Broadway 3-peats: The John Golden Theatre

I've had incredible luck with the shows I've seen at The John Golden Theatre. I've seen quite a variety of productions there, and, frankly, I've enjoyed each one that I've seen there. But there was a run of three plays in the 20-teens that really stood out to me - an amazing Broadway 3-peat.

Broadway 3-peats:

The John Golden Theatre

1. A Doll's House, Part 2 by Lucas Hnath (2017): A modern period play sequel that shows us what happens to Nora, the play was highly entertaining. But it was a true study of ensemble acting. True, Laurie Metcalf was the star of the show, and legitimately the leading performance, but the way she played give and take with the rest of the company really played up the group effort. Each person was just as important to the show as every other. With almost no scenery, but with a strikingly physical performance, here is the perfect example of what happens when the quality of the actors chosen trumps their impressive marquee value. All four actors - Chris Cooper, Jayne Houdyshell, Condola Rashad and Laurie Metcalf - were nominated for Tonys (Metcalf won).

2. Three Tall Women by Edward Albee (2018): Next up was another Tony-winning performance by Laurie Metcalf, along with a brilliant Tony-winning performance by the legendary Glenda Jackson. The third woman, a dazzling turn by Alison Pill, was egregiously overlooked. There was so much to love and take in from this amazing revival (though it was making its Broadway debut). I was so enthralled, think I held my breath the entire time. Joe Mantello's direction was brisk, sharp and fat free, and Miriam Buether's scenic design earned each gasp.

3. The Waverly Gallery by Kenneth Lonergan (2018): Another ensemble piece, another all-star company of actors, each bringing marquee names, but delivering bonafide Broadway quality to enraptured audiences, this revival (making its Broadway debut) starred the legendary Elaine May in, to date, the single best performance I have ever seen in decades of theater-going. As dementia took its toll on her character, May vanished completely in a brave, no holds barred tour de force star turn. If, when it was over, it was announced that the actress, in fact, had dementia, I'd have believed it without question. As amazing as she was, it says so much about the rest of the cast, including Joan Allen, Lucas Hedges, Michael Cera and David Cromer was just a brilliant as a family barely holding it together. Brilliant for start to finish; a privilege to have witnessed.

Broadway Jeopardy! - Game 7

 Broadway Jeopardy!

Game 7

OK, Broadway trivia fans! Time for another round of America's favorite game show a la JK's TheatreScene, and as you'll see we are going for the gold this week. Good luck!

There are 2 "rounds," each with a Daily Double, and, of course, a Final Jeopardy Round.

THE JEOPARDY ROUND

Category: The Golden Girls

This Golden Girl won a Tony Award

for playing Mame’s bosom buddy

This Golden Girl was once Madame Morrible in Wicked

This Golden Girl appeared as Arnold’s (Harvey Fierstein) mother in Torch Song Trilogy

The only Golden Girl who has not appeared on Broadway

This actor appeared on The Golden Girls as a priest, but on Broadway he was the original Benjamin Stone in Follies

In the Double Jeopardy round, dollar values are doubled.

THE DOUBLE JEOPARDY ROUND

Category: The Golden Theatre

Prima Facie, which played here, won this actress
the 2023 Best Actress Tony

The current tenant of the Golden

The last musical to play the Golden

Both Three Tall Women and The Goat, or Who is Sylvia?
by this playwright played here

She gave a brilliant (and Tony-winning) performance
in The Waverly Gallery here

THE FINAL JEOPARDY ROUND

Category: The 2015 Tony Awards

This director won a 2015 Tony Award and was nominated

in 2017 for a sequel play at the Golden Theatre

STOP SCROLLING NOW IF YOU 

DON'T WANT TO SEE THE ANSWERS!

Jeopardy Round: The Golden Girls

$200: Who is Bea Arthur?

$400: Who is Rue McClanahan?

Daily Double: Who is Estelle Getty?

$800: Who is Betty White?

$1000: Who is John McMartin?

Double Jeopardy Round: The Golden Theatre

$400: Who is Jodie Comer?

Daily Double: What is The Shark Is Broken?

$1200: What is Avenue Q?

$1600: Who is Edward Albee?

$2000: Who is Elaine May?

Final Jeopardy: The 2015 Tony Awards

Who is Sam Gold?

At This Theatre: The John Golden Theatre

I love the theaters on 45th Street. I've seen some of my favorite shows on that block. The Golden Theatre is probably the one of those that I have been in the fewest times, but those times have yielded some of the most truly magnificent performances I've ever seen. Even though I have ranked the six shows I've seen there, on any given day any one of them could be my number one pick. They were all that good.

At This Theater:

The John Golden

In the times Mike and I have been there, we have been able to sit in a variety of locations. We hope that our experiences will help you the next time you are At This Theatre.

# of Shows We Saw There: 6

      

      

Shows We Saw There: Avenue Q, Vanya and Sonia and Masha and Spike, The Normal Heart, The Waverly Gallery, A Doll's House, Part 2, Three Tall Women

How They Rate:

6. A Doll's House, Part 2: An embarrassment of acting riches, the entire cast was a thrill to watch. Condola Rashad and Jane Houdyshell were amazing in their supporting roles and offer a study in varying intensity, with the former mostly quiet and measured, and the latter more intense and razor sharp in her delivery. The star of the show, Laurie Metcalf, was simply stunning to watch, giving one of my favorite performances in nearly 40 years of Broadway theater-going.

WHERE WE SAT: Center front mezzanine about 5 rows back on the aisle: excellent view, if not a little bit cramped.

5. Vanya and Sonia and Masha and Spike: Here's a show Mike and I did not see together. He enjoyed it with Julie White. I enjoyed seeing one of my favorite actors, Sigourney Weaver, who showed me why she's such a highly regarded interpreter of Christopher Durang. David Hyde Pierce was a riot, with his monologue a true highlight, and Kristine Nielson was quirky fun, too. Even in smaller roles Billy Magnussen and Shalita Grant made lasting impressions.

WHERE WE SAT: Mike sat in the rear orchestra, with a great view of everything but the very top of the set. I sat up in the rear mezzanine, and had a terrific view - no one seemed far away at all.

4. Three Tall Women: I don't recall either of us moving an inch or even breathing throughout this mesmerizing play. Sure that set change was breathtaking, but that trio of performances was pure brilliance. Glenda Jackson stole the show in a lot of ways, but Laurie Metcalf was equally brilliant in different ways. And Alison Pill was no slouch, either - hers was a turn that snuck up on you! Absolutely one of my favorite plays.

WHERE WE SAT: Center front mezzanine about 5 rows back on the aisle: excellent view, if not a little bit cramped.

3. The Waverly Gallery: The two greatest performances I have ever witnessed happened at this theater. One of them, Elaine May as a woman sinking under the weight of her own dementia, was perhaps THE greatest. I've never so believed what I was seeing was actually real before or since then. Perhaps even better was the chance to see her co-stars rise to her challenge - particularly Joan Allen as her daughter and Lucas Hedges, one of the best the current generation has to offer, as her grandson. 

WHERE WE SAT: Side left front mezz, about 4 rows back on the aisle: excellent view.

2. The Normal Heart: This may be the one time I wish we had been a little closer to fully take in the intimate performances of this first-rate ensemble. Not a weak link in the bunch, they were a thrill to watch. However, it was the performance of Tony-winner Ellen Barkin that was a privilege to witness. The two finest acting performances I have ever seen were both in this theater. What a blessing.

WHERE WE SAT: Side left front mezz, about 4 rows back on the aisle: excellent view.

1. Avenue Q: Over the many times we saw it, we got to see many of the original cast (with Ann Harada a particular standout). This show was consistently a well cast show, with replacements (and understudies) being as good, if not better than their predecessors. Among the great performers we got to see were Anika Larsen, Mary Faber, Haneefah Wood and Rob McLure. Perhaps the best were Barrett Foa who was replaced mid-performance by Howie Michael Smith. Always charming as it is, here's hoping future revivals don't srcub it too clean.

WHERE WE SAT: We saw this show several times; center orchestra was probably my favorite, as it allowed us to see the smallest of details and facial expressions. But being upstairs was great, too, allowing a better view everything at once, as well as some of the bigger things like "giant" Kate Monster.