Stranger Things.

If you like the surreal, if you like the series, then you will love the Broadway version of "Stranger Things The First Shadow". Between the great acting and the illusions (Jamie Harrison); the choreography (Lynne Page); the set design (Miriam Buether); the direction (Stephen Daldry), the Duffer Brothers and Jack Thorne have written a great musical on many fronts.

Like much of the series, "Stranger Things" has many twists and turns and up close the show is absolutely spectacular. It is one thing to see the gimmicks on a TV screen or a movie screen, but on a big stage live, there is nothing like it! As things blow up, as extra terrestrial figures come forth with great force and loom over the fog and earry sounds (Paul Arditti), it is no wonder that this show has been a blockbuster on Broadway for about a year and still going strong.

I think what made "Stranger Things" a cult like classic is that we are never sure where the plot is going. The play takes place in Hawkins, Indiana. The Creel's have moved into town because their son, Henry (Louis McCartney) had stabbed a boy in the eye and the parents, who have problems of their own decided it was better to move away from Nevada. T.R. Knight as Victor Creel is a World War II vet and has a lot to hide about the war. His drinking is the only thing that keeps him going. Pills are the mother's choice for sedative measures. Virginia Creel is the only one who still has faith in her son; she hopes that he will come around one day towards being normal. Lia Christina (Alice Creel) is the younger sister. She moves in and out of the plot in very chess match like reasons.

Like "Harry Potter", the projections and illusions are deft. You need to sit really close to even get an idea how things appear and disappear on this expansive stage. Almost in a slight-of-hand, the movements and stagecraft keeps us on edge. Jon Clark does a magnificent job with the lighting. It blends with the action itself. The colors used in the "glam genre" throughout sets the mood of this often dark play. The kids of Hawkins are just like any other high school kids, that is until animals start dying. Things start to get weird in a hurry in this sleepy town in mid America.

If you want a big production that has everything to it, "Stranger Things" is the show for you. It has everything for everyone young and old... From the big sets to the great acting, "Stranger Things" is two hours and thirty minutes of pure pleasure.

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Next up is Ulysses at the Public. It will be interesting to see if it is done as a conscious play or not. The direction too will be interesting to see how the show turns out. I am not sure if it has ever run before off Broadway.

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Sean Hayes makes it to off Broadway with the "Unknown". The plot looks interesting and I am hoping to review this show.

Broadway gets underway at the end of February with "Every Brilliant Thing". "Dog Day Afternoon"; "The Rocky Horror Picture Show" will be coming shortly after; followed by "Giant" starring John Lithgow. Lithgow is a tremendous stage actor and this show has promise. "Proof", "Fallen Angels" too will be making there way to Broadway. My money for this spring season is on "Death of A Salesman". The cast is great and look for this to be a Tony Contender. I saw "Death" two years ago with an all black cast (mostly all black) and it was not good at all. It closed quickly, but this Arthur Miller great play should come back with a bang!

#Broadway Bob, No Bull With Raging Robert, Arthur Miller, Tony Awards, "Death of A Salesman".