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Reviews Theater

PROJECT DAWN (People’s Light): The hug or the hammer

Cameron Kelsall June 22, 2017 No Comments

A well-intentioned but dull play about an important legal program in Philadelphia.

Reviews Theater

FUN HOME (national tour at Forrest Theatre): A study in want

Julie Zeglen June 22, 2017 No Comments

There was a perfection to the timing of FUN HOME’s arrival in Philadelphia: Another take on FUN HOME

Features Theater

Theater in Sketch: HIR (Simpatico)

Chuck Schultz June 22, 2017 No Comments

Simpatico Theatre Company’s production of HIR by Taylor Mac challenges audiences to reconsider preconceptions of gender identity

Features Reviews Theater

Revisiting PARROT TALK: A play distilled mid-run

Julia Taus June 22, 2017 No Comments

Those fortunate enough to see both renditions of PARROT TALK witnessed in real-time flow the distillation of creative genius.

Reviews Theater

SATURDAY NIGHT FEVER (Walnut): Stayin’ Alive

Dorie Byrne June 18, 2017 No Comments

SATURDAY NIGHT FEVER is a white-washed adaptation of the classic movie, with double the music and none of the soul. Director/choreographer Richard Stafford seems terrified…

Features Interviews Theater

Ritchie Valens in THE BUDDY HOLLY STORY: Interview with actor Gilbert Sanchez

Debra Danese June 18, 2017 No Comments

GILBERT SANCHEZ speaks about his role as Ritchie Valens in the current production.

Reviews Theater

FUN HOME (national tour at Forrest Theatre): Hiding who you are is likely to be tragic

Toby Zinman June 18, 2017 1 Comment

FUN HOME is both a musical and a family drama; it’s also an activist declaration

Reviews Theater

UNCLE VANYA (Quintessence): Tedious boring people

Cameron Kelsall June 18, 2017 No Comments

Good productions of Chekhov remind us of how vital his work still can be. Bad productions feed the narrative that his plays are dated, charmless, and inconsequential.

Dance Reviews

ANNE-MARIE MULGREW AND DANCERS COMPANY: Marvels in our daily lives

Eri Yoneda June 18, 2017 No Comments

Dance is one of our most natural ways to communicate and express our thoughts.

Features Theater

Theater in Sketch: HOW TO USE A KNIFE (InterAct)

Chuck Schultz June 17, 2017 No Comments

The InterAct Theater goes behind the scenes of a working kitchen

Dance Features

Dance in Sketch: Anne-Marie and Dancers Company

Chuck Schultz June 14, 2017 No Comments

This temporal moment is an instant visual image that leaves us with something once the performance is over.

Reviews Theater

HIR (Simpatico): We are all everything

Cameron Kelsall June 13, 2017 1 Comment

Author’s note: Taylor Mac uses “judy” as a gender pronoun. This review reflects Mac’s preference. Taylor Mac’s work is unwieldy and absurdist, challenging and unsettling.…

Reviews Theater

DOGS OF RWANDA (InterAct): We are witnesses

Cameron Kelsall June 13, 2017 No Comments

A gripping solo play that asks tough questions and rejects easy answers

Reviews Theater

THE GOSPEL ACCORDING TO THOMAS JEFFERSON, CHARLES DICKENS & COUNT LEO TOLSTOY: DISCORD (Lantern Theater Company): Locked in limbo with literati

Kathryn Osenlund June 13, 2017 2 Comments

The Lantern team transforms an essentially all-talk playscript into an engaging, living piece of theater.

Reviews

Philadelphia Theater Calendar June 2017

Calendar June 1, 2017 No Comments

Jerry’s Girls. April 4-July 2, 2017. Walnut Street Theatre, 825 Walnut Street. $35-$40. walnutstreettheatre.org The Light Princess by Tony Lawton and Alex Bechtel. April 5-June 2, 2017. Arden Theatre Company, 40 N.…