A Thought in Three Parts (Wallace Shawn)

Yale Cabaret's production was one of the few on this side of the Atlantic since the play was written in the 1970s. Bold and daring understates it. Fine, fine acting by the entire cast. Saw it with Alice Kelly.

Twelfth Night, (Shakespeare)

Westport Country Playhouse and Mark Lamos--as well as a wheelchair-bound Feste. Not as surprising as expected.

Recommend

Take Shelter (Jeff Nichols)

Engrossing film that brings the audience inside the experience of Curtis--an everyday working man, husband, and father--and his encroaching schizophrenia. Make that "experiences," for the film is exceptionally good with its sympathetic portrayal of friends and family as they are pulled into and resist Curtis' delusions and paranoia in rural Ohio. Much more suspenseful that I would have expected. Excellent performances by Jessica Chastain and Michael Shannon. Highly recommend.

Doctor Faustus Lights the Lights (Gertrude Stein)

This fine production by the Yale School of Drama students was directed by Lileana Blain-Cruz and earns high marks for being somewhat coherent and, shall we say, illuminating of a very obscure text.

Recommend

The Ides of March (Clooney)

Engaging but not completely coherent.

Recommend with caveats.

The Threepenny Opera (Kurt Weill, 1928)

 Directed by Robert Wilson and performed (in German) by the Berliner Ensemble (a descendent of the theatrical ensemble Brecht founded in 1949), this production of Weill's savage satire thrust the audience squarely into Weimar Germany. The design was impeccable and the performances were flawless. It merits seeing a 2nd time.

Highly Recommend. And again.

New Music New Haven

• Garth Neustadter, New Haven Counterpoint 
• Paul Kerekes, connecticut shift 
• Loren Loiacono, Waking Rhythm 
• David Lang, sweet air 
• Hannah Lash, Hush 
• David Lang, cheating, lying, stealing