Howard Miller

“Celebrity Autobiography is undoubtedly a piece of fluff, but in the right hands, fluff can be spun into delicious cotton candy.”

“The Lost Boys is quite likely to make the short list.”

“If this all sounds appealing to you as it certainly is to me, then head on out to Studio 54.”

“Unfortunately, the early scenes featuring the youngsters (Samantha Schwartz as the smartass Little Cee Cee and Zeya Grace as the genteel Little Bertie) lack credibility or charm, a problem that largely runs through the entire production.”

“Brava and bravo all around for making this social satire an entertaining and often very funny night on the town, especially when we can hide in the audience and watch the fireworks (ranging from sparklers to aerial rockets) going off from a safe distance.”

“It belongs on the stage, free from the confines and two-dimensionality of the small screen.”

“That's Fallen Angels, an evening of good silly fun, skillfully directed and performed by a cast that is both solid in their delivery and comfortable enough to take on a loosey-goosey style, speak in catch-as-catch-can British accents, and even make each other laugh.”

“An altogether first-class production that speaks to the brain and the heart in equal measure, a winner in every way.”

“That may be enough, but I would argue that this dramatic retelling would be better served if it were to provide more of the complexity of the case, or even some well-structured fictionalized embellishment.”

“And I'd be remiss if I did not reiterate that the cast, as well as the design elements, definitely rises above the low-brow material.”

“That is a truth that rings throughout the production, and it includes those of us in the audience as well.”

“Certainly that is something to ponder during the play's final scene, which may be intended as a grace note of irony but which, in retrospect, does not seem ironic at all as we wade into the unknown waters of a brave new world.”

“Tutty and Pitts do just that and make Two Strangers a terrific feel-good addition to this theater season.”

“But, really, a good pair of headphones and a recording will serve you just as well.”

“Icke's adaptation is an absolute model of Hitchcockian suspense, and the performances could not be better.”

“The insurmountable problem with The Queen of Versailles is that we are given no reason to care one way or the other about this spendthrift family, not even when they nearly lose their property during the 2008 financial crisis.”

“That plus a beautiful blend of gifted actors and director, a surprising amount of genuinely laugh-inducing humor, and even a soupçon of hope make for a thoroughly engaging 95 minutes, during which we find ourselves rooting for those we might otherwise want little to do with.”

“This production of Ragtime is one of them.”

“To that end, Punch packs a wallop.”

“Throughout, all three actors deliver the goods with a perfect pacing and interactions that make this a thoroughly engaging production of a whip-smart play that easily makes Art a delightful and thought-provoking objet d'art for our time.”

“While not exactly a sophisticated evening of Sondheim, this is a show that clearly knows what it is, having been kept under the watchful eye of director Phyllida Lloyd since its inception.”

“Thanks to Jean Smart's convincing grasp of her character, Call Me Izzy soars above its seeming movie-of-the-week roots to leave us something new to ponder about cruelty, kindness, and human endurance.”

“But there's so much joy and fun in Pirates! The Penzance Musical, these quibbles should not keep you away from this altogether delightful production.”

“A tough combination to pull off, this tonal shift, and it doesn't entirely work.”

“John Proctor Is the Villain is truly a most engaging play, with a terrific ensemble cast that makes even discussions about The Crucible thoroughly engrossing.”

“They promised us The Producers, and they gave us Parade.”

“All I can say is, it's your time; breathe it in and enjoy the ride.”

“That's what's missing, the requisite team play that would prepare the field so one or more of the otherwise excellent actors might hit one out of the park instead of merely participating in a game of catch.”

“Williams and Snook deserve all the laurels heaped upon them”

“But it is also a sly, witty, and heartfelt take on a moment in history.”

“Act I of Purpose is sheer perfection, exquisitely and seamlessly played out in dark and darkly comic moments.”

“Despite any sympathy we might have for Jesse, she is not all that interesting a character.”

“Because the performances are so strong, the cast members are able to mine English for every nuance of humor and individuality that is available to them.”

“Audra McDonald sinks her teeth into the role of Rose like no other”

“David Bengali's projections of the community's on-line discussion are a priceless addition.”

“As dysfunctional family plays go, Cult of Love is richly rewarding and enormously entertaining, thanks to an exceptionally fine ensemble of actors, Headland's spot-on dialog, and Trip Cullman's brilliant direction that make this one stand out from others of this ilk.”

“Thumbs up, three cheers, and a long, long, long life to Death Becomes Her.”

“Swept Away is an original and adventurous foray along the darker edges of what musical theatre can accomplish.”

“Go, and I can pretty much guarantee you will have yourself a grand "sparklejollytwinklejingley" time.”

“But none of the songs amount to much, all style over substance.”

“The show was a big hit in South Korea, where it originated; word-of-mouth and the wonders of social media may well do the trick here.”

“If only the entire evening focused primarily on the music, which seemingly is what kept Armstrong going through thick and thin for the decades of his public life, that would be well worth the visit.”

“Sam Gold has made it an exciting and thoroughly engaging experience for audiences of all ages.”

“A bigger one lies in Kenny Leon's decision to bring in a contemporary perspective that is in conflict with the underlying "truth" of the place and time in which Our Town takes place.”

“Laughter plus discernment make for a hearty meal, even when the dessert comes first.”

“...this production of 'Once Upon a Mattress' a perfect summertime treat.”

“Home, directed in a most unassuming, unfussy way by Kenny Leon, is the most uplifting play to hit Broadway in a very long time.”

“It is Lange who stands at the center, giving a performance that throughout is full of nuance as she portrays this complicated mess of a woman.”

“...Schreck's adaptation has nicely captured the spirit of play”

“Rankin's is an extraordinary performance that raises the production to new heights.”

“For anyone else, it will be quite the theatrical experience, a rock opera that truly earns its reputation as the genuine article.”

“By any measure, Water for Elephants is a spectacular display of theatrical collaboration at its best, and it should have wide appeal to kinkers and rubes alike.”

“By stripping it of some of its complexity, the play resonates for our time while, with the match-off between its stars, the production itself gives us two exciting performances at its core.”

“The Notebook works because everyone works together to make the magic happen.”

“Alcoholism is a jealous lover and demands full obedience of its victims.”

“You will not soon forget these characters or the difficult decision they face as they struggle with what is yet another piece of the endlessly complex immigrants' story.”

“Appropriate frequently stretches the limits of what it means to be "over the top," but the portrait it paints of human frailty and corruption is as ancient and complex as they come.”

“But it is unclear as to the intent of the show, which lacks much by way of character development, dramatic tension, or insight.”

“It rarely gets any better than this.”

“Harmony is an altogether original and serious work that beautifully marries the story of the Comedian Harmonists with that of the years of their rise and fall.”

“But because the plot consists of a conglomeration of barely examined ideas, the whole fails to satisfy beyond the comedic stylings of Danny DeVito.”

“Yet, while Gutenberg! The Musical! undoubtedly is a piece of fluff, it is delightful fluff nevertheless.”

“Under the sure hand of director Whitney White, Jaja's African Hair Braiding is an altogether terrific ensemble piece.”

“Everyone involved in this production has been able to articulate this balance to a high degree, so that we leave the theater on a decidedly positive and hopeful note, even if the hard work to bring that hope to fruition never ends.”

“I hate to carp, but while Jaws may be the ultimate fish story, The Shark Is Broken flounders to the end, with neither an engaging hook nor a line of compelling dialog to keep it afloat.”

“The quality of the show rises to 88 mph whenever he puts in an appearance.”

“By any measure, Here Lies Love is a perfectly crafted, thrilling production that should make audiences very happy indeed.”

“But as entertaining as Edelman can be, especially with the right "us" in the audience, he hasn't yet figured out how to make that transition.”

“Once Upon a One More Time, which is being touted in attorney-speak as "fully authorized and licensed post-conservatorship by Grammy Award-winning pop icon Britney Spears," is a surprisingly tasty treat, both for the eyes and for the ears.”

“Even with the likely post-performance discussions and musings about "meaning," the greatest strength of this production of Grey House is the consistency of its preternatural mood.”

“Summer, 1976 comes off as a literary exercise, an enacted short story about a series of situational connections with others that happen to most of us most of the time.”

“There is a perhaps overused but most apt phrase to describe what is happening on stage at the Belasco, and that is "tour de force."”

“That's when the fun really takes off and makes this a worthy entry into the "Goes Wrong" franchise.”

“Ultimately, though, this Camelot revival falls on its own sword with its reworked book.”

“You can't help but feel welcome, drawn in, and caught up in the story.”

“Add in an appealing, occasionally rowdy country-inflected score by the Grammy-winning songwriting team of Brandy Clark and Shane McAnally, and you've got yourself a show that is both whimsically hokey and welcoming as an old friend.”

“Life of Pi is a show that succeeds on virtually every level, from its stunning visual effects to its deeply moving story about faith, survival, and the power of storytelling itself.”

“Overall, Bad Cinderella is way out of balance.”

“There is unlikely ever to be a better production.”

“Regardless, it is difficult to avoid feeling overwhelmed by the heavy-handedness of the production.”

“Makes you want to seek out an exhibition of Larry Sultan's photographs and study the real Jean and Irv as if you really do know them, even if it is all a matter of theatrical illusion.”

“The same could also be said of The Collaboration, which relies on an intense curiosity about two of the most recognizable names in modern art.”

“The play could not be in better hands.”

“I imagine you'll make your own connections while viewing what is sure to be Broadway's next huge hit.”

“Ohio State Murders is breathtaking in substance and in performance; it is not to be missed.”

“And whatever else you might say about Neil Diamond, he certainly had a way with a catchy tune.”

“It is, by any measure, an extraordinary and riveting performance.”

“All told, there is plenty of plot to go around, even if it does ask us to suspend a lot of disbelief along the way.”

“But what we are presented with, even as it is sparkled with Sinéad McKenna's supportive lighting design and Sinéad Diskin's original music and sound design, is both too much and not enough, a two-hour discourse that would best be appreciated by fans of the actor.”

“Every moment is filled with dialog and actions that convey layers of meaning with every word, every joke, every gesture, every bit of sexual boasting and competitiveness.”

“It is a scrumptious drama by any measure, and this excellent cast does it honor.”

“All in all, you are unlikely ever to see a finer production of Death of a Salesman than this one.”

“But overall, this remodeling job is all too raucous and too much in competition with itself to leave any sort of cohesive impression.”

“What you get with Katy Sullivan's performance, in particular, will haunt you long after the final bows.”

“Instead, Leopoldstadt gives us a linear narrative, a three-dimensional set of characters, and an adherence to credibility about the past that, if you are paying attention, also serves as a warning for the not-too-distant future.”

“That is all well and good, but a play is a play is a play, and this production of The Kite Runner amounts to a long evening of low-key narration and moments that have been culled from the novel.”

“Whatever his rationale, Gold likes to bring a downtown, experimental theater perspective to Broadway, where, really, it simply does not work, at least not with this production of Macbeth.”

“Far from being a casting gimmick, their return to the play has allowed them to imbue their work with far greater complexity.”

“To quote the title character, "one sees clearly only with the heart."”

“Debra Messing generally has too little to work with, only coming into her own as Ernestine herself comes into her own.”