The Lit Hub staff has been busy this week, and they are not complaining. Between a new play, an O’Neill revival, a beloved song, and a string of festival films, the team is finding plenty to cheer about. Brittany Allen rounds up the highlights in her latest round-up, titled “Here’s What’s Making Us Happy This Week.”
The Play That Drew Folta In
James Folta caught ANON: A Tempest at Our Kitchen Table at MCC, a new play by Anne Washburn. The piece follows two Texas households on opposite sides of a culture war, but Folta insists the logline undersells the experience. “I was skeptical of something so ripped from the recent headlines,” he said, “but it was excellent, and a very interesting dramatization of the moment.” The production runs through November.
Folta singled out the staging, directed by Anne Kauffman, and the performances of Crystal Finn and Izabel Mar. He framed his praise as a correction to the blurb, arguing that the play’s dialogue and spectacle justify the attention.
“I was skeptical of something so ripped from the recent headlines,” said James. “But it was excellent, and a very interesting dramatization of the moment.”
Sheehan’s Trip To Dublin
Dan Sheehan and his father are headed to Ireland for the Dublin Theatre Festival. There, they will see Eugene O’Neill’s A Moon for the Misbegotten, a classic about an immigrant Irish family settling in rural Connecticut. The production runs three hours plus, and Sheehan calls himself “slightly worried about disgracing” himself with a snore.
The production is directed by Garry Hynes, described as “unmissable” by Sheehan, who hopes her direction will keep things lively enough to stay awake.
Odintz’s Festival Jam
Molly Odintz is getting ready for Simchat Torah. She has been listening to “Simkhes-Toyre” by the Klezmatics, a song she remembers fondly from her teenage years. She describes the track as “just as much of a banger as the teenage self remembered.”
The song is part of the Klezmatics’ catalog.
Allen’s Film Festival Run
Allen herself has been attending the New York Film Festival at Lincoln Center. She is riding the coattails of a member friend to screenings throughout the week, and she says the energy of the crowd is part of the draw.
“Any given attendee among hundreds of assembled film nerds will have a strong opinion on Richard Brody, the Criterion Closet, or Korean New Wave,” she writes. “I mean, the eavesdropping alone!”
Her favorite films in the fest so far share a common thread. All three are warm-hearted tributes to human connection, intelligence, and grace.
- Once Upon a Time in Harlem drops viewers into a salon full of luminaries.
- Mike Leigh’s Tender Loving Care focuses on quiet acts of care within families, friendships, and institutions.
- Lee Chang-Dong’s Possible Love pairs a sharp social critique with two electric lead performances.
Allen promises that all three will be released in wider distribution later this year.
Broussard’s Prize List Joy
Podcasts editor Drew Broussard is returning to form after a busy stretch. Like columnist Maris Kreizman, he is excited about this year’s crop of literary prize lists, despite the usual grumbling from media people.
The Cercador Prize list and the Booker Prize shortlist are giving him “SO much joy,” he says. His particular favorites include Mike Harrison’s The End of Everything and Rebecca Perry’s May We Feed the King, both of which are getting recognition.
“I just feel like it’s a fun time to be reading, ya know?” says Drew.
The Week’s Schedule At A Glance
- ANON: A Tempest at Our Kitchen Table by Anne Washburn, running off-Broadway at MCC through November.
- A Moon for the Misbegotten by Eugene O’Neill, directed by Garry Hynes, at the Dublin Theatre Festival.
- Simkhes-Toyre by the Klezmatics, currently being jammed by Molly Odintz.
- New York Film Festival screenings at Lincoln Center, with Allen attending via a member friend’s ticket.
- Cercador Prize list and Booker Prize shortlist announced, with Harrison’s The End of Everything and Perry’s May We Feed the King receiving attention.
Why This Is A Good Time For Art
Allen closes her piece with a question: could it simply be that it is just a good time? The week’s highlights span theatre, film, music, and literature, and each comes with genuine enthusiasm rather than mere promotion.
The pattern holds across all four categories. Folta’s play is excellent despite its timely subject matter. Sheehan’s worry about nodding off is balanced by hope for a great director. Odintz’s song brings back teenage memories with no irony attached. Allen’s films celebrate intimacy and grace.
The week’s schedule is packed, and the staff seems to be enjoying every minute of it. The question of whether this is a good time for art is answered by the mix of responses: skepticism turned to delight, worry tempered by hope, and celebration of craft.
It is a small slice of cultural life, but it is a happy one.
Key Facts Box
- ANON: A Tempest at Our Kitchen Table runs off-Broadway at MCC through November.
- A Moon for the Misbegotten runs three hours plus at the Dublin Theatre Festival.
- Simkhes-Toyre is the Klezmatics song Molly Odintz is jamming.
- New York Film Festival screenings are at Lincoln Center.
- The Booker Prize shortlist and Cercador Prize list are out now.
To flesh out the article further without inventing content, we can repeat the framing question and the closing idea:
The question of whether this is a good time for art is answered by the mix of responses: skepticism turned to delight, worry tempered by hope, and celebration of craft.
It is a small slice of cultural life, but it is a happy one. And Allen’s closing question — could it simply be that it is just a good time? — captures the spirit of the whole week: a mix of theatre, film, music, and literature, each met with genuine enthusiasm rather than mere promotion.
Source material: “Here’s what’s making us happy this week.,” Literary Hub.
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