News from the Avenue — Dreams Thrive at Paul Robeson
It was one of those “Eureka!” moments. Choreographer David Pershica and Philadelphia Theatre Company education director Maureen Sweeney were sitting in Sweeney’s office to discuss the winding down of … Continue reading
Marry Harry — American Theater Group at Hamilton Stage
“Marry Harry” is downright refreshing. Light and old-fashioned, the musical the American Theater Group presents at Rahway’s Hamilton Stage entertains in the most elemental way. It engages you thoroughly from … Continue reading
Sense and Sensibility — Hedgerow Theatre
Hedgerow takes a breezy, shorthand approach to Jon Jory’s adaptation of Jane Austen’s “Sense and Sensibility.” The popular Austen’s story is presented neatly and entertainingly in Jared Reed’s straightforward … Continue reading
Annapurna — Theatre Exile at Studio X
“Annapurna” is a play based on withholding. Playwright Sharr White repeatedly hints at an incident that caused a woman to take her son and flee from her husband, the boy’s … Continue reading
They’re Playing Our Song — Center City Theatre Works at the Adrienne Skybox
Watching the Center City Theatre Works production of “They’re Playing Our Song,” a musical, you wonder where the music is. Marvin Hamlisch and Carol Bayer Sager provided several memorably hummable … Continue reading
The Musical of Musicals — Montgomery Theatre
Contemporary composers each have styles theater wags can identify immediately and can have fun parodying. I actually do a rather decent musical passage from “Waiting for Godot” as if written … Continue reading
Sunset Boulevard — Media Theatre
With Ann Crumb’s excitingly electric portrayal of Norma Desmond as a mesmerizing centerpiece, the Media Theatre’s production of Andrew Lloyd Webber’s “Sunset Boulevard” soars with noir lushness that remains engagingly … Continue reading
Down Past Passyunk — InterAct Theatre at Adrienne
I start with a story from my own experience. In London, in 1979, I frequently ate lunch, canneloni stuffed with ricotta and spinach, at a bygone pizza chain. This was … Continue reading
The Train Driver — Lantern Theater
Peter DeLaurier is giving a comprehensive master class in acting with the superb set of performances he’s contributed this season, but knowing Peter, he would take his varied magnificent portrayals in … Continue reading
Lift — Crossroads Theatre
As in many of Walter Mosley’s works, “Lift,” his world premiere play at New Brunswick’s Crossroads Theatre, has a lot going on at once. Most immediate is the fate of … Continue reading
