REVIEW: “Anastasia” at the New York State Theatre Institute

Reviewed by Gail M. Burns, April 2008 Believe it or not, when I was a very little girl, I wanted to be a princess. Upon learning that Americans couldn’t be princesses (Shhhh! Don’t tell Walt Disney or Grace Kelly!) I switched to wanting to be a paleontologist and then a…

REVIEW: “Miracle on 34th Street” at the New York State Theatre Institute

Reviewed by Gail M. Burns, December 2007 “Is this what Christmas has degenerated into, Doctor? It’s pure commercialism. Is there no true Christmas spirit left in the world?” Maybe I am turning into a real Grinch in my old age, but the NYSTI production of Miracle on 34th Street left me absolutely…

REVIEW: “Better Don’t Talk” at the New York State Theatre Institute

Reviewed by Gail M. Burns, October 2006 If you love theatre, you MUST go and see Better Don’t Talk, and you better had hurry because it is only playing through October 29 at NYSTI! I make this bold statement not only because Naava Piatka gives a tour de force performance in this one-woman…

REVIEW: “The Unexpected Guest” at the New York State Theatre Institute

Reviewed by Gail M. Burns, October 2005 I spent a great deal of time the past week grumbling about murder mystery plays. I am not much of a mystery fan, and I will never understand the American value system that categorizes murder as “wholesome entertainment”, but I find mysteries in…