Still More Theater Saturday - The Magnificent Mrs. Pham

We received complimentary tickets to The Magnificent Mrs. Pham for review purposes. Any and all opinions expressed here are our own.

What:The Magnificent Mrs. Pham

Where: HERE Arts Center 

             145 Sixth Ave.

             New York, NY

Who: Recommended for Ages 16 and Up

When: Through February 28, 2026

The Magnificent Mrs. Pham is purported to be the story of a Vietnamese boat person and her journey to America. However, that part of the story gets short shrift and the story is more split between her life in Vietnam and her life in America with little or nothing about her actual journey. Much of the story is more of domestic drama which is much less interesting than the story we were led to be believe we'd be seeing.

The show is completely told through songs. Although the country western style is a bit disconcerting for the setting, there are some really enjoyable songs including a beautiful song that has something to do with roses. Others, however, are not even fun to listen to within the show or just seem completely out of place.

The show starts out with some beautifully colored shadow puppetry. It is unclear, how this part relates to the rest of the show. The majority of the show takes place in a pool of water. This makes more sense for the Vietnam portion than the American portion. The staging is, however, the most interesting thing about the show and what makes it worth seeing.

And that's our view. Although the remainder of the run of The Magnificent Mrs. Pham is allegedly sold out, you can learn more or check on the availability of additional tickets at here.org/shows/puppetopia-ms-pham.

Tune in tomorrow for this week's Sunday Scoop.

Photo credits:

All The Magnificent Mrs. Pham production photos by Richard Termine.

Images used in this post were sent by publicists, artists, and/or  PR firms and are used by permission.  Address any concerns regarding image usage here.

Theater Thursday - Not Nobody

We received complimentary tickets to Not Nobody for review purposes. Any and all opinions expressed here are our own.

What: Not Nobody

Where: 59E59 Theaters

             59 E. 59 St.

             New York, NY 

Who: Recommended for Ages 13 and Up

When: Through March 1, 2026

Brian Dysktra is a playwright whose works are both timely and provocative. They make you think about things in ways you might not have contemplated previously. His latest, Not Nobody, revolves around a man who finds himself caught up in a police involved shooting.  At first, McAlester Daily is hailed as a hero after allegedly saving an officer's life. However, his failure to conform to expectations quickly changes the accepted narrative. 

This smart show sharply highlights why some people might be distrustful of authority. However, it also shines a light on the reverse side, illuminating how easy it is to become caught up in bureaucracy rather than taking the time to assess a particular situation on its own merits. 

The performances are excellent. Dykstra himself brilliantly portrays Daily as a man trying to live ethically in a world that increasingly makes it more difficult to do so. He is joined by Sheffield Chastain, Kathiamarice Lopez, and Kate Siahaan-Rigg as various authority figures, and others caught up in a system that doesn't allow for deviation. Together, they do an excellent job of presenting this very thoughtful material. 

And that's our view. For more about Not Nobody or to purchase tickets, visit www.59e59.org/shows/show-detail/not-nobody.

Tune in Saturday for Still More Theater Saturday.

Photo credits:

All Not Nobody production photos by Carol Rosegg

Images used in this post were sent by publicists, artists, and/or  PR firms and are used by permission.  Address any concerns regarding image usage here.

Where-To-Go Wednesday - Our Composite Nation: Frederick Douglass' America

We received complimentary tickets to the New York Historical for review purposes. Any and all opinions expressed here are our own.

What: Our Composite Nation: Frederick Douglass' America

Where: New York Historical

              170 Central Park W.

              New York, NY

Who: All ages

When: Ongoing

In this last week of Black History Month, we are spotlighting Our Composite Nation: Frederick Douglass' America. This is an ongoing exhibit at the New York Historical based on orator and abolitionist, Frederick Douglass's famed "Our Composite Nation" speech. Different panels in the exhibit highlight some of the ideals he outlined in this speech, including absolute equality, religious liberty, and hope. You can listen to or read a full transcript of the speech in the Bloomberg Connects app, which is a comprehensive curated content guide to numerous museums around the world. 

For more about Our Composite Nation: Frederick Douglass' America, go to www.nyhistory.org/exhibitions/our-composite-nation-frederick-douglass-america or check out the Bloomberg Connects app. For more about the New York Historical in general or to purchase tickets to visit, go to www.nyhistory.org.

All pictures used in this post are our own. Address any concerns regarding image usage here.