Paul Thomas Anderson's "The Master' (2nd review)

The American Dream as nightmare

Paul Thomas Anderson's The Master hauntingly juxtaposes two stories of American madness in the aftermath of World War II, one about a berserk veteran and the other about a cult leader. With a superb Philip Seymour Hoffman, and an astonishing Joaquin Phoenix.

Robert Zaller

Oct 16, 2012 · Articles · 7 minute read

'Mark Twain' at People's Light

Tried and true

A one-man show about Mark Twain isn't exactly an original idea, but with material like this, who cares?

Bill Murphy

Oct 15, 2012 · Articles · 2 minute read

Learning to love William Morris

A dreamer in industrial London

The 19th-Century British arts and crafts innovator William Morris is being honored in London. High time I appreciated a medievalist whom I used to despise for all the wrong reasons.

Patrick D. Hazard

Oct 14, 2012 · Articles · 3 minute read

Schwarzenegger's "Total Recall'

Buy my book or I'll kill you, or: The Terminator's promotional tour

Move over, Marcel Proust. The Terminator's memories are bigger, badder and surely more shameless than anything you conjured up by biting into a cookie.

Perry Block

Oct 13, 2012 · Articles · 2 minute read

"This Is the Week That Is,' by 1812 Productions (2nd review)

The case for live political satire

Jon Stewart and Steven Colbert may be the kings of political satire, but there's no substitute for a live revue that involves the audience— especially when the troupe in question hits its target more often than, say, “Saturday Night Live.”

Steve Cohen

Oct 09, 2012 · Articles · 3 minute read

Stan Sperlak's "Rising' at Cape May

How you gonna keep 'em down in Provence after they've seen Cape May?

Stan Sperlak's Cape May County pastels almost make you believe there's no difference between southern Jersey and southern France. Almost, but not quite.

Jackie Schifalacqua

Oct 08, 2012 · Articles · 3 minute read

EgoPo's "Jesse James'

Robin Hood he wasn't

From dime novels, folk songs and contemporary newspaper stories about Jesse James and his gang, EgoPo has ingeniously cobbled together the sort of vaudeville show that would have pandered to the bank robber's devotees after his murder in 1882.

Steve Cohen

Oct 08, 2012 · Articles · 4 minute read

Paul Thomas Anderson's "The Master' (1st review)

Is this Citizen Kane, or The Lost Weekend?

Contrary to its misleading title, The Master isn't about a false messiah but about one of his pathetic acolytes. Director Paul Thomas Anderson seems not to understand that sumptuous photography and penetrating acting are no substitute for story.

Susan Beth Lehman

Oct 06, 2012 · Articles · 4 minute read

"Next to Normal' at the Arden (1st review)

The things we notice when we turn down the volume

Unlike the Broadway musical, which looked and sounded like a rock concert, Terrence Nolen's Arden production brings out the quiet yet deep emotions of a family dealing with illness and loss.

Steve Cohen

Oct 06, 2012 · Articles · 3 minute read

Dance at the Fringe: Something missing

Looking for dance in all the wrong places

This year's Philadelphia Live Arts/Fringe Festival offered a great deal of movement but precious little in the way of genuine dance. A loss of funding was the culprit.

Merilyn Jackson

Oct 05, 2012 · Articles · 7 minute read