IT’S A FINE LIFE
Ladies and gents,
I’ve just discovered a Playbill in my freezer and a bottle of gin in my tote, and that can only mean one thing: the spring theater season is upon us! Ready for a peek inside some theatrical openings?
I’ll start with the most recent: Othello. The town hasn’t seen a night like this in ages. Denzel Washington and Jake Gyllenhaal have taken up residence at the Barrymore in this little tragedy by an obscure British playwright, and I’m here to tell you: it’s not just theater, it’s an event. A revival with heat, heft, and two men who know how to hold a house in their palms.
Denzel’s titular Moor is thunderous and tragic in all the right places, while Jake’s Iago is the evilest thing on Broadway since Harvey had to stop producing. Director Kenny Leon gives the whole thing a clean, modern engine and lets the language soar. I was moved, I was shaken, and I may have given a premature ovation.
The Bidens were there. Jamie Lee Curtis was there. I tried to take a discreet photo of the crowd and accidentally blinded Jennifer Lopez with my flash. She was gracious. I was mortified.
If Othello is thunder, then Operation Mincemeat is lightning: sharp, fast, and positively electric. This British import is one of the most inventive musicals I’ve seen in years. Spies, corpses, bureaucrats, and perfectly tailored naval uniforms—it has it all.
The cast members spin through roles like it’s a drinking game, and the energy never dips below “controlled mania.” Every song is a gem, every transition a trick, and every performer deserves a medal.
The white tie dress code was utterly ignored by Samuel L. Jackson, who instead opted for equally appropriate (and quite dashing) camo. Lorna Luft captivated in red. Kate Capshaw was chatting with Jesse Eisenberg near the bar, while Sophie von Hasselberg and Julie Klausner shared a giggle outside.
Off-Broadway, 59E59 saw the opening of Amerikin by Chisa Hutchinson – a gut punch of a play tackling the thorny edges of identity and division in small-town America. Luke Robertson was particularly unforgettable—delivering a chilling performance as a white supremacist with a pitch-perfect Maryland accent. Tobias Segal and Andrea Syglowski also shined as two of the town’s more enlightened citizens (enlightened being a relative term in this particular town). At the lively after-party, I exchanged air-kisses with associate producer Jamie deRoy and spotted Netflix icon Taylor Schilling chatting at the bar.
I know we’re only a few days into spring, but I don’t know how much more excitement (and gin) I can handle!
Tidbits from around town…
Saw Nathan Lane avoid five selfie seekers with the grace of a man who’s played every farce known to man.
Spied Justin Vivian Bond flipping through disco vinyl at Academy Records.
Caught Josh Groban slipping into a pottery class downtown.
As always, a toast of something sparkling to you and yours!
Kisses,
