Review: A Week at the Mothership Part 1 - Caught Some Amazing Shows Including You-Know-Who

Dear Readers, I'm back from the Mothership (New York of course) to let you all in on some of the wonderful and not so wonderful things I saw with a few brief notes on each. And yes that includes my catching the juggernaut of all shows on Broadway right now, "Hamilton". Now there are some shows that I saw that are still in previews so I can't really review them but wanted to let you know about them anyway. So let's start at the top.

Boy from Keen Company

Anna Ziegler's new play based on true events centers around a young couple Trudy and Doug (Heidi Armbruster and Ted Koch) whose new born son (played by Bobby Steggert) is involved in a terrible accident that mutilates his genitals. A respected doctor (Paul Niebanck) convinces the couple to raise the young boy as a girl but never tell him of his biological origins. Now 20 years later and the young man is faced with the truth about his gender as he struggles with his accident as well as trying to find love.

This was one of those preview shows I saw so I can't really say much. But I will say that Steggert is fantastic in this very complex role and the show has a ton of potential.

For more information on the show please visit Keen Company online at www.keencompany.org.

Old Hats at the Signature Theatre

It's not every day that you get to watch comedy masters do what they do best but that's exactly what is in store for you as Bill Irwin and David Shiner present their show "Old Hats" at the Signature Theatre. This show goes well beyond a collection of physical comedy vignettes and goes into the realm of a master class of comedy as these two show off the skills that have made them two of the greats. Beyond the physical, beyond the clowning it all comes down to the superb timing and seeming effortlessness that they display scene after scene. From a Political Debate that feels a little too on the nose of our current climate to a chance encounter on a train platform to the wildest and worst magic act you'll ever see Irwin and Shiner show the talent that they've honed to a razor's edge that shows no signs of dulling.

And if all that weren't enough, in between the acts (and part of them as well) musician Shaina Taub is on hand with her own wonderfully quirky brand of songs that are the cherry on the already delicious sundae of comedy. And so with my three letter rating system I give "Old Hats" a hysterical YAY. But how could it get anything less with these legends performing?

For more information on "Old Hats" please visit the Signature Theatre at www.signaturetheatre.org.

Bright Star at the Cort Theatre

Another one I caught in previews so I won't say too much about it is "Bright Star". The new bluegrass musical from Steve Martin and Edie Brickell follows two storylines, one of a young writer in the 1940's who leaves home to try and get his writing noticed and the editor whom he is trying to impress as she relives her own tragic past.

Again, I cannot say too much but I will call out some incredible choreography from Josh Rhodes and a brilliant star turn from Carmen Cusack. But we'll have to see where the show goes by the times it opens.

For more information on "Bright Star" visit them online at www.brightstarmusical.com.

Hamilton at the Richard Rodgers Theatre

Yes, I managed to get tickets (which seems to be everyone's first question when you say you are going) and to answer everyone's second question, yes, it's as good as they say. "Hamilton", Lin-Manuel Miranda's rap/hip hop retelling of the life of Alexander Hamilton takes the little known history of this founding father of our country and turns it into a beautiful, tragic, funny and riveting tale showing off not only the underlying nature of politics in our country and how far we haven't come but also shows Miranda as a consummate storyteller. Combine that with his stunning cast, fresh choreography from Andy Blankenbueler and all paced superbly by Thomas Kail's direction and there's no question as to why this is such a runaway hit.

Leslie Odom Jr. is nothing short of outstanding as Hamilton's nemesis, Aaron Burr. Christopher Jackson practically stopped the show with his final moments of George Washington in "One Last Time". Jonathan Groff was deliciously fun as the controlling King George. And I have to mention understudy Alysha Deslorieux whom I saw as Angellica Schuyler who not only showed she had the chops to step into the role but even gave a few chill inducing trills that I had never heard before on the recording. And that's just to name a few in the amazing cast.

I could go on for days but suffice to say it's a solid WOW with my three letter rating system and totally worth the price to see it.

For more information on "Hamilton" visit them at www.hamiltonbroadway.com.

Noises Off at the American Airlines Theatre

Now we come to the biggest disappointment of the trip. Sure it was still "Noises Off", one of my favorite farces and sure it still was great seeing star power like Andrea Martin, Campbell Scott and Megan Hilty in the show. But the show was just lacking that spark, that zing that makes it work. And I would say it all boils down to the fact that they were playing the jokes and not the stakes.

For those unfamiliar, Michael Frayn's hilarious play follows a theater company trying to put up a show amidst all of the drama and turmoil that's going on backstage amongst the cast and crew. And while the bits were all there, the tension of the cast trying to get it all right was not and so it just ended up as a series of humorous moments.

I've seen many productions over the years of this show. Some that made me chuckle and some that made me double over in laughter and with this cast this production should have been the latter instead of the former. And so with my three letter rating system I can only give it a disappointed MEH+. Too bad as it was one of the reasons for the trip.

For more information on "Noises Off" visit Roundabout Theatre Company at www.roundabouttheatre.org.

Well, we shall take a break here and pick it up in Part 2. And you don't want to miss the biggest surprise show of the trip.

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