★★★☆☆ Lisa Sanye Dring’s new drama studies Japan’s national sport
Off-Broadway
Sugarcraft: A Scoop of Culinary History Spoiled by the Serving
★☆☆☆☆ Julia Child’s 18th-century spiritual ancestor gets a raw deal at 59E59
Dakar 2000: International Intrigue, Y2K Style
★★★★☆ We’re already eagerly awaiting the sequel to Rajiv Joseph’s world premiere play
On the Evolutionary Function of Shame: A Timely Look at the Controversial Trans Situation
★★★☆☆ D. A. Mindell is fired up on the subject, as are director Jess McLeod and raring-to-go cast of six.
Curse of the Starving Class: A Sam Shepard Walk on the Tepid Side
★★★☆☆ Calista Flockhart, Christian Slater and Cooper Hoffman appear in Scott Elliott’s revival of Shepard’s darkly absurdist classic.
Curse of the Starving Class: Curses! The Sam Shepard Classic Declassifies Itself
★★☆☆☆ Calista Flockhart, Christian Slater, Cooper Hoffman, Stella Marcus, directed by Scott Elliott, end up dysfunctioned
Grangeville: Art, Anguish, and Wonder from Samuel D. Hunter
★★★★★ An exceptional play with fine work from director Jack Serio and actors Brian J. Smith and Paul Sparks
Grangeville: No Thanks for the Memories
★★★★☆ Paul Sparks and Brian J. Smith play brothers and others in Samuel D. Hunter’s thoughtful new drama
Conversations With Mother: This Mother Knows Best
★★★★☆ Matthew Lombardo’s excellent two-hander speaks volumes about life, liberty and the often impossible pursuit of happiness
Liberation: We’ve Come So Far…Or Have We?
★★★★☆ Whitney White directs a sensational group of women in Bess Wohl’s time-traveling memory play