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Author: Toby Zinman

Toby Zinman is a recently retired professor of English at the University of the Arts in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. She was a Fulbright professor at Tel Aviv University and a visiting professor in China. She publishes widely and lectures internationally on American drama. Her fifth book, Replay: Classic Modern Drama Reimagined, was published by Methuen, and she published the essay, "Visions of Tragedy in Contemporary American Drama," in 2017. Zinman is also the chief theater critic for the Philadelphia Inquirer where she reviews New York and London as well as Philadelphia. She was named by American Theatre magazine as, “one of the 12 most influential critics in America.” Her travel writing has taken her all over the world, from dogsledding in the Yukon to hiking across England.
Music Reviews

What A Lark: The dilettante at large has A MIDSUMMER NIGHT’S DREAM with Opera Philly

Toby Zinman February 12, 2019 1 Comment

Visually, musically, and vocally gorgeous, this is a delectable MIDSUMMER NIGHT’S DREAM.

View More What A Lark: The dilettante at large has A MIDSUMMER NIGHT’S DREAM with Opera Philly
Museums Reviews Visual Arts

Barbies Before the Fact: A dilettante at large sees new exhibitions at the PMA

Toby Zinman January 8, 2019 No Comments

A dilettante at large considers two exhibitions at the Philadelphia Museum of Art

View More Barbies Before the Fact: A dilettante at large sees new exhibitions at the PMA
Arts Museums Reviews Visual Arts

A dilettante at large considers Philly After Dark at the Athenaeum

Toby Zinman December 6, 2018 No Comments

A whimsical and educational show combining images of the city by moonlight, gaslight, electric light, fire and lightning.

View More A dilettante at large considers Philly After Dark at the Athenaeum
Reviews Theater

FIDDLER ON THE ROOF (Broadway tour at Academy of Music): An updated Fiddler

Toby Zinman October 24, 2018 No Comments

The thrill of a big show-biz production and the feeling of authenticity

View More FIDDLER ON THE ROOF (Broadway tour at Academy of Music): An updated Fiddler
Music Reviews

A dilettante at large reviews NE QUITTEZ PAS (Opera Philadelphia)

Toby Zinman October 1, 2018 No Comments

What a complicated evening, filled with gorgeous singing and roiled emotions and puzzling theatrics

View More A dilettante at large reviews NE QUITTEZ PAS (Opera Philadelphia)
Reviews Theater

HAPGOOD (Lantern): Rising to the challenge of a gleefully complicated spy story

Toby Zinman September 14, 2018 No Comments

Hapgood is not just a spy story, it’s also a physics story

View More HAPGOOD (Lantern): Rising to the challenge of a gleefully complicated spy story
Fringe Festival Fringe reviews Reviews Theater

THE ACCOUNTANT (Trey Lyford): 2018 Fringe review

Toby Zinman September 10, 2018 1 Comment

Do the math. That’s what accountants do, right? The show is 75 minutes long. I looked at my watch about ten times, from which we…

View More THE ACCOUNTANT (Trey Lyford): 2018 Fringe review
Fringe Festival Fringe reviews Reviews Theater

ECCENTRICITIES OF A NIGHTINGALE (Idiopathic Ridiculopathy Consortium): 2018 Fringe review

Toby Zinman September 7, 2018 No Comments

ECCENTRICITIES is lush, loquacious and very typical Tennessee Williams: lonely, sex-starved women, men struggling against overbearing mothers, desperation everywhere.

View More ECCENTRICITIES OF A NIGHTINGALE (Idiopathic Ridiculopathy Consortium): 2018 Fringe review
Fringe reviews Reviews

MARY ROSE (Philadelphia Artists’ Collective): 2018 Fringe review

Toby Zinman September 6, 2018 No Comments

However crammed your Fringe calendar may be, don’t miss this one.

View More MARY ROSE (Philadelphia Artists’ Collective): 2018 Fringe review
Arts Reviews Visual Arts

A Dilettante at Large reviews two new shows at the Philadelphia Museum of Art

Toby Zinman June 6, 2018 2 Comments

Toby Zinman considers “Rachel Rose: Wil-o-Wisp/The Future Fields Commission” and “Biting Wit and Brazen Folly: British Satirical Prints, 1780s–1830s”

View More A Dilettante at Large reviews two new shows at the Philadelphia Museum of Art
Reviews

A Dilettante at Large: THE RESTAURANT SCHOOL AT WALNUT HILL COLLEGE

Toby Zinman May 6, 2018 No Comments

All this dilettanting around town can make a critic hungry

View More A Dilettante at Large: THE RESTAURANT SCHOOL AT WALNUT HILL COLLEGE
Reviews Theater

OUR FEW AND EVIL DAYS (Inis Nua): Tantalizing ambiguity

Toby Zinman April 30, 2018 No Comments

This is difficult review to write since almost anything I’d say would be a spoiler. I can say this much: Go see it.

View More OUR FEW AND EVIL DAYS (Inis Nua): Tantalizing ambiguity
Museums Reviews

A Dilettante at Large goes to Penn Museum

Toby Zinman April 17, 2018 No Comments

Toby Zinman gives her thoughts on the new Middle East galleries at the University of Pennsylvania Museum of Archaeology and Anthropology

View More A Dilettante at Large goes to Penn Museum
Reviews

THE TEMPEST (Lantern): Sounds and sweet airs that give delight and hurt not

Toby Zinman March 23, 2018 No Comments

Lantern Theater’s production of THE TEMPEST, Shakespeare’s last play, is an enjoyable, modest show, full of comedy and romance and the gentle spirit of human forgiveness.

View More THE TEMPEST (Lantern): Sounds and sweet airs that give delight and hurt not
Museums Music Reviews

A dilettante at large: LEONARD BERNSTEIN: THE POWER OF MUSIC (NMAJH)

Toby Zinman March 16, 2018 No Comments

If you’re a Leonard Bernstein fan, don’t miss the terrific new exhibit at the National Museum of American Jewish History.

View More A dilettante at large: LEONARD BERNSTEIN: THE POWER OF MUSIC (NMAJH)
Reviews Theater

SMALL MOUTH SOUNDS (Ars Nova/PTC): Hmmph

Toby Zinman March 15, 2018 1 Comment

As far as I can tell, this is a satire, although you know you’re on shaky ground when you’re not sure if the play knows it’s a satire.

View More SMALL MOUTH SOUNDS (Ars Nova/PTC): Hmmph
Music Reviews

A dilettante at large: A QUIET PLACE (Curtis Institute of Music)

Toby Zinman March 13, 2018 No Comments

The Curtis Institute of Music and Opera Philadelphia’s stunning production Leonard Bernstein’s opera, A Quiet Place, is one of many worldwide celebrations of his centennial;

View More A dilettante at large: A QUIET PLACE (Curtis Institute of Music)
Marc D. Donovan and Keith J. Conallen in A STEADY RAIN in Walnut Street Theatre's Independence Studio on 3. Photo by Mark Garvin
Reviews Theater

A STEADY RAIN (Walnut St): An intense and engrossing cop show

Toby Zinman February 24, 2018 No Comments

If you’re a fan of TV police procedurals this is the play for you.

View More A STEADY RAIN (Walnut St): An intense and engrossing cop show
Reviews Theater

A dilettante at large: WRITTEN ON SKIN (Opera Philadelphia)

Toby Zinman February 11, 2018 4 Comments

Philadelphia’s premiere drama critic, Toby Zinman knows her theater. Opera, not so much. Here’s her dilettante review of Opera Philadelphia’s WRITTEN ON SKIN.

View More A dilettante at large: WRITTEN ON SKIN (Opera Philadelphia)
Reviews Theater

REALLY (Theatre Exile): Camera obscura

Toby Zinman February 1, 2018 No Comments

Discomfort is the name of the game here, but to what purpose?

View More REALLY (Theatre Exile): Camera obscura

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