Profile for MemorableUserName

Wow. I love her...but always remember that Green was great when he was at NY Mag too. Will hope she is able to maintain her greatness and whatever being at the Times did to Green doesn't happen to her.

Defector is primarily a sports blog, but they have a Chess review posted today. I'm posting it mainly because some have claimed around here that the only people who hate the narrator are theater snobs and Chess fanatics, and that regular theatergoers love him and find it helpful how he explains the plot. This particular regular theatergoer, who seemed to know nothing about it going in and only went for a free ticket and the promise of Lea Michele, hated him too. (It's a pretty amusing review on the whole, and interesting to see a non-fan's reaction.)

‘Chess: The Musical’ Is Somehow More Of A Musical About Chess Than You Can Imagine

https://defector.com/chess-the-musical-broadway-review

"The worst part of Chess is this character called the Arbiter, essentially a chess judge. This revival doubles his role, as both judge within the show and omniscient narrator, meant to help us understand the musical's plot through a sarcastic, present-day lens. To do this, he treats the audience like we are children, spoonfeeding us painfully unfunny jokes about the worm in RFK Jr.'s brain and Joe Biden. I did not enjoy this character, how he took stage-time away from the sexy chess boys, and how some not insignificant part of the audience lapped up his non-jokes. Ha ha! they libbed out, hee hee! At one point, the Arbiter announced that Ronald Reagan had become president (not a joke, unfortunately), and a member of the audience unironically cheered."

Call_me_jorge said: "They also claim they’re a contributor to this very site. I have no idea if that true, but literally anyone can be a contributor to broadwayworld."

I don't have any strong feelings about the guy but it's a little odd to claim you don't know if it's true when their posts include links in same place they "claim" to be a contributor. 

https://www.reddit.com/r/Broadway/comments/1p6skq6/grosses_analysis_week_ending_november_23/

"I'm a contributor for Broadway World now! My most recent article can be found here- looking at the rising costs of musicals (a popular subject at the moment). A full archive of my work can be found here!"

If the reason you don't know is that you can't be bothered to click on a link to see one way or another, that's on you.

Hilty extends for a week (maybe because Simard is out that following week so they really need at least one of them and asked her to stay? Sales aren't looking great that week.)

People who bought their tickets for January 4 thinking it was her last show may be mad, but 1/4 may still be the last time to see them together.

Megan Hilty Extends Run in DEATH BECOMES HER by One Week

https://www.broadwayworld.com/article/Megan-Hilty-Extends-Run-in-DEATH-BECOMES-HER-by-One-Week-20251125

Variety:

‘Wicked’ Sequels Being Figured Out at Universal Pictures: ‘Things Are Underway’ to See How ‘We Can Continue in This Universe’

https://variety.com/2025/film/news/wicked-for-good-sequel-universal-continue-franchise-1236591573

Huss417 said: "VernonGersch said: "A Must See - do whatever you can to grab a ticket - and the closer to the stage the better.

With that being said, Ms. Manville was none too pleased with folks filming the curtain call. She gestured quite strongly for those two folks to put their iPhones down during bows. And the looks she was giving one particular gentlemen as the final curtain fell, daggers.

An incredible, riveting piece of theater that MUST be seen."

I must be losing my mind as I am sure I read this a couple of days ago on here as I recall the Manville shooting daggers comment.."

There was at least one post about it on Reddit last week:

https://www.reddit.com/r/Broadway/comments/1oys6hl/go_see_oedipus_but_maybe_leave_your_phone_in_your

And someone just posted an hour ago that they've seen it four times and she's glared at people filming four times:

https://www.reddit.com/r/Broadway/comments/1p6f038/oedipus_fyi_if_you_are_in_the_first_few_rows_do

 

Daily Beast

Two Strangers Carry a Cake Across New York—and Onto Broadway

MEET CUTE

A Yank and a Brit share an unforgettable few days in the Big Apple in the new musical rom-com.

https://www.thedailybeast.com/obsessed/two-strangers-carry-a-cake-across-new-yorkand-onto-broadway

"“Two Strangers” is funny in places, occasionally moving in others, and just a little off-feeling throughout, as if it is trying too hard to charm across the storytelling and whimsy chasms it creates for itself. Its flaws are not fatal, thanks to the singing skills, charm, and likeability of Pitts and Tutty who generate the right kind of tricky, rather than star-crossed, chemistry. (Can and should a would-be step-aunt and nephew really get together?)"

Three stars from NYP

‘Two Strangers (Carry A Cake Across New York)’ review: A hilarious new star bursts onto Broadway

https://nypost.com/2025/11/20/entertainment/two-strangers-carry-a-cake-across-new-york-review-a-hilarious-new-star-bursts-onto-broadway

"Tutty’s co-star in the two-hander, Christiani Pitts, is lovely as the Brooklyn-born city dweller who picks him up at JFK. Chemistry is essential here, and the well-cast pair blindingly spark. But the truth is that Tutty is not only carrying a cake, but an entire show."

B+ from Entertainment Weekly

Two Strangers (Carry a Cake Across New York) review: A delightful rom-com musical comes to Broadway

A show all about connection connects in all the best ways.

https://ew.com/two-strangers-carry-a-cake-across-new-york-review-delightful-rom-com-musical-broadway-11850800

 

NY Daily News/Chicago Tribune

BROADWAY REVIEW: ‘Two Strangers Carry a Cake Across NY’ is cute but too long

https://www.nydailynews.com/2025/11/20/broadway-review-two-strangers-carry-a-cake-across-ny-is-cute-but-too-long

"Stories with odd couples on the edge of Eros, so to speak, can be very effective (see the movie “Lost in Translation” or the musical “The Band’s Visit“) but if writers choose to have their couple get naked and hit the sheets, in this case at the Plaza Hotel, since we’re all about New York aspiration here, they struggle to know where to go. So while this show held me for Act One with its considerable charm, by Act Two, it was hitting turbulence. 90 minutes and out would have been a better plan."

The Wrap

'Two Strangers' Broadway Review: They Sing Together, They Dance Together, They Don't Belong Together

"Two Strangers" is a new rom-com musical begins promisingly but loses its way somewhere between JFK and midtown Manhattan.

https://www.thewrap.com/two-strangers-broadway-review

Theatrely is negative

TWO STRANGERS (CARRY A CAKE ACROSS NEW YORK): The Great British Millennial-Off — Review

https://www.theatrely.com/post/two-strangers-carry-a-cake-across-new-york-the-great-british-millennial-off-review

"I felt a disorienting generational whiplash throughout the treacly rom-com Two Strangers (Carry a Cake Across New York). The latest British musical to make it through that country’s off-off ranks and onto our shores, it follows two 20-somethings during a whirlwind wedding weekend in present-day New York. And yet it fundamentally misunderstands Gen Z, is shot through with elder Millennial sensibility, and had a mostly older crowd wiping tears of laughter from their eyes. They seemed to thoroughly enjoy it, so congrats to all involved, but let me submit my dissenting opinion anyway."

Vulture: McHenry is mixed

Two Strangers (Carry a Cake Across New York) Is a Little Sweet, a Little Spongy

'Two Strangers (Carry a Cake Across New York),' an oddball British musical by Barne and Buchan, is charming but feels underscale for Broadway.

https://www.vulture.com/article/theater-review-two-strangers-carry-a-cake-across-new-york-barne-buchan-broadway.html

NY Stage Review

Two Strangers (Carry a Cake Across New York): Charming Musical Rom-Com Isn’t Heavy Lifting

By Frank Scheck

November 20, 2025

★★★★☆ Sam Tutty and Christiani Pitts star in this London import that could be a sleeper hit.

 

Two Strangers (Carry a Cake Across New York): A Tasty Slice of Cake

By David Finkle

November 20, 2025

★★★★☆ Musical import tells sweet-bitter tale of Brit and American finding each other and themselves

NYT Critic's Pick from Collins-Hughes

https://www.nytimes.com/2025/11/20/theater/two-strangers-carry-cake-review.html

‘Two Strangers’ Review: Meeting Cute, Toting Baggage

The effervescent musical, a new London import, delivers lavishly on the promise of a rom-com: laughter, escape and fantasy.

Helen Shaw's review for the New Yorker came out yesterday if it hasn't been posted yet.

Kristin Chenoweth’s Uneven Gilt Trip in “The Queen of Versailles”

https://www.newyorker.com/magazine/2025/11/24/the-queen-of-versailles-theatre-review-the-burning-cauldron-of-fiery-fire

 

Also Rita Moreno has been open about the fact that her career struggled immediately after she won an Oscar for the same role, partly because she was only offered stereotypical roles she turned down. Things may be somewhat better, but are there a lot of roles DeBose would have been right for that she's missed out on? Being an Oscar winner doesn't go far if the roles simply aren't there.

Sean Hayes in The Unknown

https://studioseaview.com/show/the-unknown/

EDSOSLO858 said: "DTLI Consensus:Rollicking pop-rock score? Check. Three charismatic leads with immense vocal prowess? Check.Slick, sleek direction? Check. An improved revival of a famously flawed tuner? Not quite checkmate.

9 mixed (including the NYT), 3 positive, 3 negative.

https://didtheylikeit.com/shows/chess/"

I usually find it tiresome to argue over what's been classified positive/mixed/negative...but Holdren's review should clearly be positive, not mixed.