Joan of Arc: Into the Fire (The Public Theater)

By Harry Forbes

Composer/book writer David Byrne and director Alex Timbers have come up with another striking pop musical as a follow-up to the “Evita”-like Imelda Marcos bio, “Here Lies Love,” at the Public in 2013. The new one traces the key events in the life of the 15th century martyred warrior saint, dramatized so vividly by Shaw and Anouilh (and numerous others)..

Unlike the immersive experience of “Here Lies Love” -- where audience members stood through the show and moved around the performance space, “Joan of Arc” plays out on a traditional proscenium.

Jo Lampert is the androgynous rock star Joan and her singing (and stamina) are wondrous. The plot follows the broad strokes of the familiar narrative including her convincing the French army to allow her to lead them in routing the English forces from France, successfully crowning the Dauphin, and her subsequent trial during which -- as in Shaw’s play -- she is persuaded to deny her miraculous voices until she realizes that she faces life in prison. She recants, with the unfortunate results that everyone knows so well.

An epilogue has Joan’s mother -- 25 years later -- appealing for her daughter’s reclamation. This is done, quite movingly, in “Send Her to Heaven” by actress Mare Winningham, revealing a sweet singing voice. The ensemble cast is fine with notable work by Sean Allan Krill as Joan’s chief inquisitor Bishop Cauchon, Kyle Selig as the Dauphin, and Michael James Shaw as the garrison commander Captain Baudricourt whom Joan persuades to lead the French troops to victory.

Timbers’ direction -- and Steven Hoggett’s choreography -- keep things interesting through the intermission-less 90 minutes.

The action plays out on Christopher Barreca’’s ingenious set, complimented by Justin Townsend’s vivid lighting. Clint Ramos’ costumes range from the present day (in the opening and closing sequences), with contemporary allusions in the text, and the period.

Cody Spencer’s sound design gives the lyrics and occasional spoken dialogue admirable clarity. And Darrel Maloney’s projections, including dates and places, provide helpful historical reminders, and provide visual variety.

Byrne’s score, under the musical direction of Kris Kakul, is accessible and often beguiling, albeit not without some repetition. A catchy calypso number, “Body Parts,” sung by the priests at her inquisition was the audience favorite.

(The Public Theater, 425 Lafayette Street; 212-967-7555 or www.publictheater.org; through April 30)

Jo Lampert and the company of Joan of Arc: Into the Fire. Photo credit: Joan Marcus.

The Price (Roundabout Theatre Company)

By Harry Forbes

The Roundabout’s latest revival of the 1968 play that brought Arthur Miller back to Broadway after12 years for a decent run of 429 performances is a classy affair, but in spite of a first-rate cast and production team, I found it less gripping than past productions, even in the practiced hands of director Terry Kinney.

There was a fine 2004 revival in London with the late Warren Mitchell and a Broadway revival in 1999 with Jeffrey DeMunn and Bob Dishy, both excellent productions that seemed to belie any notion of the play being second-rate Miller. I have less vivid memories of a 1992 Roundabout mounting except a general recollection that it was good. And there was also an estimable TV version with George C. Scott and Colleen Dewhurst.

“The Price” tells the story of two llong-estranged brothers: Victor (Mark Ruffalo), a hard-working policeman (Mark Ruffalo) struggling to make ends meet, and Walter (Tony Shalhoub) who has become a successful surgeon. They meet as their father’s furniture is to be sold off. Victor has been negotiating with Solomon (Danny DeVito in his Broadway debut), an 89-year-old appraiser.

The deal has, in fact, been sealed when Walter makes a surprise appearance, appearing to want to make amends with his brother, while attempting to negotiate for a better price at the same time. He also suggests to the more principled Victor a somewhat shady tax write-off solution. Victor’s wife Esther (excellent Jessica Hecht) can’t understand her husband’s reluctance to bury the hatchet with Walter and move on, and bargain for a better deal, too.

Eventually, the cause of the estrangement comes to light, in a heated second act climax rooted in revelations about Victor’s having eschewed career advancement in light of selfless caring for their aging father  But all these characters are, in some way, at odds with one another, and “the price” of the furniture metaphorically mirrors the price they have all paid after a lifetime of untruths.

Walter’s entrance enlivens the second act, and Shalhoub certainly plays him dynamically. And yet, strangely, I felt the play never quite caught fire, unless it just happened to be an off-night. Victor’s passivity in the first act (though well played by Ruffalo) and Solomon’s irritating salesman tactics (amusing though DeVito is, including some outrageously funny business with a hard-boiled egg) make for a sluggish first act. Overall, on this occasion, the play’s imperfections seemed less smoothed over than before.

Production elements are above reproach. Miller’s theme of materialism is mirrored in Derek McLane’s atmospheric set, an overstuffed Manhattan apartment, with furniture even hanging from the ceiling, all atmospherically lit by David Weiner. And the principals are all well outfitted in Sarah J. Holden’s costumes.

(American Airlines Theatre (227 West 42nd Street).212.719.1300, online at roundabouttheatre.org; through May 7)

Come From Away (Gerald Schoenfeld Theatre)

By Harry Forbes

This most unlikely premise for a musical -- how the residents of Gander, a small town in Newfoundland, took in nearly 7000 diverted airline passengers (that number roughly equal to their population) on September 11, 2001 -- comes up a likable audience pleaser thanks to an engaging, versatile cast, clever staging, and eight superb musicians.

Heartwarming, albeit somewhat predictable, “Come From Away” -- which comes to Broadway via the  La Jolla Playhouse, Seattle Repertory Theatre, and Ford’s Theatre  -- moves briskly over its one hour and forty minutes (played without intermission), and the cast alternates effortlessly between playing townspeople and plane people. Thanks to their skill and  Christopher Ashley’s ingenious direction (in tandem with Kelly Devine’s musical staging), you rarely lose track of who’s who.

The book, music and lyrics are credited to the husband and wife team of Irene Sankoff and David Hein. Though the songs (mostly ensemble numbers) work effectively in the context of the show, there’s nothing particularly memorable, at least on first hearing.

The story is interesting, and might have been just as effective in a straight dramatic version. Certainly, given the current political climate, the story of people warmly embracing a host of foreigners, no questions asked, generates comforting reassurance about human nature, even as the one Middle Eastern character is initially greeted with suspicion and hostility.

August Eriksmoen’s orchestrations and Ian Eisendrath’s music arrangements emphasize the Celtic quality of much of the score, especially a rousing dance number in a pub.

The cast of 12 work as a true ensemble, and all are excellent. There’s Astrid Van Wieren as Beulah, head of the Gander Legion, who coordinates the crowds at the local school; Chad Kimball and Caesar Samayoa as a gay couple from Los Angeles, the first, head of an environmental energy company, the other his secretary/boyfriend; Sharon Wheatley as a Texas divorcee and Lee MacDougall as a British engineer who falls for her; Jenn Colella as American Airlines' first female pilot (given the show’s only solo showstopper “Me and the Sky”); Q. Smith as a mother desperately trying to get news about her firefighter son back in New York; Joel Hatch as the town mayor; Petrina Bromley as an SPCA head distraught about the welfare of the animals on board the flights; Kendra Kassebaum as a novice TV reporter who earns her stripes during those tumultuous days; Rodney Hicks as a skeptical black New Yorker who learns to trust; and Geno Carr as a Gander police constable (one of only two). All of them deftly play multiple roles.

Beowulf Boritt’s set design, lighted by Howell Binkley, has the requisite versatility for the quick scene changes from Gander cafeteria to plane to whatever. Twelve chairs are actually the principal props. Toni-Leslie James’ costumes greatly help define the characters.

Gareth Owen’s sound design seems to me rather overloaded, and not all the dialogue or lyrics are intelligible. The opening ensemble number “Welcome to the Rock” got things off to an off-putting start with a particularly high decibel level and muddy quality.

Ian Eisendrath’s music supervision keeps things  lively, and when he and his fellow musicians have the stage to themselves after the cast's curtain calls, allowing the audience -- some genuinely moved to tears -- to exit the theater in a jubilant mood.

(Gerald Schoenfeld Theatre, 236 West 45th Street; Telecharge.com or 212-239-6200)

Significant Other (Booth Theatre)

By Harry Forbes

I recall very much enjoying Joshua Harmon’s play when it was done at the Roundabout’s Off-Broadway Laura Pels Theatre two years ago, but wondered how it would fare in a Broadway house. Well, if anything, the play seems richer and even more enjoyable in its bigger venue, and the original cast, reassembled (with one exception) here, even sharper in their characterizations.

“Significant Other” is the funny-sad tale of a self-pitying 29-year-old gay man, Jordan Berman (riotously played by Gideon Glick), forever searching for love, but taking comfort from his three gal pals: outrageous Kiki (Sas Goldberg), sympathetic Knopf editor Vanessa (Rebecca Naomi Jones, the newcomer to the play), and closest friend and former roommate, Laura (Lindsay Mendez). His unspoken crush on office mate Will (John Behlmann) propels the action of the first act, including a priceless scene where Jordan tortures himself over whether to press “send” on a forthright email to Will.

Jordan and Will do manage a date of sorts -- an outing to see a documentary about the Franco-Prussian War, of all things -- but Will’s interest in him proves inconclusive, though the film unexpectedly gives Jordan something more to ponder about his own mortality.

As, one by one, the girls meet guys of their own, inevitably leading to marriage, Jordan feels an ever sharper sense of loneliness and abandonment. He finds some comfort in his visits to his sweet grandmother (an endearing Barbara Barrie), but her occasional ruminations on suicide underscore his own forebodings of death and a sense that he may be doomed never to find someone to love.

Harmon writes with an uncanny ear for today’s lingo. Kiki’s outrageously self-absorbed opening speech is a small gem but there are many such throughout the evening. Sometimes it seems that the play is about to become as glib and superficial as Kiki herself, but Harmon balances the brittle humor with a deep poignancy most effectively. The scene where Jordan berates Laura for opting for a conventional wedding and marriage is especially powerful and painful to witness.

Trip Cullman elicits marvelous performances from all, including Behlmann and Luke Smith (who play all the other male roles), and his staging perfectly captures the rhythms of Harmon’s text. It must be said that Goldberg, Jones, and Mendez are especially fine, and completely inhabit their roles. The great Barrie’s scenes are short but potent.

Mark Wendland’s split level set -- lighted by Japhy Weideman -- neatly serves as disco, office, various apartments. Kaye Voyce’s costumes are spot-on.

(Booth Theatre, 222 W. 45th Street; Telecharge.com or 212-239-6200)

Photo: Joan Marcus: (l.-r.) Sas Goldeberg, Lindsay Mendez, Rebecca Naomi Jones and Gideon Glick.

The Glass Menagerie (Belasco Theatre)

By Harry Forbes

There’s no denying that the abstract revival of Tennessee Williams breakout hit of 1945 is an oddball one. Director Sam Gold (“Fun Home,” “The Real Thing”) seems hell bent on upending most everything that smacks of the traditional.

Apart from the minimalist design (by Andrew Lieberman), his most radical concept is transforming Laura’s “barely suggested disability” into a seriously handicapped character in a wheelchair which she effortfully climbs into and out of several times throughout the evening. The production’s Laura, Madison Ferris, does, in fact, have muscular dystrophy.

The inclusive casting is admirable, but I don’t much care for her performance with its far too contemporary line readings, though it certainly fits Gold’s concept of stripping away any and all period trappings.

Paradoxically, for all its questionable innovations, this production moved me more than the last Broadway revival (with a solid Cherry Jones and a superb Zachary Quinto), and Judith Ivey’s Roundabout revival before that. Previous, fondly remembered productions of my experience -- with such Amandas as Jessica Lange, Julie Harris, and Maureen Stapleton -- played out along more traditional lines, and were none the worse for it..

John Tiffany’s version (for Cherry Jones) was not without its avant-garde touches pools of water on stage, and Laura emerging at one point from the sofa.

But any production of “The Glass Menagerie” revolves around its Amanda, and Sally Field -- last on Broadway in Edward Albee’s “The Goat” in 2002 -- proves again a potent stage actress and a creditable Amanda. (She had, in fact, previously earned praise for doing the part at the Kennedy Center in 2004.)

Fields employs only the trace of a Southern accent, but she primps and flutters with the best of them, and flies into tremendous rages when her plans are frustrated.

Actor/director Joe Mantello -- an intentionally more mature Tom than usual (a stunt that works) -- delivers his lines with intelligence and wry humor. As the Gentleman Caller, Finn Wittrock is not the usual courtly gallant, but a free spirited, boyishly energetic young man. His big scene with this very 2017 Laura thus has a radically different tone, though is played rather annoyingly in the dark, except for the natural light of a candelabra.

I mentioned pools of water in a previous production. But the rain that accompanies the dinner scene here is a veritable deluge. I suppose we must be grateful this is not an Ivo van Hove production or it might be raining blood.

For all its oddities, and its perverse variances from Williams’ stage directions, this yet manages to be a potent “Menagerie,” and I found myself willingly joining the enthusiastic ovation at the end.

(Belasco Theatre,111 West 44th Street; Telecharge.com or 212-239-6200)

Joe Mantello and Sally Field in The Glass Menagerie (Photo by Julieta Cervantes)

Son of Dublin (Victor Herbert Renaissance Project Live!)

By Harry Forbes

St. Patrick’s Day came a little early this year, courtesy of the always rewarding Victor Herbert Renaissance Project Live!

Anyone who’s ever heard Victor Herbert’s 1917 operetta “Eileen” knows that when this most Irish of composers set his mind to honoring his ethnic heritage, he was at his unabashedly sincere and passionately romantic. So an evening culled from his vast catalog of Irish material (including, yes, several from “Eileen”), was bound to be special, and indeed the concert was gorgeously melodic, sentimental, and heartfelt.

This special gala was part of an all-Irish season in celebration of the centenary of “Eileen’s” premiere. It began in November with “The Princess Pat” and ends next month with, fittingly, “Eileen” itself. And for the first time with this group, we are promised a modest orchestra.

For the present concert (given twice), Artistic Director Alyce Mott assembled a terrific cast (some regulars with her company) who delivered the goods with admirable commitment and fine style, and the selections, compiled in tandem with Music Director Michael Thomas, were uncommonly well chosen.

Baritone Jovani McCleary set the evening’s classy, flavorful tone with a lovely number “I Love the Isle of the Sea,” and the ones that followed over the two-act evening maintained the quality.

Not quite all the songs were by Herbert. Some were by Herbert’s maternal grandfather, the composer, novelist, and painter Samuel Lover, with whom Herbert and his mother lived for several years in England when Herbert was a child. “Angel’s Whisper,” tenderly sung by soprano Vira Slywotzky, was a Lover lullaby Herbert may have heard as a child. And, interestingly, it was Lover who wrote “Rory O’Moore,” the novel from which Herbert and his librettist Henry Blossom would later adapt “Eileen.” A song by Lover of that title was in the program, winningly delivered by baritone David Seatter, a consistent bright spot throughout the evening.

Several of the songs were written by Lover, but arranged by Herbert. Tenor Anthony Maida’s emotionally vocalized “Sweet Harp of the Days That Are Gone” had a Lover lyric set to a Herbert tune.

Tenor Jason Robinette, who made such a strong showing in “The Princess Pat,” was again in fine fettle, starting with his heartfelt “Mary Came Over to Me.” And tenor Ross Brown offered the very cute “Barney Maguire” from the 1906  “Miss Dolly Dollars” (a title which, one hopes, Mott will get around to mounting in the future).

There were five songs from “Eileen” in all, starting with soprano Katherine Corle’s charming “My Little Irish Rose,” and including the male ensemble’s “The Irish Have a Great Day Tonight,” the meltingly beautiful title number, well sung by Brown, and as a finale, “When Ireland Stands Among the Nations of the World,” stirringly sung by Maida and the entire company.

That last was, in fact, one of three stirringly patriotic numbers that brought the show to a rousing conclusion.

Of especial interest was an excellent song cycle, “The Bards of Ireland,” written for a St. Patrick’s Day Dinner of The Society of the Friendly Sons of St. Patrick, and attended by President William H. Taft no less; six Irish chestnuts, deftly arranged by Herbert for a cumulatively powerful effect.

Baritone Richard Holmes’ smooth baritone graced several numbers starting with the 1919  “Molly,” leading off a Herbert arrangement of “Old Ireland Shall Be Set Free,” and contributing strongly to the song cycle. Lovely Joanie Brittingham offered a sweet “Heart o’Mine” (accompanied by Slywotzky and Corle) and proved most appealing in other numbers. (She’ll play Eileen next month.)

Throughout the evening, Thomas provided first-rate accompaniment on the eighty-eights, and sensitively handled the “Lament for Owen Roe O’Neill” solo in the “Bards” cycle.

We were told that recent research has cheekily suggested that quite possibly Herbert never even set foot in Ireland, since he spent much time in Germany before ultimately settling permanently in America, but as the “Son of Dublin” program resoundingly proved, his soul was Irish through and through. His love of Ireland blazingly apparent in every note.

And that’s no blarney.

(Victor Herbert Renaissance Project Live!, Christ & St. Stephen’s Church, 120 West 69th St.; www.vhrplive.org; March 8 and 9 only)

L-R: Jovani McCleary, Jason Robinette, Ross Brown, Joanie Brittingham, Anthony Maida, Katherine Corle, Richard Holmes, David Seatter, Vira Slywotzky. Photo: Jill LeVine.

"Belle O'Brien" (L-R)​ Anthony Maida, Jovani McCleary, David Seatter, Jason Robinette, Richard Holmes, Ross Brown. Photo: Jill LeVine.

L-R: Ross Brown, Joanie Brittingham, Anthony Maida (standing), Jason Robinette, Vira Slywotzky, Richard Holmes, Katherine Corle, Jovani McCleary, David Seatter. Photo: Jill LeVine.

Linda (Manhattan Theatre Club)

By Harry Forbes

The enormously versatile English actress Janie Dee is back in New York playing an award-winning, 55-year-old brand manager at a London cosmetics firm, the Swan Beauty Corporation. At the start, we see her character Linda deftly promoting anti-aging cream for the older woman at a marketing presentation.

When the company president (John C. Vennema) decides to hire treacherous twenty-something Amy (Molly Griggs) to start promoting these same projects to a much younger demographic, though, Linda’s well structured life begins to unravel, including her seemingly near-perfect home life with her school teacher husband (excellent Donald Sage Mackay) and two daughters, Alice and kid half-sister Bridget. But is it really domestic bliss? It seems husband Neil is going through a mid-life crisis and the girls, particularly Alice, are deeply troubled.

Penelope Skinner’s play -- which premiered at London’s Royal Court is 2015 by the English Stage Company -- deals with familiar feminist themes: ageism, beauty, sexuality, motherhood, and career. Skinner doesn’t always avoid a sense of  contrivance, but the play holds one’s interest for its roughly two and a quarter hours.

In London, the character of Linda was to be played by Kim Cattrall who withdrew, it was said, on doctor’s orders. Her last-minute  replacement, Noma Dsmezweni, a Swaziland-born actress, garnered universal raves. I can’t say how Dee compares, but she is absolutely superb, and very much at the top of her game.

Lynne Meadow directs a well-paced production on Walt Spangler’s nifty revolving set which encompasses Linda’s deluxe office, that of her boss, and her well-appointed kitchen.

Dee projects convincing executive assurance, and when things in her life begin to go south, her panic and desperation seem painfully real. She really nails all aspects of the role.

She’s not working in a vacuum, though, and all the performances are solid, particularly Jennifer Ikeda as Linda’s unhappy elder girl (who, for certain poignant reasons which emerge, perversely insists are wearing a skunk onesy to make herself “invisible” to men), and Molly Ransom as the sweet-natured Bridget who hopes to earn a part in the school play by auditioning with a male role (“King Lear,” as it finally happens), her dilemma mirroring the woman-in-a-man’s world themes of the play. Meghann Fahy is also good as another young woman who poses a threat to Linda. And Maurice Jones is Luke, a New Agey temp whose penchant for selfies brings disastrous consequences for Linda.

Skinner’s dialogue is authentic and often amusing, the narrative absorbing, and the themes are sharply laid out, if generally familiar.

Jennifer von Mayrhauser’s costumes, Jason Lyons’ lighting, and Fitz Patton’s sound design are all state of the art.

(MTC at New York City Center – Stage I, 131 West 55thStreet; 212-581-1212 or http://www.nycitycenter.org/tickets; through April 2)