★★☆☆☆ A four-character, all-female musical at the York Theatre is an Unexpected disappointment
Off-Broadway
Unexpected Joy: Mothers, Daughters Vie, Singing Joyful Tunes
★★★★☆ Bill Russell writes the book and lyrics, Janet Hood the music for a maybe likely story of tolerance
A Brief History of Women: The Fairer Sex Observed, Appreciatively
★★★☆☆ Alan Ayckbourn’s latest play follows a man’s life and times through his relationships with women
A Brief History of Women: 1 Man, 1 House, 60 Years
★★★☆☆ Alan Ayckbourn’s 81st is short on substance and long on style, but nevertheless a treat for his fans
Henry V: Once More Unto the Breach
★★★★☆ The Public Theater’s Mobile Unit strips down the band-of-brothers play to a slick 105 minutes
Transfers: Two Bronx Guys Level Their Eyes On a Prize
★★★☆☆ Lucy Thurber’s latest drama contrasts a couple of disadvantaged students who aim for a better life
Transfers: Who Gets In, and Who Belongs?
★★★☆☆ In Lucy Thurber’s look at college admissions and social class, the hard-working students don’t get what they deserve
The Metromaniacs: David Ives Tickles a Rhyming French Mini-Classic
★★★☆☆ Alexis Prion is the now-all-but-forgotten comic writer whose spoof is reworked
The Metromaniacs: David Ives’ Latest Shows It’s All in the Rhyming
★★★☆☆ A French antique is smartly refinished by David Ives, but gets tarnished by its express delivery
The Seafarer: Matthew Broderick Plays a Wicked Game of Cards
★★★★☆ A diabolical visitor encounters amazing grace in Conor McPherson’s supernatural Irish drama