'Porgy and Bess' on Broadway is missing the push and pull

For all the controversy that has surrounded Diane Paulus' revisionist Broadway revival of "Porgy and Bess," or, as it now is billed, "The Gershwins' Porgy and Bess," the considerable strengths of this production, which opened Thursday night at the Richard Rodgers Theatre, are in the traditional pleasures of witnessing a passionate, beautifully sung, richly visualized, splendidly played and indisputably well-intentioned "Porgy." This is a great American opera filled with breathtaking stakes, towering characters and a thudding naturalistic intensity.

Chris Jones

January 12, 2012