I had seen the Priven version, and went back to lend moral support on Friday, Jan. 2. Norbert Leo Butz is rapidly coming to own the role of Bobby Gould, with the result that I enjoyed the second performance even more than the first. Raul Esparza's character was wonderfully reptilian. There were big hugs among the performers at the curtain call, and the audience went wild. Don't miss this play, which is very much back on track.
At a performance of "The Master Builder" at the Irish Theater Company on 22nd St this afternoon, James Naughton became so enraged by a ringing cellphone in the audience that he seized it from its owner and smashed it to pieces on the stage floor. He then made an obscene hand gesture to its owner and seamlessly resumed his performance. The stunned audience then broke into applause. I just wish he had broken the phone over its owner's head.