Author Archives: burdreviews

“The Melting Pot” is a play written by Israel Zangwill that was first performed in 1908. Yes, 1908. It is the story of David Quixano, a young Jewish composer who flees from Russia after surviving a pogrom in 1903 that has wiped out his family. He flees to New York City where he hopes toContinue reading “The Melting Pot at Theatre Ariel & Philadelphia Artists’ Collective”

It’s hard to believe that Bram Stoker’s novel, “Dracula,” was written in 1897! This classic has been made into four different films over the years and manifested itself in other genres. Now, Bristol Riverside Theatre is bringing to its stage a new version (Off-Broadway debut in 2023) of this tale of vampire fiction, a funnyContinue reading “Dracula: A Comedy of Terrors at Bristol Riverside Theatre”

Women’s Liberation. We all remember the term. This is a story about that movement, as it deals with so many of the issues from the 1970’s and 50 years later- identity, motherhood, work, and marriage to name a few. Lizzie is trying to figure out things regarding her late mother’s life in a women’s groupContinue reading “Liberation at Philadelphia Theatre Company”

What is a fact? I thought I knew. I believed everything my teachers taught me in school. I believed all that I read in a newspaper. Opinions were reserved for the editorial page. Facts were facts and couldn’t be changed… or could they? “The Lifespan of a Fact” explores a story of a teenager whoContinue reading “The Lifespan of a Fact at Act II Playhouse”

Two African-American brothers are struggling with work, women, and poverty, as they share a small, one room living space. Their names are Lincoln and Booth. Their father gave them those names as a joke. He left when the boys were 16 and 11. Their mother left two years earlier. They raised themselves. It is nowContinue reading “Topdog/Underdog at People’s Light”

“Summer, 1976.” With a title like that, anyone over 65 today immediately tries to recall what he or she was doing then. I don’t even think that the theme of the Bicentennial enters one’s thoughts at first. The play by David Auburn presents us with two women who meet because their young daughters are inContinue reading “Summer, 1976 at Lantern Theater”

1812 Productions is kicking off its 30th anniversary season with a world premiere production of a show that will change every night. Yes, it’s improv which they bill as a new musical adventure. These are the Final 4. Each night, they ask the audience for bad musical titles, a strong emotion, and a one-syllable word,Continue reading “This Should Never Be A Musical at 1812 Productions”

After his sold-out engagement of “Monsieur Chopin” at People’s Light last year, Hershey Felder is returning this year with a new piece about another legendary pianist/composer, Sergei Rachmaninoff. I knew little about Chopin’s life before seeing the musical drama and I knew less about Rachmaninoff’s. So naturally, I Googled him. “Rachmaninoff is widely considered oneContinue reading “Rachmaninoff and the Tsar at People’s Light”

Although I was a young child when Dwight Eisenhower was President of the United States, I remember him rather well. I can visualize him. And I have seen the fine actor, Tony Lawton in at least a dozen plays over the years. Could he portray the 34th president and make me believe him? Yes, andContinue reading “Eisenhower: This Piece of Ground at Act II Playhouse”

For the first time since I have been reviewing theater, there were two productions of the same show that I saw in the same season- the second of which was 11 weeks after the first. The show is “Ain’t Misbehavin’,” a spirited musical review based on the music of the legendary Fats Waller. Theatre HorizonContinue reading “Ain’t Misbehavin’ at People’s Light”