Fallen Angels By: Noel Coward

A delicious, refined (up to a point) comedy of errors, with Coward's signature wit. Three acts of quick and biting dialogue and British stiff upper lipness.  How can one not enjoy it?!

 

Marjorie Prime By: Jordon Harrison

This was tenderly written, but creepy as hell! I'm not a fan of AI, so this, to me was deeply disturbing and a little too prescient, and yet it was respectfully written. Sent shivers down my spine. This is one I would definitely like to see staged, just so I can watch the audience to see when the see what's actually happening and who is who or what.

Becky Shaw By: Gina Gionfriddo

Ooo-child!  These people are a train wreck!  I didn't like any of these characters, and yet I couldn't look away!  There was something mesmerizing about these very damaged people navigation (if you can call it that) there lives. The snark is deliciously written, but my God, these people are so damaged that even when they are trying to be nice it comes off as selfish, manipulative and childish. And yet I couldn't not continue to read. What does that say about me?!

 

"Oh, Mary!" By Cole Escola

A riotous, bawdy, hyper piece, with many OMG moments, and surprisingly moving.  Can't really discuss it, without giving its secrets away and trust me those secrets are moments that will make the reader gasp (at least I did). This piece is so much more than it first seems to be. Brilliant read!

Art By: Yasmina Reza Translated By: Christopher Hampton

I'm glad I saw a production of this play before I read it.  For me, it doesn't read well.  The humor doesn't come through, it doesn't conjure any solid visuals,  nor do the characters seem all that likable. However, having seen it previously, I know where the humor is and had a visual in my mind of the show as a point of reference. 

 

What We Can Know By: Ian McEwan

A hot mess of a book! It takes place in 2125, about an obsession from 2014 and it's two books in one. It's a treatise on environmental demise/awareness, it's a treatise on technology, it's a treatise on "love". The characters are not all that likable, and even less so as the story and the story within the story unfold.  And despite all this, I was intrigued and had a good time reading it.

Waiting for Godot By: Samuel Beckett

 Since I'm re-reading plays that are being revived on Broadway this season, against my better judgement I've re-read Waiting for Godot.  Still think it ranks up there with Clybourne Park as being one the two worst plays I've ever read.

 

Joe Turner's Come and Gone By: August Willson

 

As this is being revived on Broadway this year, it was time for a re-read. Still a stunning piece of theatre, storytelling and life. Finding one's place in the world is never easy, finding it when you've been treated like nothing and have lost everything is even more difficult. Wilson is a master storyteller nd playwright.  Everyone should read all ten of his century cycle plays.

Good Night, Oscar By: Doug Wright

After reading this gripping play about Oscar Levant, I can totally see why Sean Hayes won the Tony Award for his performance, as well as a special Olivier Award. Seeing him perform this piece must have been astonishing. This is a raw, funny, deeply moving play about a deeply talented but tormented man. just WOW!

 

The Cars: Let the Stories Be Told By: Bill Janovitz

This was a good read for me in terms of the nostalgia alone. Having been around when the Cars first debuted, and knowing a great many of locations that are in the book, I was in my glory!  Janovitz has managed to take mountains of in-person interviews and reportage and create a mammoth history of the Cars, as well as the history of Boston music.  Not being a huge music person, some of the chapters dragged for me, I wasn't as drawn to the in depth analysis of how certain sounds were made on the albums or the analysis of each song-but that's just me. A real music person will be fascinated!  Overall I liked this, I learned things and I am awed by Janovitz.