Where the Plays Are

This weekend we saw three fascinating plays. On Saturday night, we took in "I never sang for my father" along so-called Theater Row, where a tremendous number of small but beautifully done plays are being consistently produced. I can't even begin to recall all the terrific things we have seen in this area, but among the recent ones that stand out are "Next Fall" and "Circle Mirror Transformation." We also saw a very remarkable production of T.S. Eliot's "The Cocktail Party" along Theater Row this weekend as well. Finally, we enjoyed "Collected Stories," a new play by Donald Margulies and starring Linda Lavin. This one actually qualifies as a Broadway show and used a particularly elaborate and interesting set, but still felt like one of the small plays that are springing up everywhere along Theater Row.

This short post, however, isn't about the particulars of the plays; it's about the richness of off-Broadway theater. Until you live in New York, you just don't realize how much terrific, life-changing theater is to be found in the most unlikely places. This is the miracle of New York theater; it's not primarily on Broadway, at least not any more. It is virtually everywhere. And even the smallest, least expensive production is likely to do something that stays with you for a very long time.