“BLITHE SPIRIT”: **½ Angela Lansbury and Jayne Atkinson prevent director Michael Blakemore from completely smothering Noel Coward’s comedy. Shubert Theatre, 225 W. 44th St.; 212-239-6200.
“GOD OF CARNAGE”: *** A quartet of ace actors sets Yasmina Reza’s play on fire. It’s gleeful, nasty fun. Bernard B. Jacobs Theatre, 242 W. 45th St.; 212-239- 6200. Closes July 29.
“GUYS AND DOLLS”: ** Lauren Graham’s appealingly weird performance isn’t enough to keep audiences awake in this snoozy production. Nederlander Theatre, 208 W. 41st St.; 212-921-8000.
“HAIR”: **** Director Diane Paulus and an incandescent cast turn “the American tribal love-rock musical” into a can’t-miss event. Hirschfeld Theatre, 302 W. 45th St.; 212-239- 6200.
“IMPRESSIONISM”: * Even Joan Allen and Jeremy Irons can’t fire up this middle-brow bore. Gerald Schoenfeld Theatre, 236 W. 45th St.; 212-239-6200. Closes July 5.
“IRENA’S VOW”: ** Tovah Feldshuh tries her best to animate Dan Gordon’s mawkish WWII-set play, which was inspired by real events. Walter Kerr Theatre, 219 W. 48th St.; 212-239- 6200.
“MARY STUART”: “: *** It’s hard to top classic drama for sheer thrills, and this production of the Schiller play sure delivers them. As Elizabeth I and Mary Stuart, respectively, Harriet Walter and Janet McTeer duke it out in awesome fashion. Broadhurst Theatre, 235 W. 44th St.; 212-239-6200.
“NEXT TO NORMAL”: ** Mental illness is a daring subject for a musical, but despite flashes of insight, this falls short of its ambitions. Booth Theatre, 222 W. 45th St.; 212-239- 6200.
“ROCK OF AGES”: **½ A jukebox musical for skittish straight guys who love ’80s rock and ordering booze from their seats. Brooks Atkinson Theatre, 256 W. 47th St.; 212-307-4100.
“SHREK: THE MUSICAL”:
*** Fun if overly faithful adaptation of the hit flick. Broadway Theatre, Broadway at 53rd Street; 212-239-6200.
“33 VARIATIONS”: ** Jane Fonda is paradoxically too strong to lift up a weak show. Eugene O’Neill Theatre, 230 W. 49th St.; 212-239-6200.
“WEST SIDE STORY”: *** Some of director Arthur Laurents’ choices may be debatable, but you still shouldn’t miss the opportunity to see and hear this masterpiece live. Palace Theatre, 1564 Broadway; 212-307-4100.
———- LONG-RUNNING ———-
“AUGUST: OSAGE COUNTY”: *** Music Box Theatre, 239 W. 45th St.; 212-239-6200.
“AVENUE Q”: *** John Golden Theatre, 252 W. 45th St.; 212-239-6200.
“BILLY ELLIOT: THE MUSICAL”: **** Imperial Theatre, 249 W. 45th St.; 212-239-6262.
“CHICAGO”: **** Ambassador Theatre, 219 W. 49th St.; 212-239-6200.
“IN THE HEIGHTS”: **½ Richard Rodgers Theatre, 226 W. 46th St.; 212-221-1211.
“THE LITTLE MERMAID”: * Lunt-Fontanne Theatre, 205 W. 46th St.; 212-307-4747.
“JERSEY BOYS”: ***½ The August Wilson Theatre, 245 W. 52nd St.; 212-239-6200.
“THE LION KING”: *** Minskoff Theatre, 200 W. 45th St.; 212-307-4747.
“THE 39 STEPS”: *** Helen Hayes Theatre, 240 W. 44th St.; 212-239-6200.
“MAMMA MIA!”: ***½ Winter Garden Theatre, 1634 Broadway; 212-239-6200.
“MARY POPPINS”: **** New Amsterdam Theatre, 214 W. 42nd St.; 212-307- 4747.
“THE PHANTOM OF THE OPERA”: **** Majestic Theatre, 247 W. 44th St.; 212-239-6200.
“SOUTH PACIFIC”: **** Vivian Beaumont Theater, Lincoln Center; 212-239-6200.
“WICKED”: **½ Gershwin Theatre, 222 W. 51st St.; 212-307-4100.