Robert M Massimi.
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 12 shows on and off Broadway. I've seen over700 shows
Stories (175/0)
'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. 5 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. 5 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. 5 years ago in Geeks
'The Ferryman'
Robert Massimi. The Ferryman at the Jacobs Theatre begins with two characters leaning up against a brick wall. It is a blighted out area in Belfast, Northern Ireland. We hear helicopters and sirens faintly in the background as one sips his beer and the other watches intently. On the wall are spray painting of "We Are The People" and "BOBBY." The audience finds out in short order how ruthless the IRA is and what they will do to succeed in there efforts. No one is safe from this organization, not even the local priest nor members of this terrorist organization.
By Robert M Massimi. 5 years ago in Geeks
'Before We're Gone'
Robert Massimi. Before We're Gone at the 13th St. Repertory is a very productive play in that it gives the audience so much inside an hour and forty minutes. Its plot is about a very successful woman, Kathleen Maguire (Leenya Rideout). she is an actress, writer, award winner in her craft, and an activist. Her life was fast and loose, she is married and yet had many lovers. The person most influential in her life was Myron Glaser (Jay Russell), who played many different parts in this play. Russell played a priest, Richard's father, Kathleen's agent, a Fr. Cyprian, and Mark. Myron, she contends, would never lie and take a bullet for her.
By Robert M Massimi. 5 years ago in Geeks
'The Lifespan of a Fact'
The Lifespan of a Fact is a play about three people. It is based on a true story about a writer and a person who committed suicide by jumping off a building in Las Vegas. The show, however, is much more than that, much more. With three really strong actors on one stage and strong direction, this evening was a hit on all points. Emily (Cherry Jones) brings in Jim (Daniel Radcliffe) to fact check John D' Agata (Bobby Cannavale). John has been known to embellish on his past stories and Emily wants to keep him and the essay in line. The entire timeline of the play is on a Wednesday to Monday morning, when the deadline for the essay is due. Jim, just out of Harvard, does not see the difficulty of getting this done. In the opening scene, Jones and Radcliffe exchange some wonderful bantering which is both highly comical and somewhat enlightening as to how the publishing business works. Emily tries to warn Jim that John can be very difficult, especially when it comes to his writing as he is very protective of it.
By Robert M Massimi. 5 years ago in Geeks
'Danny and the Deep Blue Sea'
Danny and the Blue Sea is complicated. It has a minimal stage, it has very good acting but it also has a so-so plot. Danny would be recommended to all aspiring actors, they're that good. The plot, however, just does not add up. The show is about two people who meet in a bar, Danny (Jonathan Crimenti) and Roberta (Hannah Beck). Danny is anti social; he spends most nights in fist fights. He even believes he killed a man at a party the previous night. He is devoid of any feelings toward his mother, people he meets, or people he works with. Dubbed "The Beast" by his fellow workers in a trucking company, he is an outcast everywhere. He keeps to himself more by society's aloofness towards him rather than by his wishes. We think this as an audience, but writer John Patrick Shanley does not make this clear.
By Robert M Massimi. 5 years ago in Geeks
'Shame'
The Theater for The New City presented its street fair (they perform several times a summer in different Boroughs). In its beginnings as in now, New City wants to give both free theater throughout the city and at the same time wants to promote their in-house festival, which has been going on for the last two months. The Theater for The New City's mission statement is to provide radical theater as well as new works from new artists. At times, this theater can be hit or miss. It is difficult having consistent new works that are really good. As far as radical theater, it pales from the radicals in the 80s with the no nuke plays in the East Village. This year at the theater, it was mostly #metoo, LGBTQ movement plays, and equality in pay and some climate change plays. The Festival, however, is different. It gives authors leeway to put forth one acts, two acts, or any kind of set up the author wishes. The rates at the New City are encouraging for these aspiring playwrights.
By Robert M Massimi. 5 years ago in Geeks
'Private Peaceful'
Private Peaceful Written by Michael Morpurgo is a a resonant piece. Morpurgo has also written some other great pieces as well, War Horse being one of them. Peaceful is just as deep and meaningful as War Horse. The play is about a soldier, private Tommy Peaceful (Shane O'Regan"). It is his last night on earth, he will be shot in the morning for cowardice. Although he is anything but, and I will get to this later, he counts down the hours with the audience and his past as he spends his last time on earth in his cell. It is 10:30 AM, he talks passionately about his brother and hero, Charlie, who is three years older then him. He relives his childhood from Charlie carrying him on his shoulders to Sunday School with teacher Mrs. McCallister. He talks about how his father died chopping down a tree on the Colonels property. tommy would later blame himself for that death. He was present when the tree fell, his dad told Tommy to run and his dad didn't run himself.
By Robert M Massimi. 5 years ago in Geeks
'Unravelled'
Robert Massimi. Unravelled is a play about a mother, younger and older who loves her daughter unconditionally and a daughter who loves her mother as well, that is until she gets sick with both cancer, then dementia that is caused from the chemotherapy. Joy (Kittson O'Neil) and her mom (Suzanna Hay), the older mother are two different people from the beginning. Her mom is a hip, beautiful sexy women, Joy is a geeky nerd, who happens to at least be attractive. She would rather study the stars, the galaxy and the universe, it is her passion. Joy's lifelong ambition is to be an astronaut, unfortunately for her she is claustrophobic. She ends up doing the next best thing for her, she is a professor in the Ph.D program at a University. She teaches The Philosophy of Space and Time. Joy's life is put in turmoil, she is constantly being called home by her mom's nurse (La Donna Binns), and Joy's work is lacking, deeply stirring the ire of the Department chairman. Joy has missed a huge appointment with a Grant Foundation and the Chairman is not happy. We see Joy's conflict, her work is hurting, so is her social life. Joy really hates being home and seeing her mother like this. Her biggest conflict is that she has much guilt about how she now feels about her mother. She remembers her mom as a strong vibrant women who could type 300 words a minute, who was funny, as was this play at times. Joy's mom was the backbone of the family, her father ran off when she was a baby. Even though they lived with the grandmother, what Joy's mom said, went, she was the authority figure. Even though her home life was dysfunctional,(the grandfather ran off as well), they were both really happy to be in each others company. So when Joy sees her sick and not knowing where she is, she becomes both frustrated and upset often leaving her at odds with her mom's nurse. Joy feels that the nurse is not responsive to her mothers wacky behavior with the neighbors or when her mom ripped up there precious garden that they both planted when Joy was eleven years old.
By Robert M Massimi. 5 years ago in Geeks
'The Wizard Of Oz'
The Harlem Repertory Theater, whether it's Raisin In The Sun, In The Heights, or anything else, always delivers. The Wizard Of Oz played yesterday in Repertory with several of HRT's other shows. With its economical stage and even smaller area for the musicians, the show was welcoming from the beginning and all the way through. The band entertained the early comers for 30 minutes before the show began. Director Keith Lee Grant did a spectacular job in the way the musical developed and the constant flow throughout that keep the audience riveted in this fine production. Maggie Allen's projections, two to be exact, made perfect use of a small stage. We saw through Allen's work: Dorothy's house, the Witch's castle, Oz, the Yellow Brick Road, and the door to the wizard. The second projection was used as a mood piece, stars, bright lights and a darker side to when the show was melancholy. Between the direction and these projections, the show kept us alert and upbeat.
By Robert M Massimi. 5 years ago in Geeks
'Heist!'
Heist! at The Players Theater is a funny, campy spoof on a robbery gone bad. The musical begins with Jack, Chris and Betty robbing a bank. Chris gets shot in the process and is reportedly dead. Chris was Jack's best friend and by his death he is done with the robbery game. Instead, Jack has been reduced to the three monte card game con, one in which he is not good at. We find out later that he had a short term fling with Betty in the hopes of easing the pain over Chris's death. In his quest to get rich as a three card monte expert, he meets Patricia (Blair Medina), a street musician, and pick Pocket, and con women. He is intimidated by how well she works the streets and how much money she makes.
By Robert M Massimi. 5 years ago in Geeks
