepard's trilogy, Fool For Love is his most recognized work. It is the story of four characters, Eddie, May, The Old Man and Martin. Set in a motel in the Mojave Desert, it is a one set, one scene and a no intermission play. The play opens to The Rolling Stones "Wild Horses" as it should. The music sets the scene for three rough and tumble, hard drinking people, and Martin, an outsider in every way. Martin is softer than the other three. He is civil, polite and cares about his fellow human being. The other three have a past, a history that only a writer like Sam Shepard can put forth.
By Robert M Massimi. ( Broadway Bob).5 years ago in Geeks
'I'm Not a Comedian... I'm Lenny Bruce'
I do not understand the title of the play I'm Not a Comedian... I'm Lenny Bruce at the Cutting Room. The entire 90 minutes, or most of it, dealt, albeit, loosely on his comedic life. Lenny Bruce (Ronnie Marmo), spoke about his showbiz mom—formerly from Brooklyn, but now residing in Long Island. The show opens up with Bruce M. Cing at a young age. He immediately goes to 1947 where he took the stage as Lenny Marcelle. Marmo has a whiney Long Island accent (a cross between Tony Curtis and Andrew Dice Clay). Bruce does the Jewish schtick with his mom. He spoke about his shock value and how he was gaining popularity by it. In real life, Bruce made a killing in the Borscht Belt (for some reason that fact was not written into the play).
By Robert M Massimi. ( Broadway Bob).5 years ago in Geeks
'The Thanksgiving Play'
The Thanksgiving Play at Playwrights Horizon starts out well enough. The four actors in the play sing a Thanksgiving song and are pretty campy about it. In fact, the four actors are all pretty good in this show. After the opening scene before the curtain lifts on what is a good classroom set, (Wilson Chin) the audience is ready for a great show. This, however, never came to fruition.
By Robert M Massimi. ( Broadway Bob).5 years ago in Geeks
'Bohemian Rhapsody'
Robert Massimi. Rami Malek plays Freddie Mercury and he is sure to get an Oscar nomination for his performance. Bohemian Rhapsody is the story of Queen and how Farrokh Bulsara met the band Smile, a band that would eventually become Queen. Mercury came from a traditional Indian- Butish Parsi family. Farrokh wanted more then his father's life, more than his father's "kind thoughts, deeds, and words." Bulsara meets what is left of Smile (the lead singer/bass player quits to join Humpybong). The band brings him in regardless of Mercury's teeth, (he had four extra that made his vocal cords open more), they also bring in John Deacon, a terrific bass player. From the first club appearance, Bulsara is wild, does his own thing. He is flamboyant and has a rather aloof attitude to what people think.
By Robert M Massimi. ( Broadway Bob).5 years ago in Geeks