The Broadway Revival of The King and I
Most recently, seeing the boat arrive in Siam, in The King and I, took my breath away. Admitted, I've always been a sucker for the wonders of technology on stage, but this moment gave one an idea of the scale of the landscape and the scale of imagination in theatre.
The Lion King
This brings me to my second moment. The arrival of the animals to the savannah in The Lion King. The birds as kites I'd seen before and was mildly amused when they flew in. But when the elephant showed up, so did my joyful tears. I was a child again. Now THAT was something to behold!
Mark Strong in A View from the Bridge
Mark Strong tackling Eddie Carbone in A View from the Bridge was one of my acting highlights of the season. He felt like a time bomb, just waiting for the right moment to go off. It was the final tableaux that got me.
Imelda Staunton in Gypsy
Now, I know Patti LuPone has taken on Gypsy but, for me, Imelda Staunton's portrayal was a master class in musical performance. Some of the wonder of her performance may have to do with her diminutive size and her relentless power house of energy. Yet, the way she prowled the stage and text on the page, layering the complexities of Rose, is where the master class begins.
Lucian Msamati in A Wolf in Snakeskin Shoes
Lucian Msamati in the fringe production of Wolf in Snakeskin Shoes was, at once, a spiritually profound, emotionally comical and politically incorrect evening in the theatre. I guess that's what satire is. He was wonderful. Although, probably, more well known for his Iago, Lucian, paired with Hugh Quarshie as Othello, was a dynamic duo.
Hugh Quarshie in Othello
Hugh has a way with words, and his Othello was not applauded enough. His critical understanding of the text made his delivery of it accessible to a newcomer's ears. For me, by far the best Othello I've seen....mind you, I didn't see my Othello. Ha ha ha.
Khris Davis in The Royale
Nepotism is something that thrives in our world of theatre, so I'm going to focus closer to home; the journey Khris Davis takes nightly as Jay “The Sport” Jackson in The Royale is no stroll in the park. He will make you laugh and break your heart as he tells this American tale.
