Reviews in Brief

THEATER REVIEW / BROADWAY

Children of a Lesser God

Groundbreaking in its day, “Children of a Lesser God” feels like a slog in this revival directed by Kenny Leon. Mark Medoff’s play, about a romance between a teacher for the deaf and a deaf woman who works at his school, deflates into just another romantic drama about mismatched lovers struggling to surmount their differences. The writer doesn’t seem to have any special aptitude for the language of love, and his efforts to lighten it up are cringe-worthy. Actor Joshua Jackson gives a strained performance, but newcomer Lauren Ridloff, in the role for which Marlee Matlin won an Oscar, is stunning. She continues the tradition of deaf actresses who come out of nowhere and knock us off our feet.

Director: Kenny Leon Cast: Joshua Jackson, Lauren Ridloff, Julee Cerda, Treshelle Edmond, Kecia Lewis, John Mcginty, Anthony Edwards

THEATER REVIEW / BROADWAY

Carousel

“Carousel” is sheer bliss in this immaculate revival of Rodgers & Hammerstein’s 1945 dramatic musical starring Jessie Mueller, Renee Fleming and the thrilling Joshua Henry. Director Jack O’brien has given us a conventional production, in the sense of a show that takes no risks but preserves and protects all the original values of a great American musical. Henry delivers an electrifying performance as the charismatic but star-cursed Billy Bigelow, Mueller is enchanting and a fabulous ensemble of singer-dancers gives wings to Justin Peck’s choreography. It’s wonderful to see a classic work as it was written and how it was meant to be played, and it’s especially enlightening to see what Broadway managed to create while the rest of the country was at war.

Director: Jack O’brien Cast: Joshua Henry, Jessie Mueller, Renee Fleming, Lindsay Mendez, Alexander Gemignani, Margaret Colin, John Douglas Thompson, Amar Ramasar, Brittany Pollack