Broadway Bridge and Tunnel Test

The Broadway Bridge and Tunnel Test is our personal and highly opinionated Commuter's Guide to New York theater and cultural events, with an emphasis on Broadway and Off-Broadway theatrical productions. The test is simple: is an event worth the always expensive, time consuming, and too often horrendous struggle to commute to New York City from New Jersey, Long Island, Upstate New York or Connecticut? Only truly great or near-great performances and productions may meet this stiff challenge!

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Location: Princeton, New Jersey, United States

James Camner is an antiquarian dealer of autographs, manuscripts and printed music and books of Opera, Classical Music, Theater, Dance, and Film, as well as a published author of more than 10 books on the performing arts including "How to Enjoy Opera" (Simon and Schuster), "The Great Opera Stars in Historic Photographs" (Dover), "Stars of American Musical Theater in Historic Photographs" (Dover - with Stanley Appelbaum); was for over 20 years a reviewer for Fanfare Magazine and has written feature articles and reviews for Opera News.

Tuesday, August 19, 2008

Buffalo Gal, a play by A. R. Gurney at Primary Stages. Starring Susan Sullivan, Jennifer Regan, directed by Mark Lamos. We felt A. R. Gurney's "Indian Blood" was a play to set beside O'Neill's " light masterwork of Americana, Ah Wilderness!" So when it was announced that the same playwright would present another nostalgic look at his native Buffalo, and at the same theater with the same director, we jumped even though we've been taking the summer off from NY theater. Unfortunately, although there are rewards in "Buffalo Gal", mainly a superb performance from Susan Sullivan who is virtually typecast in the role of a television star trying to go home, the polemical nature of the play and the uneven performances of other cast members, particularly Jennifer Regan made this a much lesser experience. It's possible that with better cast members and a different directorial slant, and with a little editing of the speeches about regional theater (similar to platitudes one hears come Tony Awards time), there is a gem here. As it is, we had a split decision. I enjoyed it, particularly when Sullivan and the fine Dathan B. Williams were lighting up the stage, and our daughter was positive, but my wife was less enchanted. We all agreed that "Buffalo Gal" was enjoyable, but not worth a commute. Broadway Bridge and Tunnel Grade C+