Quick Hit Broadway Theater Review: Romeo & Juliet with Orlando Bloom and Condola Rashad

Orlando Bloom and Condola Rashad.

Romeo and Juliet
By William Shakespeare
Starring Condola Rashad, Orlando Bloom and Jayne Houdyshell
Directed by David Leveaux

What's It All About?
If you have to ask, let me suggest you go read it, or get the Sparks Notes. In this version, the Capulets are black, the Montagues are white. Romeo (Orlando Bloom of "Pirates of the Caribbean" "Lord of the Rings" fame) makes his entrance on a motorcycle wearing red biker boots. You get the picture. Juliet (Condola Rashad (Ruined, Stick Fly and Trip to Bountiful) is the pure innocent, white clad object of his affection (Fabio Toblini creates the costumes). Their stars are crossed.

What are the Highlights?
Jayne Houdyshell as the nurse is fun. Some fire pillars (set design by Jesse Poleshuck) at the Capulets ball are very cool. Nancy Bannon provides some clever movement to original music by David Van Tieghem (who also designs the sound). Christian Camargo is the standout in this production, as a funny and sharp Mercutio. Chuck Cooper also gives a nice turn as Lord Capulet.

What are the Lowlights?
Let's start with no chemistry between Romeo and Juliet. Rashad has her best moments playing the famous balcony scene with some humor, but overall, her Juliet comes off so innocent and pure that she almost seems like a simpleton. Blame must rest with director David Levaux, because Rashad certainly has shown her ability to find deeper character in her other roles on New York stages. Brent Carver, another talented actor, is grossly miscast as Friar Laurence and most of the humor in that role is lost. Even Houdyshell doesn't seem to take a role, definitely suited for her comedic talents, and run with it. It's all sort of ho-hum and leaves us wondering why this particular version should have been the one to come to Broadway.

Technical irritations: the lighting (design by David Weiner) is problematic throughout, especially for the balcony scene (this is supposed to be night and Juliet isn't supposed to be able to see Romeo, but neither is designed) and Juliet is lost in the shadows at the moment Romeo supposedly spies her and falls in love. Also, Poleshuck uses a large bell that hangs ominously over the set (when it's not being raised or lowered to the stage for no apparent reason) as a constant reminder of -- what? Bells have no significance in Romeo and Juliet. Ask not for whom the bell tolls? The lighting also causes shadows of the rope to distract from the scene in the tomb..At any rate, Bloom almost collided with the thing while making a quick stage-left exit in the dark, but swerved just in time to avoid injury.

More information:
Romeo and Juliet is set to run through Jan. 12, 2014 at the Richard Rodgers Theatre226 West 46th St., NYC. Tickets: 800-745-3000.

Christians might also like to know:
-- Sexually suggestive moves

Vanya and Kinky Boots Take Top Tony Awards

The 2013 Tony Award winners (in red). For reviews, click the link under "2012-2013 Reviews" at right.

David Hyde Pierce, Sigourney Weaver, Kristine Nielsen, and Billy Magnussen. Photo: Carol Rosegg

Best Play

The Assembled Parties by Richard Greenberg

Lucky Guy by Nora Ephron

The Testament of Mary by Colm Toíbín

Vanya and Sonia and Masha and Spike by Christopher Durang

Best Musical

Bring It On: The Musical

A Christmas Story, The Musical

Kinky Boots

Matilda The Musical

Best Revival of a Play

Golden Boy

Orphans

The Trip to Bountiful

Who’s Afraid of Virginia Woolf?

Best Revival of a Musical

Annie

The Mystery of Edwin Drood

Pippin

Rodgers and Hammerstein’s Cinderella

Best Book of a Musical

A Christmas Story, The Musical by Joseph Robinette

Kinky Boots by Harvey Fierstein

Matilda The Musical by Dennis Kelly

Rodgers and Hammerstein’s Cinderella by Douglas Carter Beane

Best Original Score (Music and/or Lyrics) Written for the Theatre

A Christmas Story, The Musical

Music and Lyrics: Benj Pasek and Justin Paul

Hands on a Hardbody

Music: Trey Anastasio and Amanda Green; Lyrics: Amanda Green

Kinky Boots

Music & Lyrics: Cyndi Lauper

Matilda The Musical

Music & Lyrics: Tim Minchin

Best Performance by an Actor in a Leading Role in a Play

Tom Hanks, Lucky Guy
Nathan Lane, The Nance
Tracy Letts, Who’s Afraid of Virginia Woolf?
David Hyde Pierce, Vanya and Sonia and Masha and Spike
Tom Sturridge, Orphans

Best Performance by an Actress in a Leading Role in a Play

Laurie Metcalf, The Other Place
Amy Morton, Who’s Afraid of Virginia Woolf?
Kristine Nielsen, Vanya and Sonia and Masha and Spike
Holland Taylor, Ann
Cicely Tyson, The Trip to Bountiful

 

Best Performance by an Actor in a Leading Role in a Musical

 

Bertie Carvel, Matilda The Musical
Santino Fontana, Rodgers + Hammerstein’s Cinderella
Rob McClure, Chaplin
Billy Porter, Kinky Boots
Stark Sands, Kinky Boots

Best Performance by an Actress in a Leading Role in a Musical

Stephanie J. Block, The Mystery of Edwin Drood
Carolee Carmello, Scandalous
Valisia LeKae, Motown The Musical
Patina Miller, Pippin
Laura Osnes, Rodgers + Hammerstein’s Cinderella

Best Performance by an Actor in a Featured Role in a Play

Danny Burstein, Golden Boy
Richard Kind, The Big Knife
Billy Magnussen, Vanya and Sonia and Masha and Spike
Tony Shalhoub, Golden Boy
Courtney B. Vance, Lucky Guy

Best Performance by an Actress in a Featured Role in a Play

Carrie Coon, Who’s Afraid of Virginia Woolf?
Shalita Grant, Vanya and Sonia and Masha and Spike
Judith Ivey, The Heiress
Judith Light, The Assembled Parties
Condola Rashad, The Trip to Bountiful

Best Performance by an Actor in a Featured Role in a Musical

Charl Brown, Motown The Musical
Keith Carradine, Hands on a Hardbody
Will Chase, The Mystery of Edwin Drood
Gabriel Ebert, Matilda The Musical
Terrence Mann, Pippin

Best Performance by an Actress in a Featured Role in a Musical

Annaleigh Ashford, Kinky Boots
Victoria Clark, Rodgers + Hammerstein’s Cinderella
Andrea Martin, Pippin
Keala Settle, Hands on a Hardbody
Lauren Ward, Matilda The Musical

Best Scenic Design of a Play

John Lee Beatty, The Nance
Santo Loquasto, The Assembled Parties
David Rockwell, Lucky Guy
Michael Yeargan, Golden Boy

Best Scenic Design of a Musical

Rob Howell, Matilda The Musical
Anna Louizos, The Mystery of Edwin Drood
Scott Pask, Pippin
David Rockwell, Kinky Boots

Best Costume Design of a Play

Soutra Gilmour, Cyrano de Bergerac
Ann Roth, The Nance
Albert Wolsky, The Heiress
Catherine Zuber, Golden Boy

Best Costume Design of a Musical

Gregg Barnes, Kinky Boots
Rob Howell, Matilda The Musical
Dominique Lemieux, Pippin
William Ivey Long, Rodgers + Hammerstein’s Cinderella

Best Lighting Design of a Play

Jules Fisher & Peggy Eisenhauer, Lucky Guy
Donald Holder, Golden Boy
Jennifer Tipton, The Testament of Mary
Japhy Weideman, The Nance

Best Lighting Design of a Musical

Kenneth Posner, Kinky Boots
Kenneth Posner, Pippin
Kenneth Posner, Rodgers + Hammerstein’s Cinderella
Hugh Vanstone, Matilda The Musical

Best Sound Design of a Play

John Gromada, The Trip to Bountiful
Mel Mercier, The Testament of Mary
Leon Rothenberg, The Nance
Peter John Still and Marc Salzberg, Golden Boy

Best Sound Design of a Musical

Jonathan Deans & Garth Helm, Pippin
Peter Hylenski, Motown The Musical
John Shivers, Kinky Boots
Nevin Steinberg, Rodgers + Hammerstein’s Cinderella

Best Direction of a Play

Pam MacKinnon, Who’s Afraid of Virginia Woolf?
Nicholas Martin, Vanya and Sonia and Masha and Spike
Bartlett Sher, Golden Boy
George C. Wolfe, Lucky Guy

Best Direction of a Musical

Scott Ellis, The Mystery of Edwin Drood
Jerry Mitchell, Kinky Boots
Diane Paulus, Pippin
Matthew Warchus, Matilda The Musical

Best Choreography

Andy Blankenbuehler, Bring It On: The Musical
Peter Darling, Matilda The Musical
Jerry Mitchell, Kinky Boots
Chet Walker, Pippin

Best Orchestrations

Chris Nightingale, Matilda The Musical
Stephen Oremus, Kinky Boots
Ethan Popp & Bryan Crook, Motown The Musical

Danny Troob, Rodgers + Hammerstein’s Cinderella 

Special Tony Award® for Lifetime Achievement in the Theatre:
Bernard Gersten , Paul Libin and Ming Cho Lee

Regional Theatre Award
The Huntington Theatre Company, Boston

Isabelle Stevenson Award
Larry Kramer

Tony Honors for Excellence in the Theatre:
NYC Mayor Michael R. Bloomberg; Career Transition For Dancers; William Craver; Peter Lawrence; The Lost Colony ; The four actresses who created the title role of Matilda The Musical on Broadway - Sophia Gennusa, Oona Laurence, Bailey Ryon and Milly Shapiro.

 

 

My Predictions for the Tonys

Billy Porter and The Angels (L-R: Kyle Post, Kevin Smith Kirkwood, Joey Taranto, and Paul Canaan) in Kinky Boots. Photo: Matthew Murphy

By Lauren Yarger
The Tony's will be announced tomorrow night at a star-studded event at Radio City Music Hall (watch on CBS beginning at 8 pm).
Some categories are slam dunks (Andrea Martin, for example). Others are neck-and-neck. The toughest competition will be between Kinky Boots and Matilda (I think Kinky Boots will prevail).

Here are my predictions. Happy Tonys! Check back MOnday for a full list of the winners.

Best Play

Vanya and Sonia and Masha and Spike by Christopher Durang

Best Musical

Kinky Boots

Best Revival of a Play

Who’s Afraid of Virginia Woolf?

Best Revival of a Musical

Pippin

Best Book of a Musical

Kinky Boots by Harvey Fierstein

Best Original Score (Music and/or Lyrics) Written for the Theatre

Kinky Boots Music & Lyrics: Cyndi Lauper

Best Performance by an Actor in a Leading Role in a Play

Tom Hanks, Lucky Guy

Best Performance by an Actress in a Leading Role in a Play

Cicely Tyson, The Trip to Bountiful 

Best Performance by an Actor in a Leading Role in a Musical

Billy Porter, Kinky Boots

Best Performance by an Actress in a Leading Role in a Musical

Laura Osnes, Rodgers + Hammerstein’s Cinderella

Best Performance by an Actor in a Featured Role in a Play

Richard Kind, The Big Knife

Best Performance by an Actress in a Featured Role in a Play

Judith Light, The Assembled Parties

Best Performance by an Actor in a Featured Role in a Musical

Terrence Mann, Pippin

Best Performance by an Actress in a Featured Role in a Musical

Andrea Martin, Pippin

Best Scenic Design of a Play

John Lee Beatty, The Nance

Best Scenic Design of a Musical

Rob Howell, Matilda The Musical

Best Costume Design of a Play

Ann Roth, The Nance

Best Costume Design of a Musical

Dominique Lemieux, Pippin

Best Direction of a Play

Nicholas Martin, Vanya and Sonia and Masha and Spike

Best Direction of a Musical

Diane Paulus, Pippin

Best Choreography

Chet Walker, Pippin

And the 2013 Drama Desk Awards Go To.....

WINNERS IN EACH CATEGORY ARE NOTED IN BOLD. Check the links at right for reviews.

Outstanding Play


Annie Baker, The Flick


Christopher Durang, Vanya and Sonia and Masha and Spike


Joe Gilford, Finks


Richard Greenberg, The Assembled Parties


Amy Herzog, Belleville


Deanna Jent, Falling


Richard Nelson, Sorry

Outstanding Musical


A Christmas Story: The Musical


Giant


Hands on a Hardbody


Here Lies Love


Matilda


Natasha, Pierre & The Great Comet of 1812


The Other Josh Cohen

Outstanding Revival of a Play


Edward Albee's Who's Afraid of Virginia Woolf?

Golden Boy
Good

Person of Szechwan


The Piano Lesson


The Trip to Bountiful


Uncle Vanya

Outstanding Revival of a Musical or Revue


Passion


Pippin


Rodgers + Hammerstein's Cinderella


The Golden Land


The Mystery of Edwin Drood
Working: A Musical

Outstanding Actor in a Play


Reed Birney, Uncle Vanya


Daniel Everidge, Falling


Tom Hanks, Lucky Guy


Shuler Hensley, The Whale


Nathan Lane, The Nance


Tracy Letts, Edward Albee's Who's Afraid of Virginia Woolf?

Outstanding Actress in a Play


Maria Dizzia, Belleville


Amy Morton, Edward Albee's Who's Afraid of Virginia Woolf?


Julia Murney, Falling


Vanessa Redgrave, The Revisionist


Miriam Silverman, Finks


Cicely Tyson, The Trip to Bountiful

Outstanding Actor in a Musical


Eric Anderson, Soul Doctor


Brian d'Arcy James, Giant


Jim Norton, The Mystery of Edwin Drood


Billy Porter, Kinky Boots


Steve Rosen, The Other Josh Cohen


Ryan Silverman, Passion


Anthony Warlow, Annie

Outstanding Actress in a Musical


Kate Baldwin, Giant


Stephanie J. Block, The Mystery of Edwin Drood


Carolee Carmello, Scandalous


Lindsay Mendez, Dogfight


Donna Murphy, Into the Woods


Laura Osnes, Rodgers and Hammerstein's Cinderella


Jenny Powers, Donnybrook!

Outstanding Featured Actor in a Play


Chuck Cooper, The Piano Lesson


Peter Friedman, The Great God Pan


Richard Kind, The Big Knife


Aaron Clifton Moten, The Flick


Brían F. O'Byrne, If There Is I Haven't Found It Yet


Tony Shalhoub, Golden Boy

Outstanding Featured Actress in a Play


Tasha Lawrence, The Whale


Judith Light, The Assembled Parties


Kellie Overbey, Sleeping Rough


Maryann Plunkett, Sorry


Condola Rashad, The Trip to Bountiful


Laila Robins, Sorry

Outstanding Featured Actor in a Musical


Stephen Bogardus, Passion


John Bolton, A Christmas Story: The Musical


Keith Carradine, Hands on a Hardbody


Bertie Carvel, Matilda


John Dossett, Giant


Andy Karl, The Mystery of Edwin Drood

Outstanding Featured Actress in a Musical


Annaleigh Ashford, Kinky Boots


Melissa Errico, Passion


Andrea Martin, Pippin


Jessie Mueller, The Mystery of Edwin Drood


Christiane Noll, Chaplin: The Musical


Keala Settle, Hands on a Hardbody


Kate Wetherhead, The Other Josh Cohen

Outstanding Director of a Play


Lear Debessonet, Good Person of Szechwan


Sam Gold,Uncle Vanya


Ed Sylvanus Iskandar, Restoration Comedy


Pam MacKinnon, Edward Albee's Who's Afraid of Virginia Woolf?


Lynne Meadow, The Assembled Parties


Ruben Santiago-Hudson,The Piano Lesson

Outstanding Director of a Musical


Andy Blankenbuehler, Bring It On: The Musical


Rachel Chavkin, Natasha, Pierre & The Great Comet of 1812


John Doyle, Passion


Diane Paulus, Pippin


Emma Rice, The Wild Bride


Alex Timbers, Here Lies Love


Matthew Warchus, Matilda

Outstanding Choreography


Andy Blankenbuehler, Bring It On: The Musical


Warren Carlyle, A Christmas Story: The Musical


Peter Darling, Matilda


Josh Rhodes, Rodgers + Hammerstein's Cinderella


Sergio Trujillo, Hands on a Hardbody


Chet Walker and Gypsy Snider, Pippin

Outstanding Music


Trey Anastasio and Amanda Green, Hands on a Hardbody


David Byrne and Fatboy Slim, Here Lies Love


Michael John LaChiusa, Giant


Dave Malloy, Natasha, Pierre & The Great Comet of 1812


Benj Pasek and Justin Paul, A Christmas Story: The Musical


David Rossmer and Steve Rosen, The Other Josh Cohen

Outstanding Lyrics


Amanda Green, Hands on a Hardbody


Amanda Green and Lin-Manuel Miranda, Bring It On: The Musical
Michael

John LaChiusa,Giant


Dave Malloy, Natasha, Pierre & The Great Comet of 1812


Tim Minchin, Matilda


David Rossmer and Steve Rosen, The Other Josh Cohen

Outstanding Book of a Musical


Dennis Kelly, Matilda


Sybille Pearson, Giant


Joseph Robinette, A Christmas Story: The Musical


David Rossmer and Steve Rosen, The Other Josh Cohen


Jeff Whitty, Bring It On: The Musical


Doug Wright, Hands on a Hardbody

Outstanding Orchestrations


Trey Anastasio and Don Hart, Hands on a Hardbody


Larry Blank, A Christmas Story: The Musical


Bruce Coughlin, Giant


Larry Hochman, Chaplin: The Musical


Steve Margoshes, Soul Doctor


Danny Troob, Rodgers and Hammerstein's Cinderella

Outstanding Music in a Play


César Alvarez with The Lisps, Good Person of Szechwan


Jiří Kadeřábek, Mahir Cetiz, and Ana Milosavljevic, Act Before You Speak: The Tragical History of Hamlet, Prince of Denmark


Glen Kelly, The Nance


Eugene Ma, The Man Who Laughs


Steve Martin, As You Like It


Jane Wang, Strange Tales of Liaozhai

Outstanding Revue


Forbidden Broadway: Alive & Kicking!


Old Hats


Old Jews Telling Jokes

Outstanding Set Design


Rob Howell, Matilda


Mimi Lien, The Whale


Santo Loquasto, The Assembled Parties


Anna Louizos, The Mystery of Edwin Drood


Michael Yeargan, Golden Boy


David Zinn, The Flick

Outstanding Costume Design


Amy Clark and Martin Pakledinaz, Chaplin: The Musical


Dominique Lemieux, Pippin


William Ivey Long, Rodgers and Hammerstein's Cinderella


Chris March, Chris March's The Butt-Cracker Suite! A Trailer Park Ballet


Loren Shaw, Restoration Comedy


Paloma Young, Natasha, Pierre & The Great Comet of 1812

Outstanding Lighting Design


Ken Billington, Chaplin: The Musical


Jane Cox,Passion


Kenneth Posner, Pippin


Justin Townsend, Here Lies Love


Daniel Winters, The Man Who Laughs


Scott Zielinski, A Civil War Christmas

Outstanding Projection Design


Jon Driscoll, Chaplin: The Musical


Wendall K. Harrington, Old Hats


Peter Nigrini, Here Lies Love


Darrel Maloney, Checkers


Pedro Pires, Cirque du Soleil: Totem


Aaron Rhyne, Wild With Happy

Outstanding Sound Design in a Musical
 - a three-way tie

Steve Canyon Kennedy, Hands on a Hardbody


Scott Lehrer and Drew Levy, Chaplin: The Musical


Tony Meola, The Mystery of Edwin Drood


Brian Ronan, Bring It On: The Musical


Brian Ronan, Giant


Dan Moses Schreier, Passion

Outstanding Sound Design in a Play


Ien DeNio, The Pilo Family Circus


Steve Fontaine, Last Man Club


Christian Frederickson, Through the Yellow Hour


Lindsay Jones, Wild With Happy


Mel Mercier, The Testament of Mary


Fergus O'Hare, Macbeth

Outstanding Solo Performance


Joel de la Fuente, Hold These Truths


Kathryn Hunter, Kafka's Monkey


Bette Midler, I'll Eat You Last: A Chat with Sue Mengers


Julian Sands, A Celebration of Harold Pinter


Holland Taylor, Ann


Michael Urie, Buyer & Cellar

 

Unique Theatrical Experience


Bello Mania


Chris March's The Butt-Cracker Suite! A Trailer Park Ballet


Cirque Du Soleil: Totem


That Play: A Solo Macbeth


The Fazzino Ride
The Man Who Laughs

Outstanding Ensemble Performance
 This year the nominators chose to bestow a special ensemble award to the cast of Working: A Musical. "Marie-France Arcilla, Joe Cassidy, Donna Lynne Champlin, Jay Armstrong Johnson, Nehal Joshi, and Kenita R. Miller created a memorable ensemble of marvelously gifted singer-actors working together in pure artistic harmony." Individual cast members receiving this award are ineligible for acting awards in the competitive categories.

Special Awards
 Each year, the Drama Desk votes special awards to recognize excellence and significant contributions to the theater. For 2012-2013, these awards are:


• The New York Musical Theatre Festival (NYMF), Isaac Robert Hurwitz, Executive Director and Producer: for a decade of creating and nurturing new musical theater, ensuring the future of this essential art form.

• Wakka Wakka (Gabrielle Brechner, Kirjan Waage, and Gwendolyn Warnock): for sophisticated puppet theater, as represented by this season's SAGA, that explores with wit, imagination, and insight serious issues of our times.

• Jayne Houdyshell: for her artistry as an exceptionally versatile and distinctive Broadway and Off-Broadway performer.

• Samuel D. Hunter: His empathic and indelible The Whale affirms his arrival as a distinguished dramatist who depicts the human condition.

• Maruti Evans, the Sam Norkin Off-Broadway Award: for his ingenious lighting designs, reflecting an exquisite and bold theatrical aesthetic. This season's The Pilo Family Circus and Tiny Dynamite confirm his incandescent creativity.

Theater Review: The Trip to Bountiful

Cicely Tyson, Cuba Gooding, Jr. Photo: Joan Marcus

A Slice of Life in Texas That Reaches Out and Makes an Audience in New York Sing a Hymn -- Now That's Theater!

By Lauren Yarger
The creative team who brought us the world of Horton Foote’s The Orphans’ Home Cycle (the winner of Drama desk, Outer Critics and NY Critics' Circle Awards for its 2009 run at Signature Theatre) and Dividing the Estate take us on another delightful voyage, this one The Trip to Bountiful, with an exceptional cast along for the ride.

Cicely Tyson shines (look for a Tony win here) as Carrie Watts, a elderly woman living in cramped Houston apartment with her son Ludie (Cuba Gooding, Jr.) and controlling daughter-in-law, Jessie Mae (Vanessa Williams), who wants to return to her roots in her hometown of Bountiful, TX one last time. She has worried Ludie with repeated attempts to go off on her own, but Jessie Mae seems more concerned about making sure Carrie doesn’t take off with the pension check that helps the family make ends meet and funds her her daughter-in-law's frequent trips to the beauty shop.

Carrie consoles herself with reading her bible and singing hymns, though Jessie Mae complains that the frequent bursts into song make her nervous. One day, Carrie manages to leave with her secreted check and buys a bus ticket. At the station, she is befriended by Thelma (Condola Rashad), a young girl on her way to stay with family while her husband serves overseas. The two bond and when Carrie leaves her purse with everything in it, including that important pension check, on the bus that just departed, Thelma and station attendant in Houston (Devon Abner) help her out.

Meanwhile, the local sheriff (Tom Wopat) realizes that Carrie is the woman Ludie reported missing and lets him know where she is. He kindly takes her to her old home in Bountiful, now decrepit (the scene is stunningly designed by Jeff Cowie), and there the family reunites.

Once again, Director Michael Wilson lovingly allows Foote’s characters to command the stage and finds an undercurrent of family harmony and love under the surface of what appears to be dysfunction and cacophony. Instead of being depressed and gloomy in her stifling circumstances and frustrated at not being able to return home, Carrie delights in her faith. Tyson’s joy as she sings “Blessed Assurance” is so contagious, that the audience joins in. It’s truly a beautiful theater moment and apparently happens at each performance, according to reports.

Rashad turns a minor part into a major memory as she brings the sensitive, loving Thelma to life. When Carrie tells the girl that she would want a daughter just like her, we feel the same. At the same time, it’s a sad statement about the daughter-in-law she does have, who doesn’t appreciate the treasure she has in this wonderful woman. (I just wanted to go up on stage, hug her and sit with her as she rocked in her chair reading her bible and singing hymns. We all should be blessed to have such a woman in our lives.)

At first glance, Williams seems too glamorous and beautiful to be this working class woman in Texas. Soon that beauty takes on new meaning -- her trips to the beauty parlor and obsession with movie magazines are evidence of a life that might have been for such a beauty. The casting gives Jessie Mae a new dimension. Gooding is understated as the man caught between the two women in his life, racked with guilt for feeling like he hasn’t provided adequately for either.

Only two criticisms entered my thoughts during this otherwise absorbing, delightful evening at the theater. First, it isn’t clear why Carrie decides not to stay in Bountiful. It should be a devastating decision, born out of realization of a past long gone and of hope lost, but instead, she seems almost happy to return to the domain of Jessie Mae, who hands her a written list of “dos” and “don’ts.” Is it because deep down, they really love each other? Possibly. Is it because just seeing the old homestead somehow returns the dignity she sought? That's possible too, but this take doesn't answer the question, so we’re not sure how it happened. We're left feeling like we followed a map to Bountiful that suddenly takes us to an unexpected destination with no explanation for how we arrived there.

Second criticism: the theater is freezing. Isn’t it supposed to be hot in Texas? Later I wondered whether the cold temperature was needed for a wonderful fog effect that creates low-hanging clouds over Bountiful. Perhaps, but be sure to bring a sweater -- and some tissues. Lots of people were wiping away tears at he end.

The Trip to Bountiful runs through Sept. 1 at the Stephen Sondheim Theatre, 124 West 43rd St., NYC. Tickets and info: http://thetriptobountifulbroadway.com/#sthash.g06sszwK.dpbs.

Christians might also like to know:
No content notes. enjoy!

Outer Critics Circle Awards Announced

And the winners are. . .  (in red)

 

OUTSTANDING NEW BROADWAY PLAY

Grace

Lucky Guy

The Nance

The Testament of Mary

* Vanya and Sonia and Masha and Spike

OUTSTANDING NEW BROADWAY MUSICAL

Chaplin: The Musical

A Christmas Story

Hands on a Hardbody

*Kinky Boots

Matilda the Musical

OUTSTANDING NEW OFF-BROADWAY PLAY

Bad Jews

Cock

* My Name is Asher Lev

Really Really

The Whale

OUTSTANDING NEW OFF-BROADWAY MUSICAL

February House

Dogfight

Giant

* Here Lies Love

Murder Ballad

OUTSTANDING BOOK OF A MUSICAL (Broadway or Off-Broadway)

Cinderella

Chaplin: The Musical

Dogfight

Kinky Boots

* Matilda the Musical

OUTSTANDING NEW SCORE (Broadway or Off-Broadway)

Chaplin: The Musical

Dogfight

Hands on a Hardbody

Here Lies Love

* Kinky Boots

OUTSTANDING REVIVAL OF A PLAY (Broadway or Off-Broadway)

Golden Boy

Orphans

The Piano Lesson

The Trip to Bountiful

* Who’s Afraid of Virginia Woolf?

OUTSTANDING REVIVAL OF A MUSICAL (Broadway or Off-Broadway)

Annie

Cinderella

The Mystery of Edwin Drood

Passion

* Pippin

OUTSTANDING DIRECTOR OF A PLAY

Pam MacKinnon Who’s Afraid of Virginia Woolf?

Nicholas Martin Vanya and Sonia and Masha and Spike

* Jack O’Brien The Nance

Bartlett Sher Golden Boy

Michael Wilson The Trip to Bountiful

OUTSTANDING DIRECTOR OF A MUSICAL

Warren Carlyle Chaplin: The Musical

Scott Ellis The Mystery of Edwin Drood

Jerry Mitchell Kinky Boots

* Diane Paulus Pippin

Alex Timbers Here Lies Love

OUTSTANDING CHOREOGRAPHER

Warren Carlyle Chaplin: The Musical

Peter Darling Matilda the Musical

Jerry Mitchell Kinky Boots

Josh Rhodes Cinderella

* Chet Walker Pippin

OUTSTANDING SET DESIGN (Play or Musical)

John Lee Beatty The Nance

* Rob Howell Matilda the Musical

David Korins Here Lies Love

Scott Pask Pippin

Michael Yeargan Golden Boy

OUTSTANDING COSTUME DESIGN (Play or Musical)

Amy Clark & Martin Pakledinaz Chaplin: The Musical

Gregg Barnes Kinky Boots

Dominique Lemieux Pippin

* William Ivey Long Cinderella

William Ivey Long The Mystery of Edwin Drood

OUTSTANDING LIGHTING DESIGN (Play or Musical)
Ken Billington Chaplin: The Musical

Paul Gallo Dogfight

Donald Holder Golden Boy

Kenneth Posner Cinderella

* Kenneth Posner Pippin

OUTSTANDING ACTOR IN A PLAY

Tom Hanks Lucky Guy

Shuler Hensley The Whale

* Nathan Lane The Nance

Tracy Letts Who’s Afraid of Virginia Woolf?

David Hyde Pierce Vanya and Sonia and Masha and Spike

OUTSTANDING ACTRESS IN A PLAY

Tracee Chimo Bad Jews

Amy Morton Who’s Afraid of Virginia Woolf?

Vanessa Redgrave The Revisionist

Joely Richardson Ivanov

* Cicely Tyson The Trip to Bountiful

OUTSTANDING ACTOR IN A MUSICAL

Bertie Carvel Matilda the Musical

Santino Fontana Cinderella

Rob McClure Chaplin: The Musical

* Billy Porter Kinky Boots

Matthew James Thomas Pippin

OUTSTANDING ACTRESS IN A MUSICAL

Lilla Crawford Annie

Valisia LeKae Motown: The Musical

Lindsay Mendez Dogfight

* Patina Miller Pippin

Laura Osnes Cinderella

OUTSTANDING FEATURED ACTOR IN A PLAY

Danny Burstein Golden Boy

Richard Kind The Big Knife

Jonny Orsini The Nance

Tony Shalhoub Golden Boy

* Tom Sturridge Orphans

OUTSTANDING FEATURED ACTRESS IN A PLAY

Cady Huffman The Nance

Judith Ivey The Heiress

Judith Light The Assembled Parties

* Kristine Nielsen Vanya and Sonia and Masha and Spike

Vanessa Williams The Trip to Bountiful

OUTSTANDING FEATURED ACTOR IN A MUSICAL

Will Chase The Mystery of Edwin Drood

Dan Lauria A Christmas Story

Raymond Luke Motown: The Musical

* Terrence Mann Pippin

Daniel Stewart Sherman Kinky Boots

 

OUTSTANDING FEATURED ACTRESS IN A MUSICAL

Annaleigh Ashford Kinky Boots

Victoria Clark Cinderella

Charlotte d’Amboise Pippin

* Andrea Martin Pippin

Keala Settle Hands on a Hardbody

OUTSTANDING SOLO PERFORMANCE

Bette Midler I’ll Eat You Last

Martin Moran All the Rage

Fiona Shaw The Testament of Mary

* Holland Taylor Ann

Michael Urie Buyer & Cellar

JOHN GASSNER AWARD (Presented for an American play, preferably by a new playwright)

Ayad Akhtar Disgraced

Paul Downs Colaizzo Really Really

Joshua Harmon Bad Jews

Samuel D. Hunter The Whale

* Aaron Posner My Name is Asher Lev

SPECIAL ACHIEVEMENT AWARD

Irish Repertory Theatre, Charlotte Moore, Artistic Director and Ciarán O’Reilly, Producing Director in recognition of 25 years of producing outstanding theatre