By: Darryl Reilly
With theater in New York City in limbo for the foreseeable future, now seems the time to acknowledge the outstanding presentations of this COVID-19 era.
“By early 2021, we hope to have a better idea of what lies ahead for the theater, our members, and their platforms” wrote the board of the Drama Desk to its members regarding the suspension of this year’s dues.
The Matthew Broderick and Sarah Jessica Parker starring Broadway revival of Plaza Suite has been rescheduled from March 2020 to March 2021. London’s Hello Dolly! starring Imelda Staunton has been put off until 2022. Taking into account the unpredictability of COVAID-19’s ramifications, these projections can be viewed as optimistic rather than definite. The return of audiences to live theater and other performing arts presentations remain in limbo for the foreseeable future.
From January 1 to March 12, when New York City theaters were closed, I reviewed 17 shows and saw another 15. Will Theaterscene.net and other sites still be active in December when I normally publish my 10 best list? Therefore, I am now offering my selections of the outstanding productions during this truncated period. With the 2020 Tony Awards having been postponed indefinitely and the 2020 Drama Desk Awards taking place tomorrow, this seems like the time to accept that the 2019/2020 season and the year 2020 is over for such matters.
Powerhouse vocalist Raquel Cion is a cancer survivor and life-long David Bowie admirer. In her enthralling Me & Mr. Jones: My Intimate Relationship with David Bowie, Ms. Cion delivered a grand mélange of tribute concert and autobiography.
Acclaimed performance artist Joel Jeske’s uproarious The Artist Will Be With You in a Moment, was clever, thoughtful and a humorous respite from a troubled world.
Presented by Concrete Temple Theatre at Dixon Place, PackRat was 60 minutes of dazzling puppetry, wowing an audience of children and adults during its enchanting animals’ odyssey.
For author Lucas Hnath’s highly theatrical solo play Dana H., actor Deirdre O’Connell has rightfully received several competitive and honorary awards. That is especially notable as Ms. O’Connell’s mesmerizing performance involves her lip-synching to a recording of Mr. Hnath’s mother recounting an ordeal.
Links to reviews:
http://www.theaterscene.net/plays/solo-plays/the-artist-will-be-with-you-in-a-moment/darryl-reilly/
http://www.theaterscene.net/plays/offbway-plays/dana-h/darryl-reilly/