Wednesday, August 16, 2023

Theater Update: Art (and bread) with a message

Jennifer Simard knows she's funny

Dear Theater Fans,

Peter Schumann's "manic creative energy" was on full display last month when Bob Morris visited the Bread and Puppet Theater in Glover, Vt. Schumann, the theater's 89-year-old artistic director, has been baking bread, painting, directing — basically working with "wild abandon, trying to squeeze it all in," his son Max noted. The theater is going strong and so is Schumann, but what will happen when he is gone?

In the jukebox musical "Once Upon a One More Time," Jennifer Simard is nailing her comedic take on Cinderella's evil stepmother. She finds value in seeing "how small you can make something and achieve a big result," she told Juan A. Ramírez. How does she approach her comedic roles? "It's what the character is not getting — what they are frustrated about — that's funniest," she said.

A Broadway play about the behind-the-scenes struggles during the making of "Jaws" will certainly delight fans of that Hollywood blockbuster. But Jesse Green wasn't won over, writing in his review of "The Shark Is Broken": "Were it not for its curious meta-story, the play would be little more than a pleasant diversion: 95 minutes of bloodless, toothless, Hollywood-adjacent dramedy."

Across the pond, Alexis Soloski was on a mission: Figure out how the wild but true story of a World War II counterintelligence scheme was transformed into "the feel-good West End musical of the summer." It's called "Operation Mincemeat," and the theater collective behind it decided that some of the really crazy stuff had to go — even if it was historically accurate.

Please reach out to me at theaterfeedback@nytimes.com with suggestions for stories or to offer your thoughts on what you've read. And urge your friends to subscribe to this newsletter by clicking here.

Have a wonderful week,

Nicole Herrington

Theater Editor

(@nikkih04)

FEATURES AND NEWS

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Tony Cenicola/The New York Times

At 89, Still Making Art (and Bread) With a Message

Peter Schumann's Bread and Puppet Theater is going strong and, at 89, so is he. But what will happen to his company when he is gone?

By Bob Morris

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Jamie Pearl

This Evil Stepmother Has Perfect Comedic Timing

In "Once Upon a One More Time," Jennifer Simard finds value in seeing "how small you can make something and achieve a big result."

By Juan A. Ramírez

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Ellie Smith for The New York Times

In 'Operation Mincemeat,' the Theater of War Is a Comedy

How a theater collective transformed the too-weird-to-be-true story of a World War II counterintelligence scheme into a West End musical with heart.

By Alexis Soloski

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Ben Hickey

How Many Books Do You Know That Became Broadway Musicals?

Before they were bursting into song, some literary characters were bursting off the pages of popular books. Can you identify the sources of these five theatrical adaptations?

By J. D. Biersdorfer

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FROM THE CRITICS

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Sara Krulwich/The New York Times

Review: A Bloodless Postscript to 'Jaws' in 'The Shark Is Broken'

Just when you thought it was safe to go back in the theater, a play about the making of Hollywood's first summer blockbuster bobs up on Broadway.

By Jesse Green

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Ellie Gravitte

'A Eulogy for Roman' Review: Farewell to a Friend, With Help From the Audience

Check your cynicism at the door: Brendan George is earnest and endearing as he mourns Roman in this one-man show.

By Elisabeth Vincentelli

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Julie Howden

CRITIC'S NOTEBOOK

Wrestling With Identity at the Edinburgh Festival

In plays from Scotland, Korea and Switzerland, theater companies explored questions of belonging, with varying degrees of success.

By Houman Barekat

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Iain Masterton

'Food' Review: It's an Acquired Taste

At the Edinburgh Festival, Geoff Sobelle presents a dinner party as a theatrical spectacle, in which silliness is the end in itself.

By Houman Barekat

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