The Truth has it all – Deception, humor, suspense and style. The play is running at the legendary Wyndham Theater in London and is so much fun to watch. THE TRUTH is a biting comedy which examines the complex relationship of two couples entangled in the politics of extra marital affairs, friendship, deceit and ultimately, the truth.. The Truth is funny, thought-provoking and plays seamlessly as a dream. It owes something to Les Liaisons Dangereuses (also translated by Hampton) and more (a debt acknowledged by author Florian Zeller) to Pinter’s Betrayal. It is an unusually accomplished piece about two unfaithful couples. A millefeuille of truth and deceit, it keeps us guessing: duped, enlightened, duped again. Go see it as long as itt’s still running (at least until September 2)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ny8bNOKB0gI
Category Archives: Theater-Performance
Groundhog Day – Old Vic and Tim Minchin Mean Magic
This is the hottest ticket in town. The musical version of Groundhog Day (yes, the flick with Bill Murray), with music and lyrics by Tim Minchin, began previews at London’s Old Vic Theatre last week, Hard to imagine that the movie can be made in to a musical but let me assure you it can. TrendEngel had the chance to see the very first performance and it was fabulous. Standing ovation and happy faces all around. The musical at the Old Vic is a bit of a contradiction but this is not just fun but also intelligent and did I mention fun?
Hearts will melt and the songs of Tim Minchin, one of our favorite comedians and song writers will stay with you for a long time. It will soon be a cliche to say it: but this is a Groundhog Day you’ll be happy to relive time and again.
Horace And Pete – Louis C.K. and Steve Buscemi Surprise Everyone
No one saw this coming – no one. Suddenly there is a new web series with some of the best actors in the world and everybody is surprised.
Sometimes you don’t want to go where everybody knows your name. Sometimes it becomes oppressive — the history, the choking familiarity, the endlessly repeated fights. Sometimes you want to go just about anywhere else. But what choice do you have?
This is the theme of “Horace and Pete,” the mournful and — judging from the first episode — unshakable new series that the comedian Louis C.K. dropped without warning, Beyoncé-style, on his website Saturday morning. Written, directed by and starring Louis C.K. (with several famous friends), it may best be described as a “Cheers” spec script by Eugene O’Neill: a snapshot of a family — and a country — suffering a hangover decades in the making.
If that happy description is enough to make you want to pay the $5 download fee, you may want to stop reading now. Part of the power of the premiere episode comes from its unfolding without quite knowing what it is.
If you want to know more: Do not expect a laugh riot, though there are some rueful chuckles. Horace (Louis C.K.), the 50-something operator of a 100-year-old dive bar in Brooklyn, has the bedraggled look of a man who does not see many good days — and this one is going to be worse than most.
His business partner, Pete (Steve Buscemi), is acting erratically, having gone off his meds because of insurance troubles. Horace’s grown daughter, Alice (Aidy Bryant), resents him. And his sister, Sylvia (Edie Falco), comes with a lawyer to contest the ownership of the foundering bar, the implications of which end up spilling family resentments like cheap booze from a smashed bottle.
Louis C.K explains exactly what it’s all about – here
TrendEngel Award 2015 – Best Play
This is without a doubt the best play in German TrendEngel has seen in years and he play of the year. Adapted from the movie Autumn Sonata (Herbstsonate) by Swedish master Ingmar Bergmann this is captivating theater from the get go. Deutsches Theater in Berlin is the gold standard in German theatre. Now you know why. Seven years after last seeing her family, the world-famous pianist Charlotte Andergast visits her daughter Eva, who lives with her husband in the Norwegian countryside. Both Eva and Charlotte – who has consistently neglected her family for the sake of her career – hope for a reconciliation.
Al Pacino on Broadway – David Mamet’s China Doll
Al Pacino makes his long-awaited return to Broadway in China Doll, a brand-new play especially written for him by Pulitzer Prize-winning playwright David Mamet. Last seen on Broadway in 2012-13 in Mamet’s production of Glengarry Glen Ross, two-time Tony-winning Pacino will star in this two-hander with up and coming actor Christopher Denham (“Master Harold”…and the boys) as his assistant Carson.
A frequent collaborator with Mamet, Pacino will originate the role of a semi-retired multi-millionaire Mickey Ross, who has just bought an airplane for his much-younger fiancee. Just as he is about to leave the office one last time, his assistant patches through a call. What transpires next will test the mettle of any person about to embark on a life-changing event.
Who hasn’t seen Pacino on stage should not hesitate and board the flight to the Big Apple.
Dangerous Liaisons in London – The Domar
If you want to see one more play this year make it LES LIAISONS DANGEREUSES at the Donmar Warehouse in London. The run starts on December 11 and this is the plotFormer lovers, the Marquise de Merteuil and Vicomte de Valmont now compete in games of seduction and revenge. Merteuil incites Valmont to corrupt the innocent Cecile de Volanges before her wedding night but Valmont has targeted the peerlessly virtuous and beautiful Madame de Tourvel. While these merciless aristocrats toy with others’ hearts and reputations, their own may prove more fragile than they supposed.
All of this is not really important once you know that the play features Dominic West (The Wire) and Michelle Dockery (Yes – Lady Mary from Downton Abbey) as well as Jane McTeer.
Demetri Martin – Live – At the Time
Netflix knows what people want – or at least what TrendEngel wants. The new standup special featuring Demetri Martin is just – for lack of a better word – hillarious. See for yourself:
Three Days in The Country – National Theater Rocks
This is the Theater event of the summer. Make sure you see this masterpiece and the performances of Amanda Drew and John Simm. The National Theater at its best. Book your flight to London.
Russia. A beautiful country estate.
The mid-nineteenth century.
A handsome new tutor brings reckless, romantic desire to an eccentric household. Over three days one summer the young and the old will learn lessons in love: first love and forbidden love, maternal love and platonic love, ridiculous love and last love. The love left unsaid and the love which must out.
Ivan Turgenev’s passionate, moving comedy, A Month in the Country, has been a source of inspiration for films, a ballet and the plays of Chekhov. It’s presented here in a new version by Patrick Marber whose work includes Closer and The Red Lion
Deutsches Theater Berlin – Herbstsonate
This is without a doubt the best play in German TrendEngel has seen in years. Adapted from the movie Autumn Sonata (Herbstsonate) by Swedish master Ingmar Bergmann this is captivating theater from the get go. Deutsches Theater in Berlin is the gold standard in German theatre. Now you know why. Seven years after last seeing her family, the world-famous pianist Charlotte Andergast visits her daughter Eva, who lives with her husband in the Norwegian countryside. Both Eva and Charlotte – who has consistently neglected her family for the sake of her career – hope for a reconciliation.
Charlotte’s second daughter Helena was admitted to a private clinic years before because of an incurable illness. When Charlotte arrives, she is surprised to find that her daughter Helena is now living with and being cared for by Eva. Charlotte covers up her annoyance about this unwanted confrontation with Helena. In an argument with Eva at the piano about the interpretation of a Chopin sonata, she upsets her daughter with her condescending tone, and the harmonious facade begins to crack. Director Jan Busse is almost as good as Ingmar Bergmann and the cast is the best of the best. You will leave the theatre a changed person. Go and see the play – There aren’t too many chances to do so.
City Of Angels – The Theater event of the New Year – Play of The Year
London is the epicenter of the theater world and the Donmar Warehouse is probably the most consistent and important theater of the West End. Now City of Angels is dazzling critics and theater goers alike. So much fun and worth the trip to London.
Two decades after its London premier, Donmar artistic director Josie Rourke revives one of the acknowledged greats of twentieth century musical theatre.
Hollywood comes calling for a New York novelist. The offer is too good to refuse: adapt the private detective protagonist of his books into a big-screen hero. The siren song of Los Angeles is a dangerous temptation and while his movie plays out in black and white, his new life is all-too colourful.
With a sensational jazz score by Cy Coleman, sizzling lyrics from David Zippel and book by acclaimed comic screenwriter Larry Gelbart (M*A*S*H, Tootsie), CITY OF ANGELS, is a witty and glorious celebration of film noir.