★★★★☆ Grab a mai tai and settle in for Eboni Booth’s delicate world-premiere drama
Off-Broadway
Primary Trust: You’ve Got a Friend
★★★★☆ William Jackson Harper stars in Eboni Booth’s play about an emotionally fragile man trying to survive a past trauma.
Bernarda’s Daughters: Five Haitian-Brooklyn Sisters Soar Poetically
★★★★☆ Diane Exavier’s top-drawer drama, with Dominique Rider directing a skillful cast
Monsoon Wedding: An Exceptional Movie Becomes An Unremarkable Musical
★★★☆☆ Mira Nair’s beloved 22-year-old movie takes the long road to the stage
shadow/land: Two Women, Hurricane Katrina Partly Water-Logged
★★★☆☆ Ericka Dickerson-Despenza’s cullud wattah follow-up, well directed by Candis C. Jones
The Fears: A Not-So-Supportive Support Group
★★★☆☆ Steven Soderbergh presents Emma Sheanshang’s play depicting the tensions amongst the members of a Buddhist support group.
The Fears: Seven Manhattan Buddhists Lose the Path
★★★☆☆ Emma Sheanshang mixes drama and comedy, with Dan Algrant directing skilled actors
King James: A Winning Basketball Bromance
★★★★☆ Rajiv Joseph shoots and scores with his new two-character LeBron James–inspired dramedy
King James: A Three-Pointer Play
★★★★☆ Glenn Davis and Chris Perfetti star in Rajiv Joseph’s new play about two friends united by their love of the Cleveland Cavaliers and LeBron James.
A Beautiful Lady: Liz Swados’ 1984 Work in Mighty NYC Bow
★★★★☆ Anne Bogart directs a first-rate cast commemorating first-rate Russian poets