“The Minutes”

By Leonard Feigenblatt

“The Minutes” takes place at the weekly town council meeting in the small town of Big Cherry. Mr. Peel is the new town council member. He missed the previous week’s meeting to take care of his mother’s funeral. He tries to get “the minutes” from that meeting but they have mysteriously gone missing – as is another council member, Mr. Carp. The other council members are just being evasive. The cast features an excellent ensemble of both Broadway and Steppenwolf theatre actors.

Tracy Letts has written another brilliant play. His “August: Osage County” won both the Pulitzer Prize for Drama and the Tony Award for Best Play. In 2013, Letts won the Tony Award for Best Leading Actor in a Play, for his performance as “George” in Edward Albee’s “Who’s Afraid of Virginia Woolf?” This is the first time, on Broadway, that he has acted in one of his plays. He plays the town mayor, Mayor Superba, and the part is a great fit for him. He is excellent.

There are two other standout performances among the cast. Austin Pendleton is a character actor and director who has worked both on and off Broadway, at the Steppenwolf Theatre and in films and television. Here he plays the older, cantankerous board member, Mr. Oldfield, and is sheer perfection. Noah Reid is a Canadian actor and musician. He is best known for his portrayal of Patrick in the Emmy Award winning comedy series, “Schitt’s Creek.” Noah also has released three albums. In “The Minutes” he is making his Broadway debut as Mr. Peel and he is very likable, charming and thoroughly winning.

Anna D. Shapiro brilliantly directs the play on David Zinn’s amazing boardroom set.

“The Minutes” is running until July 23.

Studio 54254

West 54th St.

New York, NY 10019

www.theminutesbroadway.com