SITE GUIDE
SEARCH
REVIEWS
REVIEW ARCHIVES
ADVERTISING AT CURTAINUP
FEATURES
NEWS
Etcetera and
Short Term Listings
LISTINGS
Broadway
Off-Broadway
NYC Restaurants
BOOKS and CDs
OTHER PLACES
Berkshires
London
California
New Jersey
DC
Philadelphia
Elsewhere
QUOTES
TKTS
PLAYWRIGHTS' ALBUMS
LETTERS TO EDITOR
FILM
LINKS
MISCELLANEOUS
Free Updates
Masthead
Writing for Us
A CurtainUp Review
Prune Danish
By Miriam Colin
Jackie Mason
|
The only thing brand new about this show is the title, which refers to a favorite Jewish confection but seems to harbor no metaphoric meaning. Elyse Sommer's 1999 review of Much Ado About Everything pretty much describes the essence of Prune Danish. Expect a few amusing new caricatures (like the ones about Israeli leaders Sharon and Peres), and a lot of barely updated replays of his equal opportunity brand of insult humor laced with what Elyse described as his "cantorial wisdom." The ever over-sized ego (did you ever read a longer more hyperbolic bio in any Playbill?) and conservatism-fed mean spiritedness have increasingly diminished that wisdom's wit.
To give Mason his due, he's a talented caricaturist. His robotic head-shoulder and hand movements capture the essence of his victims with a sharpness akin to Al Hirshfeld's pen strokes. His timing is as on the button as ever and even the show's limited run is smartly timed to fly out of the Royale along with the sunshine bound Snowbirds who adore his shtick even when the comic pastry is saturated with fat that has been standing around too long.
Prune Danish is the second solo show starring a comedian, to open on Broadway in the last fortnight. But Say Goodnight Gracie, while not much of a play and also relying on familiar humor and a core audience of old timers, is a touching homage to life and love. Prune Danish is Jackie Mason's homage to Jackie Mason.
LINK
Much Ado About Everything
|
Prune Danish
Written and directed by Jackie Mason Lighting Design: Traci Klainer Sound Design: Christopher Cronin Running time: 2 hours Royale Theater, 242 W. 45th St. 212/239-6200 Royale, 242 W. 45th St., (Broadway/8th Ave), 239-6200 6/1/02-12/1/02; opening 10/8/02. Tue - Sat 8pm, Wed-Sat 2pm, Sun 3pm--$40-$75 Reviewed by Miriam Colins based on October 19th performance. |
6, 500 Comparative Phrases including 800 Shakespearean Metaphors by CurtainUp's editor.
Click image to buy.
Go here for details and larger image.
