Cymbeline by William Shakespeare. Lincoln Center Theater at the Vivian Beaumont. Starring John Cullum, Michael Cerveris, Martha Plimpton, Phylicia Rashad; directed by Mark Lamos. Led by the wondrous Martha Plimpton as Imogen, the stirring Michael Cerveris as her husband Posthumus, dynamic Phylicia Rashad as the evil Queen, this is a magnificent production of a rarely performed Shakespeare play. Very much from the same mould as the even greater "Winter's Tale," "Cymbeline" is a play using Shakespeare's themes of jealousy, disappearances, revival, redemption and forgiveness. First among a cast of equals is Martha Plimpton. This is a performance that should put her in the pantheon with the greatest actresses to play Shakespeare. Phylicia Rashad is right there with Plimpton giving a deliciously evil portrayal. Mention should be made of the grand old veteran John Cullum who is an ideal King. I can't praise the scenery, costumes and the direction highly enough. It's an ideal production, with nary any gimmickry, or anachronistic devices. This memorable production merits our highest mark for the Broadway Bridge and Tunnel Test. A+

Pygmalion, a play by George Bernard Shaw at the American Airlines Theatre. Roundabout Theatre Company, starring Claire Danes, Jefferson Mays, Boyd Gaines and Jay O. Sanders, directed by David Grindley. We practically flew home to Princeton, so exhilarated were we by this pitch perfect revival of Shaw's masterwork "Pygmalion." Just a week ago we were treated to a great performance by a television star, Jennifer Garner. Tonight it was a great performance by luminous film star Claire Danes (who had a Pygmalion-like turn in the fine film "Shop Girl"). Danes is a fabulous Eliza: with flawless accent and graceful physicality, she's utterly charming and winning, fully worthy of comparison to the legendary Wendy Hiller in the famous Asquith film. So too is Jefferson Mays equal to his predecessor, Leslie Howard. Mays is a mercurial quicksilver Higgins, brilliant, petulant, and like Danes, winning. Boyd Gaines is a warm and sympathetic Colonel Pickering, while Jay O. Sanders delivers his biting Shavian satire with gusto - he had the audience eating out of his hands. The rest of the supporting cast is also on the highest level. The direction is flawless (my only caveat is the canned music in the scene changes). The sets are gorgeous, rich, satisfying. I've seen many Shaw revivals and have not enjoyed any of them half as much as this one. Other than "The Doctor's Dilemma," this is my favorite Shaw play. It's much deeper and has a satirical edge that the wonderful musical "My Fair Lady" lacks. It is, in my opinion, a better work. It's pure Shaw. This is Theatrical Nirvana. Broadway Bridge and Tunnel Test Grade. A+