Author Archives: burdreviews

            In 1954, “The Matchmaker,” by Thornton Wilder debuted in London. About a widow who brokers marriages in Yonkers, New York at the turn of century, the play came to Broadway a year later with Ruth Gordon. A 1958 film adaptation starred Shirley Booth and included Shirley MacLaine, Anthony Perkins, and Robert Morse, before DavidContinue reading “Hello Dolly at Act II Playhouse”

How many of you have ever heard of Phillis Wheatley? Sadly, I knew nothing of this 18th century enslaved Black American poet’s existence until Quintessence Theatre brought her to my attention with the world premier of Paul Oakley Stovall’s play, “Written by Phillis.” What a fascinating and brilliant young woman!             The play begins withContinue reading “Written By Phillis at Quintessence Theatre”

            “The Play That Goes Wrong”, written in 2012, is probably one of the most successful comedies of the past ten years. It’s been on the London stage most of that time and ran on Broadway for two years before going to off-Broadway.  It’s toured across the U.S. and Australia. The story is a spoofContinue reading “The Play That Goes Wrong at 1812 Productions”

A young man, alone on the streets is cold and hungry. He’s been tossed out of his home by his brother and tries seeks refuge by breaking into an elderly woman’s home. Joshua is lonely, he is scared, he has been abandoned.             James Ijames’ newest play, “Abandon,” is making its world premiere at TheatreContinue reading “abandon at theatre exile”

Every now and then, you walk out of a theater so blown away by the show, you can’t imagine anything better. Such was the case at People’s Light where I saw “Songs for Nobodies.” I had known that one woman was to portray Judy Garland, Patsy Cline, Billy Holiday, Edith Piaf, and Maria Callas, singingContinue reading “Songs for Nobodies at People’s Light”

            When you see the silly poster outside the show that is currently running at the Wilma Theater, it is easy to think that this new play by Nathan Alan Davis is little more than fluff. Nothing could be farther from the truth. “Eternal Life Part 1” has many funny moments, but it is soContinue reading “Eternal Life Part 1 at The Wilma Theater”

            Billie Holiday, who died in 1959 at the age of 44, is an icon in the music world. With her voice and unique style, she gave powerful and sensual representation to songs she sang during the height of the jazz age. Lanie Robertson has created in 90 minutes, a powerful play with some ofContinue reading “Lady Day at Emerson’s Bar & Grill”

August Wilson was an African-American playwright who chronicled life in the Black Pittsburgh community, in which he grew up, in a series of ten plays . Two of them, “Fences” and “The Piano Lesson,” won the Pulitzer Prize. Each play is about another decade of the 20th century, with “Radio Golf” taking place in theContinue reading “Radio Golf at Arden Theatre Co.”

Felix Artifex is a third rate theater producer who is trying to secure a Broadway production for what could be the biggest deal of his career. He has some financing from an unusual source and is trying to secure a contract with a popular movie star to be in the play about the French Revolution,Continue reading “Mistakes Were Made at Act II Playhouse”

Eddie Carbone, an Italian-American, is a longshoreman, working at the docks  of Brooklyn in the 1950’s. He lives with his wife, Beatrice, and their orphaned 17-ear-old niece, Catherine. They are about to welcome Beatrice’s cousins who are coming to America from Italy, seeking work. They are illegal immigrants. That’s how Arthur Miller’s, “A View FromContinue reading “A View From the Bridge at New Light Theatre”