Saturday, February 24, 2024

A Sign of the Times

I actually love Petula Clark songs, especially the ones she recorded with the brilliant Tony Hatch, but if you're going to do a jukebox of her hits, just do one and not this mishmash. My review is here.

Juliette Binoche interview

Juliette Binoche is of a generation and a personality with no patience or interest in media training, which makes her a wonderful person to interview. As you can read in my piece here.

Science fiction for February

 The latest installment of my science-fiction column is out, with more under-the-radar flicks. Thataway!

I Love You So Much I Could Die

Lucas Hnath's staging is inventive and bold but Mona Pirnot's play and songs just aren't sturdy enough to support it. My review of the New York Theater Workshop production is here.

Interview with Nina Conti

Happy to back on the ventriloquist beat! At long last, I got to interview Nina Conti! I've been a fan of this brilliant comedian for years and the Times finally let me talk to her. Click here for Nina (Monkey was otherwise engaged, I suppose). 

Wednesday, January 31, 2024

Some mighty fine Chita Rivera videos

As part of the Times's multi-pronged tribute to Chita Rivera, I pulled nine videos from YouTube. They will keep you entertained for while — a mini hommage to topflight American entertainement. Click here for the goods. 

Once Upon a Mattress

Call it typecasting if you will: Sutton Foster, Harriet Harris and Michael Urie are terrific in this Encores! production. It was a pleasure to review it for the Times.

Skiing Wolf Creek

It seems fitting to post this report from Wolf Creek, Colorado, as I wait to board a flight to another ski trip. Come for the photos of magnificent powder and scenery, stay for the reporting about plans that could change Wolf Creek forever. Click here for the article.

Tuesday, January 23, 2024

Super-duper late post about my return to Creede

I had to look at some of my old articles for a project and realized I hadn't posted my piece about returning to Creede, Colorado, in the summer of 2022! Better late than never, so here it is.

Sunday, January 21, 2024

Our Class

I have a few reservations about Igor Golyak's staging of this play, but overall I recommend seeing the show — it's what we need right now. My review is here.

Friday, January 19, 2024

For All Mankind

I talked to Ben Nedivi and Matt Wolpert, the For All Mankind showrunners, about the series's fourth season. I've got to say, Apple TV+ is making some of my favorite sci-fi series right now: For All Mankind, Halo and Invasion — good stuff. Click here for the interview.

Time to settle down with some sci-fi movies

My latest column is out with five sci-fi movies. The least expected one is probably Meet Cute, starring Pete Davidson and Kaley Cuoco, which is definitely not cute. Click here for the goods.

Friday, January 05, 2024

Why women love Reacher

Jack Reacher, we meet again! I looked at some of the reasons women love reading Reacher books and watching the "Reacher" series. It's not what you think. Click here for an article I had a lot of fun writing.

Edited to add a link to the audio story!

Monday, December 25, 2023

Waitress The Musical The Movie

 It's not called that but it should be. Click here for my review of the live capture of Sara Bareilles in her own musical, Waitress.

My favorite sci-fi movie of the year

Is it a masterpiece? No. Is it sneakily smart? Yes. Does it creep up on you? Absolutely. No One Will Save You is my favorite science-fiction movie of the year by far — and I watch a lot of movies in that genre. I wrote about it in my sci-fi column for the Times then again as my year-end pick. Thataway for my blurb and those of the other three genre columnists.

Science-fiction to stream in December

The latest installment of my science-fiction column is out, with five more indie and under-the-radar movies to stream this month. Go get 'em here

Best theater moments of 2023

It's always interesting to look back at the year in theater and see what stuck with me. Others shared some of my favorites (Laura Collins-Hughes on Jessica Chastain's exiting the stage at the end of A Doll's House, for example), and I got to write a few of my own. Head to the compilation, which is over here.