Fornés: Mud /Drowning

THEATER / OPERA
FRIDAY – SUNDAY, FEBRUARY 21 – 23, 2020 (continuing through MARCH 7)
7:30 PM FRIDAY & SATURDAY
5:00 PM SUNDAY

Mabou Mines
150 First Avenue, East Village, Manhattan

$25; $20 students/seniors
https://www.maboumines.org/production/mud-drowning/

The María Irene Fornés revival continues apace.  Here are two short pieces directed by Mabou veteran JoAnne Akalaitis.  Mud, set in the Depression '30s, would be social realism if Fornés had any inclination toward realism.  Which, thank God, she doesn't.  Drowning has some remote inspiration in Chekhov — although I'd call it Beckett (an old Akalaitis antagonist) crossed with early Albee, all through the unique lens of Fornés.  (You've got to read this review by the unlamented John Simon:  how is it possible to be wrong about so many things in so short a space?)  Philip Glass (who was married to Akalaitis long ago) has written new incidental music for Mud, and has newly turned Drowning into a chamber opera.  As you'd expect, the entire run is almost entirely sold out; look for cancellations etc.

MAKE A NIGHT OF IT:  There's a lot of Mod Korean in New York these days.  Thursday Kitchen is a particularly delightful example.