{"id":2384994,"date":"2026-04-22T22:56:17","date_gmt":"2026-04-22T22:56:17","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/celebrity.land\/en\/?p=2384994"},"modified":"2026-04-22T22:56:17","modified_gmt":"2026-04-22T22:56:17","slug":"the-balusters-review-a-hilarious-clash-of-wackos-on-broadway","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/celebrity.land\/en\/the-balusters-review-a-hilarious-clash-of-wackos-on-broadway\/","title":{"rendered":"&#8216;The Balusters&#8217; review: A hilarious clash of wackos on Broadway"},"content":{"rendered":"<p><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/nypost.com\/wp-content%2Fuploads%2Fsites%2F2%2F2026%2F04%2Fnewspress-collage-hysc0ibdx-1776894488883.jpg?quality%3D90%26strip%3Dall%261776880163\" \/><\/p>\n<div>\n<div class=\"inline-module inline-module--review alignleft\">\n<div class=\"inline-module__inner\">\n\t\t<span class=\"inline-module--review__eyebrow subsection-heading-semi__label\"><br \/>\n\t\t\tTheater review\t\t<\/span><\/p>\n<h2 class=\"inline-module--review__title subsection-heading-semi\">\n\t\t\tTHE BALUSTERS\t\t<\/h2>\n<div class=\"rating\">\n<div class=\"rating__stars\">\n<div class=\"rating__star rating__star--filled\"><?php \/**\n * Review star.\n * \n * @package nyp-editor\n *\/\n\n??><\/p>\n<style><![CDATA[\n\t.review-block-star {\n\t\t--review-block-star--empty-color: #585858;\n\t\t--review-block-star--fill-color: #000;\n\t}\n]]><\/style>\n<p><svg class=\"icon-star review-block-star\" stroke=\"var(--review-block-star--fill-color)\" fill=\"var(--review-block-star--empty-color)\" stroke-width=\"0\" viewbox=\"0 0 16 16\" height=\"13px\" width=\"13px\">\n\t<defs>\n\t\t<lineargradient id=\"half-gradient\">\n\t\t\t<stop stop-opacity=\"1\" offset=\"50%\" stop-color=\"var(--review-block-star--fill-color)\"\/>\n\t\t\t<stop stop-opacity=\"1\" offset=\"0%\" stop-color=\"var(--review-block-star--empty-color)\"\/>\n\t\t<\/lineargradient>\n\t<\/defs>\n\t<path d=\"M3.612 15.443c-.386.198-.824-.149-.746-.592l.83-4.73L.173 6.765c-.329-.314-.158-.888.283-.95l4.898-.696L7.538.792c.197-.39.73-.39.927 0l2.184 4.327 4.898.696c.441.062.612.636.283.95l-3.523 3.356.83 4.73c.078.443-.36.79-.746.592L8 13.187l-4.389 2.256z\">\n\t<\/path>\n<\/svg>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"rating__star rating__star--filled\"><?php \/**\n * Review star.\n * \n * @package nyp-editor\n *\/\n\n??><\/p>\n<style><![CDATA[\n\t.review-block-star {\n\t\t--review-block-star--empty-color: #585858;\n\t\t--review-block-star--fill-color: #000;\n\t}\n]]><\/style>\n<p><svg class=\"icon-star review-block-star\" stroke=\"var(--review-block-star--fill-color)\" fill=\"var(--review-block-star--empty-color)\" stroke-width=\"0\" viewbox=\"0 0 16 16\" height=\"13px\" width=\"13px\">\n\t<defs>\n\t\t<lineargradient id=\"half-gradient\">\n\t\t\t<stop stop-opacity=\"1\" offset=\"50%\" stop-color=\"var(--review-block-star--fill-color)\"\/>\n\t\t\t<stop stop-opacity=\"1\" offset=\"0%\" stop-color=\"var(--review-block-star--empty-color)\"\/>\n\t\t<\/lineargradient>\n\t<\/defs>\n\t<path d=\"M3.612 15.443c-.386.198-.824-.149-.746-.592l.83-4.73L.173 6.765c-.329-.314-.158-.888.283-.95l4.898-.696L7.538.792c.197-.39.73-.39.927 0l2.184 4.327 4.898.696c.441.062.612.636.283.95l-3.523 3.356.83 4.73c.078.443-.36.79-.746.592L8 13.187l-4.389 2.256z\">\n\t<\/path>\n<\/svg>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"rating__star rating__star--filled\"><?php \/**\n * Review star.\n * \n * @package nyp-editor\n *\/\n\n??><\/p>\n<style><![CDATA[\n\t.review-block-star {\n\t\t--review-block-star--empty-color: #585858;\n\t\t--review-block-star--fill-color: #000;\n\t}\n]]><\/style>\n<p><svg class=\"icon-star review-block-star\" stroke=\"var(--review-block-star--fill-color)\" fill=\"var(--review-block-star--empty-color)\" stroke-width=\"0\" viewbox=\"0 0 16 16\" height=\"13px\" width=\"13px\">\n\t<defs>\n\t\t<lineargradient id=\"half-gradient\">\n\t\t\t<stop stop-opacity=\"1\" offset=\"50%\" stop-color=\"var(--review-block-star--fill-color)\"\/>\n\t\t\t<stop stop-opacity=\"1\" offset=\"0%\" stop-color=\"var(--review-block-star--empty-color)\"\/>\n\t\t<\/lineargradient>\n\t<\/defs>\n\t<path d=\"M3.612 15.443c-.386.198-.824-.149-.746-.592l.83-4.73L.173 6.765c-.329-.314-.158-.888.283-.95l4.898-.696L7.538.792c.197-.39.73-.39.927 0l2.184 4.327 4.898.696c.441.062.612.636.283.95l-3.523 3.356.83 4.73c.078.443-.36.79-.746.592L8 13.187l-4.389 2.256z\">\n\t<\/path>\n<\/svg>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"rating__star rating__star--empty\"><?php \/**\n * Review star.\n * \n * @package nyp-editor\n *\/\n\n??><\/p>\n<style><![CDATA[\n\t.review-block-star {\n\t\t--review-block-star--empty-color: #585858;\n\t\t--review-block-star--fill-color: #000;\n\t}\n]]><\/style>\n<p><svg class=\"icon-star review-block-star\" stroke=\"var(--review-block-star--fill-color)\" fill=\"var(--review-block-star--empty-color)\" stroke-width=\"0\" viewbox=\"0 0 16 16\" height=\"13px\" width=\"13px\">\n\t<defs>\n\t\t<lineargradient id=\"half-gradient\">\n\t\t\t<stop stop-opacity=\"1\" offset=\"50%\" stop-color=\"var(--review-block-star--fill-color)\"\/>\n\t\t\t<stop stop-opacity=\"1\" offset=\"0%\" stop-color=\"var(--review-block-star--empty-color)\"\/>\n\t\t<\/lineargradient>\n\t<\/defs>\n\t<path d=\"M3.612 15.443c-.386.198-.824-.149-.746-.592l.83-4.73L.173 6.765c-.329-.314-.158-.888.283-.95l4.898-.696L7.538.792c.197-.39.73-.39.927 0l2.184 4.327 4.898.696c.441.062.612.636.283.95l-3.523 3.356.83 4.73c.078.443-.36.79-.746.592L8 13.187l-4.389 2.256z\">\n\t<\/path>\n<\/svg>\n<\/div><\/div><\/div>\n<p>One hour and 50 minutes, with no intermission. At the Samuel J. Friedman Theatre, 261 W. 47th Street.<\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p>It\u2019s the Battle of the Affluent!\u00a0<\/p>\n<p>Or, at any rate, the latest Battle of the Affluent.<\/p>\n<p>David Lindsay-Abaire\u2019s bracingly funny new HOA play \u201cThe Balusters,\u201d which opened Tuesday at the Samuel J. Friedman Theatre, is without a doubt kissing cousins with Tracy Letts\u2019 similar \u201cThe Minutes\u201d and Jonathan Spector\u2019s \u201cEureka Day.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n<p>After all, it takes a special type of person to want to run for the board of a Montessori school, a small-town city council or a group that makes decisions for a pricey neighborhood. Those contentious rooms are populated with strong-willed loudmouths who either demand change or sturdily maintain the status quo. Typically, they\u2019re united in their hypocrisy.<\/p>\n<p>The \u201cmeeting play\u201d is nothing new \u2014 hello, \u201c12 Angry Men\u201d\u00a0 \u2014 but it\u2019s the preferred format of the day for confronting changing times and incorporating headlines without hitting audiences over the head with them. Wokeness, privilege and generational differences reliably pop up, and seemingly tiny initiatives mask deeply held prejudices.\u00a0Every scene is a fight.\u00a0<\/p>\n<aside class=\"single__inline-module aligncenter\">\n<div class=\"inline-module inline-module--more inline-module--columnist inline-module--more--thirds\">\n<div class=\"inline-module__inner\">\n<h2 class=\"inline-module__heading subsection-heading subsection-heading--single-line \">\n\t\t\tMore From\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"subsection-heading__sub\">Johnny Oleksinski<\/span><br \/>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/h2>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/aside>\n<p>All of those hot buttons are pressed with gusto in Lindsay-Abaire\u2019s comedy, set at an escalating series of homeowners association gatherings in a grand living room of a historic, not-quite-gated community. Compared with the shows by Letts and Spector, \u201cThe Balusters\u201d has by far the least to say. It\u2019s certainly not a provocative talker. There\u2019s nothing left to discuss at dinner afterwards, since the play settles its arguments all by itself by curtain.<\/p>\n<p>But what makes \u201cThe Balusters\u201d such tremendous fun are the brilliantly cast debaters. Lindsay-Abaire\u2019s collection of oddballs is a jury duty lineup of eccentric personalities that, the more they spar, the\u00a0louder we laugh.<\/p>\n<figure class=\"nyp-slideshow-modal-image wp-block-image aligncenter size-large\"><figcaption>\u201cThe Balusters\u201d is set during a contentious series of homeowners association meetings. <span class=\"credit\">Courtesy of Jeremy Daniel<\/span><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p>\u201cYou\u2019re sure you\u2019re ready for these people?,\u201d asks association VP Melissa (Jeena Yi) to new resident and host Kyra (Anika Noni Rose).\u00a0<\/p>\n<p>She doesn\u2019t know the half of it.<\/p>\n<p>Oldest member Penny arrives early to stake her claim on her preferred seat that\u2019s closest to the prez, Elliott (Richard Thomas). The incomparable Marylouise Burke has a kindly voice that says cookies are in the oven and an attitude that suggests there\u2019s a shiv in her pocket. Crafty Penny knows Ruth, a lady who lunches, might screw her over and steal her chair.<\/p>\n<figure class=\"nyp-slideshow-modal-image wp-block-image aligncenter size-large\"><figcaption>Penny (Marylouise Burke) arrives early to claim her seat. <span class=\"credit\">Courtesy of Jeremy Daniel<\/span><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p>And she\u2019s probably right. Tart-tongued Ruth, played as battery acid in the shape of a woman by the addictive Margaret Colin, rolls in wearing a rabbit fur coat to specifically to rile up younger Willow (Kayli Carter), a self-righteous PETA member.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cThere are always plenty of rabbits,\u201d Ruth dryly remarks. \u201cThat\u2019s kinda their thing.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>The committee is rounded out by anxious Alan (Michael Esper), right-leaning contractor Ricardo (Isaac Rosario) and gay travel writer Brooks (Carl Clemons-Hopkins). They start out with some restraint, and gradually the gloves come off.<\/p>\n<figure class=\"nyp-slideshow-modal-image wp-block-image aligncenter size-large\"><figcaption>Kyra (Anika Noni Rose) simply wants to have a stop sign installed at a dangerous intersection. <span class=\"credit\">Courtesy of Jeremy Daniel<\/span><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p>Always hovering is Kyra\u2019s genial housekeeper Luz (Maria-Christina Oliveras), who knows secrets about all of them and conceals some of her own.<\/p>\n<p>The members are here, so the outwardly innocuous issue Kyra proposes to the room \u2014 and especially immobile, grandfatherly Elliott \u2014 is putting up a stop sign at the dangerous intersection outside her house. Car crashes are becoming a common occurrence. A no-brainer, right?<\/p>\n<p>Hardly. That will block the pristine and unobstructed view of the esplanade, Elliott counters. The pair\u2019s first head-to-head commences a war that could destroy the group that\u2019s ostensibly meant to improve and stand up for Vernon\u2019s Point.<\/p>\n<figure class=\"nyp-slideshow-modal-image wp-block-image aligncenter size-large\"><figcaption>Ruth (Margaret Colin) likes to chide PETA member Willow (Kayli Carter) <span class=\"credit\">Courtesy of Jeremy Daniel<\/span><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p>Line by line and moment by moment, \u201cThe Balusters\u201d is an engrossing and enjoyable watch, fueled by Lindsay-Abaire\u2019s impolite humor and the cast\u2019s sparky connectivity and willing embrace of the bonkers. Director Kenny Leon precisely paces the comedy, and gets a string of howls for his efforts.<\/p>\n<p>When more broadly considered, as the writer turns his attention to serious issues rather than quick jabs at the culture wars, the play falters some. Because of all the giggles, I almost forgot the show was building to anything of substance.\u00a0<\/p>\n<p>Well, it tries to, and that is \u201cThe Balusters\u201d at its least satisfying.\u00a0The conclusions are obvious because they\u2019ve been arrived at many, many times before, and the two main opponents are pancake flat. One is good, one is bad, bingo bango. I got the sense that Lindsay-Abaire, who has no fear with his punchlines, was reluctant to give Kyra any flaws at all.\u00a0<\/p>\n<p>And the climax, as written and staged, is overcooked almost to the point of being inedible.\u00a0<\/p>\n<p>But with its witty and gutsy jokes and stellar comedic performances from Burke and Colin, \u201cThe Balusters\u201d is a Broadway meeting at which you\u2019ll want to yell, \u201chere!\u201d<\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<p><em> \u2018 The preceding article may include information circulated by third parties \u2019 <\/em><\/p>\n<p><em> \u2018 Some details of this article were extracted from the following source celebrity.land \u2019 <\/em><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Theater review THE BALUSTERS One hour and 50 minutes, with no intermission. At the Samuel J. Friedman Theatre, 261 W. 47th Street. It\u2019s the Battle of the Affluent!\u00a0 Or, at any rate, the latest Battle of the Affluent. David Lindsay-Abaire\u2019s bracingly funny new HOA play \u201cThe Balusters,\u201d which opened Tuesday at the Samuel J. Friedman [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":2384995,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"om_disable_all_campaigns":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_access":"","_jetpack_dont_email_post_to_subs":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_tier_id":0,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paywalled_content":false,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"jnews-multi-image_gallery":[],"jnews_single_post":[],"jnews_primary_category":[],"jnews_social_meta":[],"footnotes":""},"categories":[25174],"tags":[344468,21741,350667,24047,345886],"class_list":["post-2384994","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-gossip","tag-broadway","tag-entertainment","tag-plays","tag-theater","tag-theater-reviews"],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"https:\/\/celebrity.land\/en\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/The-Balusters-review-A-hilarious-clash-of-wackos-on-Broadway.jpg","jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/celebrity.land\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2384994","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/celebrity.land\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/celebrity.land\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/celebrity.land\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/celebrity.land\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=2384994"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/celebrity.land\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2384994\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":2384996,"href":"https:\/\/celebrity.land\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2384994\/revisions\/2384996"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/celebrity.land\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/2384995"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/celebrity.land\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=2384994"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/celebrity.land\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=2384994"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/celebrity.land\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=2384994"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}