Rob Lester

MR. GREENSPAN, PARTY OF FOUR Here’s a one-of-a-kind, one-person, one-act play in which one man plays four women—simultaneously—without ever leaving the stage. Three (sometimes all four) of these women are present in the same scene for a good chunk of the time. Our intrepid performer simply pivots his body as the women speak, often trading off…

HERE’S THE SCOOP ON BOOP! ENDEARINGLY CUTE, ASTUTE AND A HOOT Some things are meant to last. Cartoon character Betty Boop has been around for 95 years and has just been rejuvenated—as youthful, spirited, spunky, sprightly, spit-curled and curvy as ever. The new Broadway musical, simply called BOOP!—which opened last night at the Broadhurst Theatre—presents…

TICK, TICK… ENCORE! LARSON’S TRUNK SONGS SHINE If you’re a fan of potent post-Golden Age theatre music, you should check out a show that just officially opened downtown last night. There’s a lot to see, a lot to hear, and a lot to like when it comes to The Jonathan Larson Project—so head to the…

WHEN CHILDREN’S THEATER IS A BEAUTIFUL THING Two “P” words—“professional” and “pleasant”—describe the stage production in Greenwich Village with two “B” words in its title: Beauty and the Beast. One might also use two “E” words—“earnest” and “eager”—to characterize how its characters dive into the action and moral of the story. The genre of theatre…

HOW TO URN AUDIENCE SYMPATHY This one-man show is described as an “immersive” experience, and the immersiveness begins right at the entrance of the particularly fitting venue, the oh-so-appropriate First Reformed Church in the cozy neighborhood of Park Slope, Brooklyn. Audiences are invited to play along with the premise that they have gathered not to…

SINCE THE FRIDGE IS EMPTY, HOW ABOUT A GIANT BOWL OF GRIT? There’s no place like home. Mom calls the cops, convinced Dad is going to kill her—he’s drunker than usual and literally breaks down the door. The next morning, she yells at her son for sweeping up the shattered pieces. He yells back. Daughter…

IN THE STILL OF THE NIGHT, WILL EX-LOVERS REUNITE OR FIGHT? After decades apart, can the passion of once-young lovers sizzle again, like leftover pizza zapped in the microwave? Picking up an old relationship isn’t as easy as picking up takeout—food doesn’t come with the “Can we be a couple again?” dilemma. Still, playing at…