Paulanne Simmons

THE TROUBLE WITH AFTERMATH David Zax’s drama about a journalist’s return from Taliban captivity raises more questions than it answers There are many plays about war and what happens afterward. They are generally distinguished by the events and people they portray. Unfortunately, the most outstanding feature of David Zax’s Aftermath is that it makes no…

LITTLE ADO ABOUT NOTHING Everyone talks, nobody listens, and the results are wonderfully funny In a time of newspeak, disinformation, and alternate facts, Eugène Ionesco’s absurdist play, The Bald Soprano, has special significance. Indeed, The Resident Acting Company’s production, directed by Bradford Cover, is not only timely; it is also sharp, funny, and sparkling. Ionesco’s…

COUNT ME IN Dr. Arthur Benjamin turns mathematics into an engaging theatrical experience Who would have dreamed math could be fun? Certainly not students sweating over difficult equations, trying to figure out how to isolate the unknown. Enter Dr. Arthur Benjamin, professor of mathematics at Harvey Mudd College. Created and performed by Benjamin and directed…

THE MATH DOESN’T ADD UP A starry revival that struggles to convince All the action in the Broadway revival of David Auburn’s Proof takes place on the porch of Robert and Catherine’s home in Hyde Park, Chicago. Teresa L. Williams’s set and Amanda Zieve’s lighting emphasize the sloping lines of the house’s double gables, the…

CELINE TAKES THE WHEEL An irreverent Titanic spoof that goes all in on camp and pop spectacle Titaníque, the Titanic parody which premiered in Los Angeles in 2017, opened at The Asylum Theatre in June 2022 and later transferred to the Daryl Roth Theatre, has finally docked on Broadway. And it is irreverent, energetic, and…

HOLDING UP UNDER PRESSURE A bold stage adaptation that captures much —but not all—of the film’s tension Adapting an iconic film like Dog Day Afternoon for the stage is a challenge. There are still many people who remember Al Pacino yelling “Attica!” to the cheering crowd and his intense phone conversation with his wife. But…

A RESERVOIR OF JOKES— AND NOT MUCH DEPTH An intriguing premise about addiction and fading memory gets diluted by a steady stream of punchlines If you’ve ever put a puzzle together or tried to fix a broken piece of pottery, you’re well prepared for The Reservoir, the new play by Jake Brasch making its Off-Broadway…

POP-UP, FLOP-DOWN: WHEN DINNER UPSTAGES THE THEATER The foundational idea of Suite 524’s Pop Up Dinner Theater at Barlume Downstairs is solid — four courses from Barlume’s excellent kitchen matched with four one-act plays created for this venue, directed by Michael Domitrovich. The first play is set in the bar, where hors d’oeuvres are served, and…