Summary
Manhattan Theatre Club's revival of The Royal Family, George S. Kaufman and Edna Ferber's 1927 comedy about the shenanigans of an American theatrical dynasty; Oleanna, David Mamet's hackle-raising 1992 drama of sexual politics in academia; and A Disaster Begins, Ain Gordon's new solo drama, which conveniently frames the sequence by using events of a century ago as a mirror for our own time. The late-'20s comedy boasts a large cast and three generous acts (blessedly given, in Doug Hughes's production, with the correct number of intermissions); the '90s drama, first produced in New York Off-Broadway, calls for two actors and a minimum of scenery, in one taut 75-minute act; Gordon's new work, debuting Off-Off-Broadway, offers one actor and even sparser furnishings, lasting just over an hour.
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Extract
American Identity Crises
American Identity Crises
The Royal Family diverts, Oleanna provokes, Ain Gordon's Disaster mirrors oursThe Royal FamilyBy George S. Kaufman and Edna FerberFriedman Theatre261 West 47th Street,212-239-6200OleannaBy David MametGolden Theatre252 West 45th Street, 212-239-6200A Disaster BeginsBy Ain GordonHere Arts Center145 Sixth Av...See the full content of this document
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