Once again, Classicalite has proven itself ahead of the theatrical curve. Case in point: My own glowing February review of My Mother Has Four Noses by female folkie Jonatha Brooke.
Now, the New York Times has followed suit, dubbing Brooke and Jeremy B. Cohen's production a must see at the small Duke Theatre at on 42 Street.
The Times' Erik Piepenburg writes:
In the show, directed by Jeremy B. Cohen, Ms. Brooke weaves together storytelling and songs about caring for her mother, a Christian Scientist who suffered from dementia and cancer. In this scene she sings the number "Time," about being unprepared for her mother's death.
And Mr. Piepenburg, himself, is certainly on point. The crevices of time that flank our anxieties about the death of a loved one are wonderfully manipulated into a comedic form most suitable for ears of the ailing and brokenhearted.
My Mother Has Four Noses continues through May 4.
Alas, the Times has disabled embedding on their "In Performance" video of Brooke's mbira-led "Time," but ever the industrious critic, I found a bootleg.
