Best Shows of the First Half of the 2023-2024 Season

By Joseph Cervelli

Here are what I consider the best shows I have seen from May till December of this year. 

So, here in no particular order, are those I felt were the finest. I also have included shows I felt were of honorable mention for various reasons.

"Appropriate"

Hard to imagine the 2 hours and 45 minutes of this superbly engrossing play by Branden Jacobs-Jenkins flew by with such rapidity. I never saw it off Broadway but have read how far superior this production is. First and foremost, the cast is absolutely mesmerizing especially with Sarah Paulson at the helm. A family drama in which they arrive at a decaying home of the recent death of the patriarch of the family to liquidate the sale of the estate. What ensues between them is startling. You are not quite sure whether to laugh or gasp which certainly will occur. An amazing play that never lets up in its tension despite its length thanks also to the knockout direction by Lila Neugebauer. 

"I Can Get it For You Wholesale"

I never saw the short lived original Broadway musical which claim to fame was having Barbra Streisand in it singing the hilarious "Miss Marmelstein" earning her a Tony nomination. I don't know if Trip Cullman's fast moving direction made this revival work so well but it certainly does. Santino Fontana is excellent as the despicable businessman in the garment area in the 1930's. I have listened to the score periodically and this cast really does it proud. Besides Fontana, Judy Kuhn deserves consideration at awards time.  

"Dracula--A Comedy of Terrors"

"Comedy" is the key word here. This hilarious ode to the classic horror story is wonderfully acted by a very talented cast. You have a hunky leading man (a delightful James Daly) and a gender bending standout performance by Arnie Burton who will have you howling with just a slight nod of his head. The rest of the cast all performs admirably and are game for this kind of inspired lunacy.     

"Spamalot"

I loved the original production from eighteen years ago and enjoyed this new revival possibly even more. Sillier (yep, you heard that right) than even the original the cast seems to be relishing in every loony moment. If you missed the original production by all means rush to this one. And even if you saw it back then, this laugh fest deserves another go.

"Stereophonic"

Yes, the show is long. But my theory is it is deliberately so to give you the idea of how grueling it is to go through a recording session. It deals with  a 1976 rock band who is trying to make it big. The successes and failures along the road with the tensions that arise among all of the characters are all detailed. Engagingly acted throughout. It is scheduled to arrive on Broadway in the spring. 

"Swing State"

A gripping and palpitating new play by Rebecca Gilman had me on the edge of my seat attention from the very first scene when a middle aged woman is in her kitchen contemplating suicide. Mary Beth Fisher gives a mesmerizing performance as a widow in rural Wisconsin who years ago along with her deceased husband took in a troubled young man (a superb Bubba Weiler). Amazing how a missing toolbox leads to complications that will have you in a near sweat wondering what is going to occur when you have that aching feeling you already have a strong feeling you do. Beautifully directed by the always reliable Robert Falls. 

"Small"

A terrific one man show written and performed by a rousing Robert Montano about his desire to become a jockey. His height and frame are great for the profession until he ages and becomes taller and heavier than the desired requirement. He also talks about becoming a dancer and starring in "West Side Story" as Bernardo. He takes the role of various characters in his life and is quite outstanding. 

"Purlie Victorious--A Non Confederate Romp Through the Cotton Patch"

While I honestly wished they have brought back the musical "Purlie," the next best thing was bringing back Ossie Davis's play which the musical was based upon. Leslie Odom Jr. gives a standout performance as a preacher who earlier in his life was beaten by a plantation owner. His goal deals with a bit of conniving to obtain a church he wants for himself to use for his sermons. This will be hopefully accomplished by using a young woman (a wonderful Kara Young) posing as his cousin.  As fine as Young was in "Cost of Living" and "Clyde's" she is even more memorable here. 

"The Shark is Broken"

A rollicking hoot of a play based on one part of the classic film "Jaws" in which the three dynamic actors Alex Brightman (portraying Richard Dreyfuss); Ian Shaw as his father Robert Shaw; and Colin Donnell who portrays Roy Scheider bicker and break into hilarious arguments as they wait for that 'damn' shark to be fixed so they can finish the film. The three actors are magnificent, especially a wildly funny Brightman capturing every characteristic of Dreyfuss. 

"The Saviour"

The opening scene of the arresting and moving play is one that is unforgettable. An elderly Irish woman (brilliantly played by Marie Mullen)   is smoking in bed reminiscing about the sexual evening she had with a younger man. These moments of euphoria dissipate as her son (an equally wonderful Jamie O'Neill) informs her of what her "lover" is really all about. 

"Primary Trust"

A beautifully written and unforgettably acted play starring William Jackson Harper deals with loneliness and how Kenneth (Harper) is  trapped into a fantasy friendship with an imaginary friend. Little by little we see how Kenneth starts to change for the better with the help of those around him who are caring. An originally written play by Eboni Booth at every turn of the way, this was one that I will remember for a long time coming.  

"Here Lies Love"

I saw this musical about Ferdinand and Imelda Marcos of the Philippines at the Public about a decade ago and loved every stunning moment. You stood (there were a few chairs) and moved around with the actors on movable stages. It moved to Broadway where this time I sat and still thought it was a wild romp with a spectacular set design by David Orins and lighting by Justin Townsend. A shame it never caught on. 

Honorable Mention

In "Make Me Gorgeous" Wade McCollum gave a bravura performance as gay icon and trans Kenneth Marlowe way ahead of his times. While the play was a bit overlong (two drag numbers would have been sufficient) it still was a well written play. Imagine growing up gay in Iowa in 1926.

 "How to Dance in Ohio" boasts a very gifted cast of autistic young adults who shine when on stage. The musical loosely based on the excellent documentary is a fine show marred by too much attention paid to the doctor who works with them in group sessions. The issue is the personal situations within the doctor's life overshadow the storyline about the young people wanting to learn to have a dance.

"Buena Vista Social Club" boasts a vibrant cast with rousing music and dancing. The book is good but nothing memorable. Also, I found it strange that the young  Omara (a perfect Kenya Browne) is vibrant and personable while her older self is played in a too austere manner by Natalie Venetia Belcon. 

Patrick Page excels in "All the Devils are Here" a one person show with various monologues portraying Shakespeare's villains. Unless you know these particular characters roles in the playwright's plays, I am afraid you might find yourself confused. 

Tim Hatley's incredible set design--oh, that car!--make "Back the the Future" so much fun. Casey Likes is excellent as the young man while Roger Bart was slightly disappointing giving just a good but not noteworthy one as the professor. 

While both Kelli O'Hara and Brian d'Arcy James are magnificent in "Days of Wine and Roses" and the book by Craig Lucas is faithful for the most part to the film, the score by Adam Guettel was very dissonant and almost jarring sounding. It will be coming to Broadway in the spring. 

While not a perfect musical, the Indie-Rock Musical "Lizard Boy" about a young man whose skin turns green after a strange childhood accident was lots of fun with a tuneful score by Justin Huertas who was responsible for the book. 

While I had some issues with James T. Lane's one man show "Triple Threat" he does give a towering and exhaustive performance as an actor, singer and dancer.

 John Rubenstein excelled as President Dwight D. Eisenhower in "Eisenhower: This Piece of Ground." While the material can, at times, may not have been as impressive as Rubenstein it still was worthwhile for his performance. 

"Rock and Roll Man" about the life of Alan Freed who was the first disc jockey who promoted rock and roll music on the air sunk into hard times with his conviction for tax evasion.While the book was well written and the original 50's songs incomparable, I was less impressed by Constantine Maroulis's adequate performance. Still it was fun thanks to the music and a standout performance by Rodrick Covington as Little Richard. He could not have been better. 

Yes, "King James" does refer to the great LeBron James and the touching friendship between two guys where insensitivity in one's comment about race breaks it up. It was well written but the heavy influence on basketball could have lost a lot of viewers unless you are a real fan. Yet, both Glenn Davis and Chris Perfetti were superb. 

PHOTO CREDITS IN ORDER OF APPEARANCE

1--Joan Marcus

2--Julieta Cervantes

3--Matthew Murphy

4--Matthew Murphy and Evan Zimmerman

5--Chelcie Parry

6--Liz Lauren

7--Dorice Arden Mondronero

8--Marc J. Franklin

9--Matthew Murphy

10--Carol Rosegg

11--Joan Marcus

12--Billy Bustamente, Matthew Murphy and Evan Zimmerman