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)
'Dear Evan Hansen'
A women at intermission sitting next to me asked me "Why is this show so popular"? I thought about it a few seconds and my answer was that "It has a little something for everybody." By that comment I meant that it had teen suicide, a person who was socially awkward, some really good songs in it and a good story behind it. Dear Evan Hansen will not go in the books as a great musical. It is, however, everybody's musical. In the era of teen suicide awareness and people on the look-out for loners who are most likely to commit suicide, it keeps the audience interest.
By Robert M Massimi. ( Broadway Bob).5 years ago in Geeks
'Network'
Network at the Belasco Theatre has more production bells and whistles than one can handle. The Belasco has been turned into a shiny contemporary landscape with a massive screen acting as a backdrop for a set, divided into three principal components. They are: a glass box TV production gallery, a newsroom studio, and a Manhattan-style restaurant and a bar (at which audience members can book a table if they're willing to pay up). It all looks very glitzy.
By Robert M Massimi. ( Broadway Bob).6 years ago in Geeks
'Girl from the North Country'
Robert Massimi. Girl From The North Country is a rugged body of work, much like the songwriter himself, Bob Dylan. Straight out of a Dylan song, this play attempts to show us the lives of many people, most of whom are full of despair and desperation. With some fine acting and a good story line, throw in Bob Dylan's songs and what should have been a winner ended up in the fair to midland range.
By Robert M Massimi. ( Broadway Bob).6 years ago in Geeks
'Gemini'
Robert Massimi. When I saw this Tony Award winner in the early 80's, times were different then today, however, Gemini (short for Geminiani, the father and son that are at the forefront of this performance), is timeless. Set in South Philadelphia, it is about Frank and Francis, who is on summer break from Harvard University. There neighbors, the Weinberger's, Bunny and Herschel are a cooky duo. Herschel has an over the top IQ but is a functioning moron. Bunny, who was once a looker is older, heavier and likes the sauce a little too much. Of Irish decent, Bunny complains about how she married a selfish Jew who cared less about her or Herschel. Reminiscent of All In The Family, the stereotypes fly about people's nationalities and religions. When the Hastings come to visit Francis, their White Anglo-Saxon background does not escape the comedy either. Fran's girlfriend Lucille Pompi ties the entire play together.
By Robert M Massimi. ( Broadway Bob).6 years ago in Geeks
'King Kong'
Robert Massimi. King Kong at the Broadway Theatre should have been the show of the year. Unfortunately, it was not even close. There are several reasons this musical falls flat. The first is the casting of Kong. Aside from the leading stars, Christiani Pitts, Eric William Morris and Erik Lochtefeld having little to no Broadway experience, to really speak of, they do not mesh or ever blend together. The next problem is the music. The music is not really linked to the plot of King Kong. The songs are neither relevant nor resonant to the audience as well. The third and final bewilderment is Kong himself. It was very distracting to see ten puppeteers move this behemoth around all evening. Two puppeteers had to put Ann Darrow in the apes hand for her to be lifted. When I say, "should have been the show of the year" it falls beyond flat and lifeless.
By Robert M Massimi. ( Broadway Bob).6 years ago in Geeks
'Small Craft Warning'
Small Craft Warnings at the 13th Street Repertory is one of Tennessee Williams' least produced plays, or at least one that is not talked about much. After seeing A Lovely Sunday at Creve Coer last month, another of Williams hidden gems, one never tires of this great writer and last night was no different. Set in California by the sea and not the South, his usual modus operandi, it has Williams usual characters, some we see as strong, some weak and some emotionally as well as mentally void. We see all the characters solo at different points of the play. Director Barnaby Edwards does an excellent job of this. He brings forth each and every character during the performance. We find out what is on each and every person's mind. In many of Tennessee Williams' books, we are pretty sure about each character and where each person stands in the pecking order of life. Edwards takes that away, and we know what is going through each drunken mind. We see first hand the fears, the delusions and the hope that each person has and it all works so well. Many of the performers have been with the Regeneration Theater and are both comfortable and fluid in Regenerations works.
By Robert M Massimi. ( Broadway Bob).6 years ago in Geeks
'Pound'
Pound begins in the dark with Christopher Lloyd (Ezra Pound), quoting Pound's play Pull Down Thy Vanity, which sums up the play, Pound at the Lion Theater. The play takes place in the St. Elizabeth's Psychiatric Center in Baltimore, Maryland. Pound holds court with his "groupies." He receives people as he wishes and orders the workers around like they work for him. He has been charged with treason, from his socialist rants against America, capitalism and Jews. Having lived in Italy for many years, he was deported under treason charges and ended up where the entire play takes place, the insane asylum. Pound is ornery, indignant, and a tyrant in this facility. Some of the things he says to nurse Priscomb are downright cruel. He refers to her as blue hair and tells her that she could never be married and compares her to the newest Doctor, Dr. Polley (Kate Abbruzzese). Pound is equally cruel to his so-called friend Archibald Mac Leish, a poet who was trained by Pound, who is also a lawyer because as he says, "Poets need to pay their bills." Mac Leish knows Pound, or at least he thinks he does. He is ever grateful for what Pound did for him and is doing his best to get Pound out of there and clear his name and take him on tour as well.
By Robert M Massimi. ( Broadway Bob).6 years ago in Geeks
'The Waverly Gallery'
Robert Massimi. In what is a chock full of theater season, The Waverly Gallery is another great one. Elaine May who has not been on a Theater stage for fifty years is just magnificent. May plays Gladys Green, a women who when we first meet her has the beginning of dementia. She is at the breakfast table talking to her grandson Daniel (a brilliant Lucas Hedges), she flashes her winning smile as she tells him about her grandfather, her ex lover after grandpa died and her life. She is hard of hearing and that hearing aid leads to a night full of comedy. Kenneth Lonergan has written an autobiographical piece as he recalls his own mother suffering this disease. Lonergan who wrote Lobby Hero, performed on Broadway last year, has written some remarkable pieces, Gangs Of New York and Manchester By The Sea to name a few, has a winner with Waverly. Lila Neugebauer is flawless in her direction of this play. The cast are all terrific and Neugebauer delivers a gentile yet a nuance of a play that deals with a horrible subject. In straddling a very fine line of comedy and what could be offensive, the direction takes us on a blissful theatrical experience.
By Robert M Massimi. ( Broadway Bob).6 years ago in Geeks
'You Can't Take It with You'
Robert Massimi. You Can't Take It with You opened last night at The Players, the great play by George S. Kaufman and Moss Hart. This play was a Tony Winner in the 80s and is a very difficult play to do and put on. The Bergen County Players did an admirable job in this opening night production. The comedic timing at times was slightly off, but none the less it was a pleasant evening. It is a story about the very eccentric Vanderhof/Sycamore family and the buttoned up Kirby's. When Alice falls in love with Tony Jr, it is a matter of time before both families have to meet. Realizing that she is completely different from her family she tells Tony that she does not think it a good idea that they get serious. Nothing could be further from Tony's wishes, he is deeply in love with Alice will not stand for any family matters getting in the way of their marriage plans. Alice is basically the only one who works, yes Ed delivers candy but this family does not have a care in the world. Martin Vanderhof quit his job 35 years ago and has never regretted it, nor has he ever paid taxes as he never saw the reason too.
By Robert M Massimi. ( Broadway Bob).6 years ago in Geeks
"A Lovely Sunday"
The first thing that strikes you at "A Lovely Sunday For Creve Coeur" is the cluttered stage by Harry Feiner. The symbolism is too great, as we see the lives of four women unwind. Like many of Tennessee Williams plays, we see the symmetry of many of the characters that he presents to us. We saw it in "Streetcar Named Desire" and we see it in "Creve Couer". Four women, all with an agenda, some good, some not so good and of course some with cunning, bad intentions. The play takes place in St. Louis, the home of many German immigrants after World War Two. These immigrants were hard working, blue collar people who strove to have a better life here in America. We meet for most of the first hour both Dorothea (Jean Lichty), a young vibrant school teacher who posses a Southern charm. She is a transplant from Memphis and teaches at the local school where she is a civics teacher. She is smitten by the schools principal who we never see. Ralph Ellis is the schools principal and apparently a heart throb, at least to Dorothea. He comes from the "right family", is thrusted onto the social calendar even though he decided to a teacher instead of a lawyer like his father. The play is two hours and set in one day and the action is at a very even pace and moves nicely. Austin Pendleton did a nice job moving his characters about in true Williams fashion. Tennessee Williams plays need to keep the audience looking, watching and studying the actors wondering what is going through their minds. "Sunday" is no different. One of Tennessee Williams lesser know plays, but a good one no less.
By Robert M Massimi. ( Broadway Bob).6 years ago in Geeks
'Pop Punk High'
Robert Massimi. Pop Punk High is a fun musical at La Poisson Rouge in the West Village. The show is based on a school where music and skate boarding is king. The shows nexus is a geek who wants to date the hot chick named Amanda Bunkface (Jess Kaliban), who barely knows his name until a dead Avril Lavigne (Kelly Krauter), grants him three wishes. Skeet (Patrick Sweeney) becomes a different person. He beats his arch rival Derek in skate boarding, music, you name it. He is changing by the second and he has no time for loyal Tib, who stood by him no matter how desperate his situation became. Pop Punk High is an R Rated School of Rock, it's up there with Fast Times at Ridgemont High. What Pop Punk adds is a lot of music, good songs sung by a young talented cast. We see humor in this musical, especially by Skeet and his parents. His dad (Eric Wiegand) was a tremendous dancer and shed humor on this already raucous show. Mom (Mclean Peterson) was equally wonderful in her role, her comedic timing was flawless.
By Robert M Massimi. ( Broadway Bob).6 years ago in Geeks