THE SOUND OF MUSIC is a warhorse that has been brushed and festooned in ways that belie its age, familiarity, and expectation.
View More THE SOUND OF MUSIC (National Tour at the Academy of Music): Politics gets its song
Author: Neal Zoren for NealsPaper
Neal of the Nealspaper is a fan of all forms of live entertainment, movies, and television. He is also a constant reader and a frequent traveler. He writes for NealsPaper.com, a place for people to come to read one authoritative voice in the dialogue, and find out what might be worthwhile — or not — as you plan your entertainment outings.
THE MOUSETRAP (McCarter): Christie brought to life
Director Adam Immerwahr and a wonderful cast make this piece that’s been running as long in London as Queen Elizabeth II alive with an energy that belies the play’s age.
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NUREYEV’S EYES (DTC): Painter and dancer onstage
Michael Mastro’s production invigorates David Rush’s play so effectively, you almost don’t notice that each of Rush’s scenes have the same paradigm and general outcome.
View More NUREYEV’S EYES (DTC): Painter and dancer onstage
LOBBY HERO (Theatre Horizon): A web of unintended consequences
Kenneth Lonergan’s new play explores the many levels of trust.
View More LOBBY HERO (Theatre Horizon): A web of unintended consequences
THE PHILLY FAN (Montgomery): The time is always ripe for a Philly sports story
Though Bruce Graham’s play is set on the eve of a potential Philadelphia sports triumph it chronicles the long-suffering, patiently impatient diehard who supports local professional teams.
View More THE PHILLY FAN (Montgomery): The time is always ripe for a Philly sports story
A WONDERFUL NOISE (Villanova): Noise but not wonderful
Michael Hollinger and Vance Lemkuhl’s musical is lacking in conflict and complexity.
View More A WONDERFUL NOISE (Villanova): Noise but not wonderful
TO KILL A MOCKINGBIRD (Media): Killing Lee’s mockingbird
In directing Christopher Sergel’s dramatic adaptation of TO KILL A MOCKINGBIRD, Jesse Cline is uncharacteristically too reverential about the material.
View More TO KILL A MOCKINGBIRD (Media): Killing Lee’s mockingbird
Ranking 50 Years of Philadelphia Theater
Rankings from 1967 until 2015 for best actor (male), best actor (female), best supporting actor (male), best supporting actor (female), best production, and best director.
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THE PIANO LESSON (McCarter): A fine tune
Baikida Carroll’s PIANO LESSON is August Wilson as it’s meant to be seen.
View More THE PIANO LESSON (McCarter): A fine tune
The Best in Philadelphia Theater, 2015
Each January, local theater critic Neal Zoren announces his picks for the best in Philadelphia theater over the previous calendar year.
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A CHRISTMAS CAROL (McCarter): One for past and present, but unfortunately not future
After this year, a holiday tradition will be refreshed. Here’s wishing it would remain.
View More A CHRISTMAS CAROL (McCarter): One for past and present, but unfortunately not future
THE BALD SOPRANO (Curio): The absurd banality of everyday conversation
Ionesco offers comically entertaining insight on the careless and constant cacophony that passes for communication but is just platitudinous twaddle.
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THE BOOK OF MORMON (First National Tour Company): Sincerely funny
This touring production doesn’t make THE BOOK OF MORMON any more savage, but it knits Parker and Stone’s comic ideas together into a moving story more satisfying because it has a human core.
View More THE BOOK OF MORMON (First National Tour Company): Sincerely funny
LAFFERTY’S WAKE (Society Hill Playhouse): Putting the fun in funeral
The LAFFERTY’S WAKE ensemble is quick and amiable in Susan Turlish’s gentle comic story,
View More LAFFERTY’S WAKE (Society Hill Playhouse): Putting the fun in funeral
THE SECOND MRS. WILSON (George Street); Behind every great man
Joe DiPietro’s thought-provoking piece is set in Woodrow Wilson’s second term, but it rekindles a period in the mid-20th century of sweeping biographical plays about historical figures.
View More THE SECOND MRS. WILSON (George Street); Behind every great man
MATILDA: THE MUSICAL (RSC): Dahl on tour
Roald Dahl is wildly popular, and this musical version of MATILDA benefits from the author’s lionization.
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BILLY ELLIOT (Media Theatre): Dance Billy, dance
As usual with 2007 musical version of the 2000 movie, the personal scenes are the strength of this production
View More BILLY ELLIOT (Media Theatre): Dance Billy, dance
BECOMING DR. RUTH (Walnut): 60-second review
Jane Ridley is consistently engaging in Mark St. Germain’s chatty play about the woman who became Dr. Ruth.
View More BECOMING DR. RUTH (Walnut): 60-second review
BLACK NATIVITY (Theatre Horizon): A celebration of human spirit
Ozzie Jones’s production of this updated Langston Hughes play dazzles in just about every way a theater piece can.
View More BLACK NATIVITY (Theatre Horizon): A celebration of human spirit
A FREE MAN OF COLOR (Temple): Outrageous but haphazard vaudeville
John Guare’s play about race relations in early 19th century New Orleans is sprawling and convoluted under the best of circumstances.
View More A FREE MAN OF COLOR (Temple): Outrageous but haphazard vaudeville