Guards at the Taj — Theatre Exile at Studio X
Jaunty, naturalistic acting, scattered bon mots, sporadic moments of amusement, occasional keen observations, and blatant instances of tense drama cannot save Rajiv Joseph’s “Guards at the Taj” from a typical … Continue reading
Theater Blitz — An Attack of Catch-Up Comments
As I mentioned in my last post, I needed a break from the keyboard. Apologies that shows that went uncovered, especially those that are about to receive belated favorable reviews, … Continue reading
Smoke — Theatre Exile at Studio X
Julie, age 20, may be joking, or not, when she says she took a class in S&M (Sadomasochism) 101, but this ingénue has a decided taste for danger. Or at … Continue reading
2015 Philadelphia Theater Critic’s Awards — THE RECIPIENTS
Theatergoing is a pleasant and relatively safe gamble. You never know when you’re going to see a special production or performance that is extraordinary beyond expectation. I didn’t know the … Continue reading
Rizzo — Theatre Exile at Christ Church Neighborhood House
Frank Rizzo is such an indelible figure, 24 years is not enough time to erase his image or the force of his personality from the people who followed his exploits … Continue reading
Who’s Afraid of Virginia Woolf? — Theatre Exile at Plays & Players
The answer to Edward Albee’s facilely provocative question is: Anyone who isn’t tops at the game being played. At its finest, Albee’s marvelous journey down a realistic rabbit hole, made … Continue reading
The Whale — Theatre Exile
Charlie has been systematically destroying himself for a decade. That’s how long it’s been since Charlie’s partner, Alan, died, also perhaps of self-neglect, or at least a stoic nod to … Continue reading
Red Speedo — Theatre Exile
Stupidity threatens to take a severe toll on three lives as playwright Lucas Hnath demonstrates that ignorance does not lead to bliss in his funny, sidewinding tale, “Red Speedo,” given … 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
True West — Theatre Exile at Plays & Players
Lights and music punctuate the mood and level of tension as Sam Shepard’s sibling duel, “True West,” progresses in Matt Pfeiffer’s slyly engaging production for Theatre Exile. Easy tones … Continue reading