2018 Philadelphia Theater Critic’s Awards — The Nominees
2018 was chocked with good productions and fine performances. Choosing nominees, let alone recipients, required a battery of combinations and permutations until the lists were set. Here, in each of … Continue reading
A Bard Birthday Present — Julius Caesar –Quintessence Theatre at Sedgwick
Alexander Burns is a scholarly lad, and with the right kind of audacity. Summoning his acquired knowledge of classic and contemporary literature, he enlisted 20th century poet John Masefield (He … Continue reading
Quickies! And For Once, Success!
ALWAYS…PATSY CLINE, Media Theatre, State and Monroe, Media, Pa. through April 1 — Vocally, Jenny Lee Stern channels Patsy Cline. The clean, heartfelt sounds register. Physically, I kept seeing Judy … Continue reading
Doctor Faustus — Quintessence at Sedgwick Theatre
Watching Alexander Burns’s creative, engaging production of Christopher Marlowe’s “Doctor Faustus,” I couldn’t help thinking how the learned German scholar squandered the 24 years of pleasure he was afforded by … Continue reading
The Mandrake — Quintessence Theatre Group at Sedgwick Theatre
Niccolo Machiavelli goes way past the already questionable conundrum about ends justifying means. In the Machiavellian universe, ends are everything. The means don’t have to be justified. They only have … Continue reading
Romeo and Juliet — Quintessence Theatre Group at Sedgwick Theatre
Alexander Burns infuses the Quintessence stage with energy and romance via his bold, wise use of cinematic techniques in his brilliant and moving “Romeo and Juliet.” Early in Shakespeare’s play, … Continue reading
The Three Musketeers — Quintessence at Sedgwick Theatre
Ian Rose’s swordplay, Connor Hammond’s youthfully obtuse take on D’Artagnan, and horseplay of all kind, including some that looks as if it might break an actor’s back, contributed to keep … Continue reading
Macbeth — Arden Theatre
Ian Merrill Peakes’s Macbeth at Philadelphia’s Arden Theatre shows less ambition than dissatisfaction. Nothing is ever good enough for him. He can’t be content with what he has. When Banquo … Continue reading
Richard II — Quintessence Theatre Group
“Richard II” is a model for a history play. Although not as powerful or as varied as its natural sequel, “Henry IV,” “Richard” provides a platform through which Shakespeare supplies … Continue reading
As You Like It — Quintessence Theatre Group
Quintessence Theatre’s “As You Like It” has a Maytime playfulness about it that keeps it fresh and sprightly in its several scenes of comparative love, especially those that involve Rosalind … Continue reading
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