In their second production back to live theater, the Arden is presenting a play they commissioned from R. Eric Thomas that is making its world premiere, “Backing Track,” It is a comedy-drama about an unconventional adult family in the aftermath of the death of the mother. It deals with many intergenerational issues, and withContinue reading “Backing Track at Arden Theatre Company”
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The Adventure of the Speckled Band at Walnut Street Theatre
Arthur Conan Doyle was a famous British writer, who wrote hundreds of novels, short stories, poems, and historical books, but is most remembered for creating probably, the most popular and widely read detective hero, Sherlock Holmes. His play, “The Speckled Band,” has just opened at the Walnut Street Theatre .Well, it’s not exactly hisContinue reading “The Adventure of the Speckled Band at Walnut Street Theatre”
The Chinese Lady at InterAct Theatre
In 1834, 14 year-old Afong Moy arrived in America. She was the first recorded Chinese woman to set foot in the United States. She was brought over by merchants Francis and Nathaniel Carnes, with the hope that such an unfamiliar and unusual young woman would promote the sales of the Chinese goods they were marketing.Continue reading “The Chinese Lady at InterAct Theatre”
Minor Character at the Wilma Theater
Aging, anxiety, envy, love, failure, beauty, suffering- the subject of dramas by the great playwrights from Sophocles and Shakespeare to Ibsen and Chekhov. Powerful characters created memorable moments that seem as real and contemporary as if written yesterday, despite being centuries old. The Wilma Theater, in its first return to live audiences, has chosenContinue reading “Minor Character at the Wilma Theater”
Everything is Wonderful by Chelsea Marcantel at Philadelphia Theatre Company
A young man, driving in Amish country, crashes into a buggy and kills two young brothers. Acquitted by the court, he is so grief-stricken, he goes to the home of the victims’ family to try to both apologize and come to grips with what he has done. Everything is far from wonderful. Chelsea Marcantel’sContinue reading “Everything is Wonderful by Chelsea Marcantel at Philadelphia Theatre Company”
My General Tubman by Lorene Cary at Arden Theatre
Writer, teacher, activist, organizer—the amazing Lorene Cary has now written a play about another amazing woman, Harriet Tubman. Taking place in two eras, the mid 19th century and today, Tubman is both real and imaginary as she fights to free slaves in her own time, and appears to four men within the walls ofContinue reading “My General Tubman by Lorene Cary at Arden Theatre”
The Vertical Hour by David Hare at Lantern Theater
“The Vertical Hour” is a play by the renowned playwright, David Hare, written in 2006, that begins in the office of Yale Professor Nadia Blye. She is confronting a student regarding what she thinks is his naïve view of the political process. The final scene is of Blye with a different student, who also providesContinue reading “The Vertical Hour by David Hare at Lantern Theater”
Together Again For the First Time by Tony Braithwaite and Jennifer Childs at Act II Playhouse
Tonight I sat laughing for seventy-five minutes as I watched Tony Braithwaite and Jennifer Childs perform a series of sketches and songs on the intimate stage at Act II Playhouse. These two actors have collected some old comic routines from the classic tv variety shows and added their own hilarious nonsense to the mostContinue reading “Together Again For the First Time by Tony Braithwaite and Jennifer Childs at Act II Playhouse”
The Wizard of Oz by L. Frank Baum at Quintessence Theatre
In 1900, L. Frank Baum published “The Wonderful Wizard of Oz.” Two years later he worked with others to create a musical version for the stage. After opening in Chicago, it played for two years on Broadway, then toured the country. But it is the 1939 MGM version of the musical that we knowContinue reading “The Wizard of Oz by L. Frank Baum at Quintessence Theatre”
Natural Shocks by Lauren Gunderson at Simpatico Theatre
Angela is taking refuge in her basement in anticipation of a great storm about to hit, a tornado of potentially unmeasurable destruction. She is scared. She is alone. And she begins to talk, to herself and to us, the audience. In this hour long theater piece, we will learn of this 40 something woman’s entireContinue reading “Natural Shocks by Lauren Gunderson at Simpatico Theatre”
Philadelphia Theater Reviews by Frank Burd 