How interesting that the cycle renews. Many of the themes -- identity, freedom, rebellion -- are dominating today's headlines as the economy continues to struggle.

Frank dialog reigns supreme. We eavesdrop on some eye-opening stuff; masturbation, vaginas, penises ("beautiful") and oral performances extraordinaire are anything but off-limits.

This may very well be the most talented cast recently assembled at A.C.T. Each actor is a triple threat, bringing deft skill in song, dance, and acting. A lush 9-piece orchestra is icing on the cake.

We need our elders, and as Mr. G. approaches 76, we need him to be long of tooth, beaming with his great heart.

I’m hard pressed to think of any contemporary equivalent to these big, all male dance numbers; everything else seems too precious, too ironic, or too campy.

Those who invest the time and emotion in this play will be richly rewarded.

Broadly, energy on stage fits one of three patterns: the fierce, isolated intensity of Ahab, the compliant, but detached skepticism of Starbuck, and the intentionally unfocused direction of the rest of the cast. This tripartite energy division serves the action well.

The hit you get off of this one is almost as big as all our collective histories.

'Triangle', which just opened at the Lucie Stern Theatre in Palo Alto, embraces our distant and immediate past, creating glimmers of a future, and doing things that other musicals just don’t.

Rothman's considerable strengths, as a writer and performer, make this show worth taking in.