Still More Theater Saturday - Does Not Compute

We received complimentary tickets to Does Not Compute for review purposes. Any and all opinions expressed here are our own. 

What: Does Not Compute

Where: American Theatre of Actors

             John Cullum Theatre 

             314 W. 54th St.

Who: Recommended for Ages 12 and Up

When: This event occurred from May 15 through May 17, 2026.

Does Not Compute is a musical that is both timely and terrifying. When a couple brings a pair of robots in to do their work for them, the robots eventually start taking over. However, while the premise is interesting, the show is underwhelming. Beyond the basic premise, the plot is thin, and the songs are not memorable nor even that exciting to listen to in the first place. 

The performances, particularly those of the actors portraying the main robots, Brooke DeRosa and Phil Meyer, were excellent, however. They were extremely and at times frighteningly believable and definitely the highlight of the show. 

And that's our view. To learn more about Trial Run productions and to find out about any upcoming productions, go to www.trialrunproductions.com.

Tune in tomorrow for this week's Sunday Scoop. 

Theater Thursday - Jerome

We received complimentary tickets to Jerome for review purposes. Any and all opinions expressed here are our own. 

What: Jerome

Where: Playwrights Horizons

             416 W. 42nd St.

             New York, NY 

Who: Recommended for Ages 17 and Up Due to Subject Matter

When: Through June 21, 2026

Jerome is a story about dying, but also a story about living. Jerome is a dying place, specifically a largely deserted town in the Arizona wilderness. Two of its inhabitants are an aging gay couple, Con and Doan.  Con is also dying, and although the play takes place at the beginning of the AIDS crisis, he is not dying from that, and it is never made clear exactly what he is dying from. The show focuses on the relationship that develops between these two men and Bruin, a stranger with a damaged past. 

The show deals with a polyamorous relationship, which is right away going to offend some people, although, to be fair, most, if not all, of those people were already going to be offended by a gay relationship, and this is not the show for them anyway. However, anyone who feels that way is really just closing their mind to something beautiful because, at its core, this is a show about love. It is not so much about the physical act of making love as about the spiritual feeling of love in one's heart without any specific religious connotations. Con is a character who loves his partner so much that he wants to ensure that his partner will not be alone when he dies. This selfless act sets the entire plot in motion.

The three men are touchingly played by Stephen Spinella, Jeorge Bennett Watson, and Ken Barnett, as Con, Doan, and Bruin, respectively. Spinella's portrayal of Con is particularly moving. The play is at times heartwarming, at times heartbreaking, and sprinkled with a generous amount of humor. Even though there is a vein of sadness that runs throughout, it is surprisingly hopeful and a little bit uplifting as well.

And that's our view. For more about Jerome or to purchase tickets, visit www.playwrightshorizons.org/shows/production-history/2020s/2526/jerome

Tune in Saturday for Still More Theater Saturday.

Photo credits: 

All Jerome production photos by Maria Baranova

Images used in this post were sent by publicists, artists, and/or  PR firms and are used by permission.  Any Concerns regarding image usage can be addressed here.

Where-To-Go Wednesday - Hall of Asian Animals

We received complimentary tickets to the American Museum of Natural History for review purposes. Any and all opinions expressed here are our own.

What: Hall of Asian Animals

Where: American Museum of Natural History

            200 Central Park W.

            New York, NY

Who: All ages

The Hall of Asian Animals at the American Museum of Natural History highlights animals from countries such as India, Myanmar, and Thailand. Featured species include lions, tigers, rhinoceroses, various kinds of bears and deer, and more. The centerpiece of the exhibit, much like the Hall of African Animals, is a herd of elephants, except, of course, in this case, they are Asian Elephants. 

There is plenty of signage throughout the exhibit that provides more information on the animals in the hall. Available information may include the historical background of the animals featured, where they are currently found, what makes them different from similar animals, and their conservation status. Many of the animals showcased in the exhibit are on the endangered species list. In fact, the Siberian tiger and the giant panda were both moved from this hall to another location, the Hall of Biodiversity, where they are featured in an exhibit specifically focusing on endangered species.

And that's our view. For more about Hall of Asian Animals, go to www.amnh.org/exhibitions/permanent/asian-mammals. For more about the American Musem of Natural History in general or to purchase tickets for a visit, go to www.amnh.org.

All pictures used in this post are our own.  Any concerns regarding image usage can be addressed here.