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inda Lavin’s outstanding role as a teacher in Collected Stories, by Donald Margulies, at the Samuel J. Friedman Theatre makes this intelligent play a delight.

As she gives a tutorial to a student (Sarah Paulson) on creative writing, we watch their relationship change over six years as the student becomes a successful writer.

Both actresses are well directed by Lynne Meadow. But the astonishing Lavin's impeccable performance makes her character memorable.

It is a ninety minute semi-autobiographical confessional about Sherie Rene Scott growing up in Kansas with a conservative, religious background, and a desire to be a star on Broadway.

She tells her story, does a couple of magic tricks, sings and dances with two backup singers, accompanied by a five piece band. This pleasant show received good reviews Off Broadway. On Broadway, it seems rather small.

Director Michael Mayer is brilliant, and his cast is terrific.  I enjoyed every minute of this rock opera.

It is the story of a suburban rebellious youth (John Gallagher, Jr.) and his adventures in the city, with sex, drugs and rock. Like the prodigal son, he returns home a changed and more mature person. It is a splendid production.

Thomas Hampson was outstanding as Alfredo's father, and was greeted with a well deserved ovation for his aria Di Provenza in the second act. James Valenti, who made his debut a few nights earlier, contributed to the success of the evening as Alfredo with a pleasant voice.

The orchestra played magnificently, under the direction of Yves Abel. The sumptuous sets in each act by Franco Zeffirelli are a joy to behold, and are the reason that opera can be called grand.  It was a glorious night for opera lovers.

She will definitely win the Tony Award as Featured Actress in a musical. She is brilliantly funny and enlivens the show.

Sean Hayes, as the man who goes up the corporate ladder by lending his apartment to his superiors for extramarital relations, is delightful and charming. Dick Latessa as a doctor, his neighbor, is also wonderful. The rest of the cast work hard, under the direction of Rob Ashford. But the above mentioned actors are the reason to see this revival.

The tale of a frustrated husband, and his relationship with his women and children, is at times melodramatic. But some of the scenes, especially between the two leads, will remain the most memorable of a season, noted for brilliant acting.

The rest of the cast is exceptional, under the expert direction of Kenny Leon. The audience will leave the theatre elated.

Corporate scandals have filled the papers in recent years; therefore a theatrical event has to be dramatically interesting. This play isn't. The cast works hard, under Rupert Goold's direction, and includes admirable actors like Norbert Leo Butz and Marin Mazzie.

I laughed for two and one half hours at the crazy plot, involving a famous tenor (Anthony LaPaglia) who arrives in Cleveland for a performance of Otello, and is unable to perform, causing complications for the impresario (Tony Shalhoub), his assistant (Justin Bartha) and the four women in the play.

Jan Maxwell as the tenor's wife steals every scene, in which she appears, but the entire cast contributes to the delightful silliness of the show.