Of Yuval Sharon’s reverse-chronology retelling of Puccini’s La Bohème, the Wall Street Journal says, “It’s not just a gimmick—it works.” Of course, if you have…
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Author: Michael Fisher
Michael Fisher is an actor, playwright, and musician. He is currently pursuing an MFA in Creative Writing at Rosemont College. He lives in New Jersey. Follow his tweets at @m_roy_fisher.
Perry, Schumann, and Mahler (Curtis Symphony Orchestra): Season-closing performance
Kurt Vonnegut once wrote that there are two types of writers. And because he’s Kurt Vonnegut, he gave them both silly names. First you’ve got…
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FARRENC AND BRAHMS (Philadelphia Orchestra) Soloist Seong-Jin Cho dominates a night of high drama
It was just minutes into the performance, but the crowd at Verizon Hall was already overcome.
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Tár (dir. Todd Field): Film review
On the day I finally got around to watching Tár, Alpha Classics released a new collection of chamber music performed by virtuoso violinist Patricia Kopatchinskaya…
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ROSENCRANTZ AND GUILDENSTERN ARE DEAD (Wilma): A contemporary classic, in three parts
Tom Stoppard’s ROSENCRANTZ AND GUILDENSTERN ARE DEAD is perhaps the most ubiquitous work of postmodern drama.
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MACBETH (Arden): Rare emotion and rarer straightforwardness [critical mass review #5]
The elements which displease other writers are what makes this production a success, according to Michael Fisher in review five of the ongoing Critical Mass series.
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MOTHERS AND SONS (PTC): Closure, revenge, and life after AIDS
Katherine and Cal seem uncomfortable together, and we soon learn why: they are forever connected by the death of Andre.
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PRIVATE LIVES (Walnut): Who is being mocked?
PRIVATE LIVES, as written by Coward, is funny because it exposes the savagery that exists beneath the polished façade of the English upper class.
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CLOSER (Luna): The sex is neither sensual nor dirty, it’s tactical
Campbell’s production allows us to see the raw humanity in these people—or, in many cases, the lack thereof.
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“The Experiment”, conclusion: ARCADIA (Lantern)
Michael Fisher concludes his multi-part review experiment of ARCADIA at the Lantern Theater Company. Was it a success?
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“The Experiment”, part 3: ARCADIA (Lantern)
Michael Fisher continues his multi-part critical consideration of the Lantern Theater Company’s ARCADIA.
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“The Experiment”, part 2: ARCADIA (Lantern)
Part 2 of Michael Fisher’s multi-part, multi-week consideration of ARCADIA at the Lantern.
View More “The Experiment”, part 2: ARCADIA (Lantern)
“The Experiment”, part 1: ARCADIA (Lantern)
Part One of Michael Fisher’s multi-part critical experiment, reviewing the Lantern Theater Company’s production of ARCADIA several times over its run.
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“The Experiment”: ARCADIA (Lantern), Introduction to an experiment in criticism
Phindie writer Michael Fisher introduces his multi-part critical experiment, using the Lantern’s production of ARCADIA as his guinea pig subject.
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THREE SISTERS (Arden Theatre): Does the gimmick stick?
THREE SISTERS is the story not only of its title characters—the sisters Olga (Sarah Sanford), Masha (Katharine Powell) and Irina (Mary Tuomanen)—but also of the various characters who shuffle in and out of their country home over the course of a few years. It’s a soap opera on wheels as nearly everyone falls in love, gets caught up in adultery and waxes philosophical, all while sinking deeper and deeper into the exact sorts of lives they never wanted to lead.
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SKIN AND BONE (Azuka Theatre): SoGoth Reinvented
In a culture that places heavier value on test scores than on the individual capacity for critical thought, you’re taught to associate. It doesn’t much…
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THE LADY FROM THE SEA (Egopo): Bare production showcases Ibsen’s mental gymnastics
Henrik Ibsen’s name is so thoroughly canonized in theater history that it’s easy to forget just how progressive the man was as a playwright. Works…
View More THE LADY FROM THE SEA (Egopo): Bare production showcases Ibsen’s mental gymnastics
The Five Stages of THE PILLOWMAN (Luna Theater)
Thank God for Taylor Swift. After seeing Luna Theater‘s mindcrushing production of Martin McDonagh’s THE PILLOWMAN last night, I found myself a broken man. I was shellshocked.…
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THE DISAPPEARING QUARTERBACK (Plays and Players) tackles football’s deadly foible
Yesterday morning, I received an email from the National Football League. I get these every day, more or less—updates from NFL.com on what’s happening around…
View More THE DISAPPEARING QUARTERBACK (Plays and Players) tackles football’s deadly foible
GENDER COMEDY: A LESS STUPID TWELFTH NIGHT GAY FANTASIA (Curio): A loving parody brings infectious glee
Harry Slack has cut the gaping holes in Shakespeare’s logic into microscope slides, and the result is a hilarious and self-aware send-up of the rarely-discussed flaws in the work of our most beloved playwright.
View More GENDER COMEDY: A LESS STUPID TWELFTH NIGHT GAY FANTASIA (Curio): A loving parody brings infectious glee