David Bell’s “Tonylust” at the Duplex is inside baseball for the die-hard theater fan. Bitingly satiric and full of buoyant malevolence, the show is a send-up of the drive for a Tony Award that can lead to all kinds of acting-out by those behind the scenes.
If not as consistently hilarious as Bell’s other shows, particularly last year’s “The Gay Naked Play,” the new show delivers plenty of laughs and the ego boost to those who get all the little digs. It’s a fast-paced, fun 60 minutes that often fizzes if it never really sparkles.
“Tonylust” is part of the Emerging Artists Theater series at the Duplex, 61 Christopher St. in Sheridan Square, Thursdays and Saturdays at 9:30 p.m. through June 4. The cover charge is $10, with a two-drink minimum. For reservations, call 212-255-5438.
Scott Siegel’s “Broadway by the Year” series continues to be one of my favorite nights for New York’s theater crowd—a view shared by fans of the series who crowded Town Hall two weeks ago and say they never miss one of Siegel’s shows.
Combining A-list Broadway talent with Siegel’s wonderfully dry wit, these evenings catalog the shows of a specific season. Last time it was 1955 with selections from “Damn Yankees,” “Pipe Dream,” “Plain and Fancy,” “Silk Stockings” and others. The shows selected for showcasing are not necessarily all-time favorites, but with wonderful performances by stars like Patti Cohenour, Dee Hoty and Liz Larsen (of whom we don’t see enough), these evenings are wonderfully entertaining and, along with the “Encores” series at City Center, an important part of keeping musical theater heritage part of our lives.
Next up on Monday, June 13, are the shows of 1962, including selections from “A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum” (Stephen Sondheim); “Stop the World––I Want to Get Off” (Anthony Newley and Leslie Bricusse); “Mr. President” (Irving Berlin); “Little Me” (Cy Coleman & Carolyn Leigh); “No Strings” (Richard Rodgers); “All American” (Charles Strouse & Lee Adams); “I Can Get It For You Wholesale” (Harold Rome) and more. Tickets are $40 at 212-307-4100.
––CHRISTOPHER BYRNE.
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