Terrence McNally’s ‘Mothers and Sons’ at PTC (first review)

Elephants in the room

Terrence McNally’s noble attempt to recognize the forgotten victims of the 1980s AIDS crisis is undermined by a shallow dramatic conflict.

Dan Rottenberg

Feb 12, 2015 · Articles · 5 minute read

Albee's 'A Delicate Balance' in New York

Dwelling in “the dark sadness”

No matter how dark an Albee play gets, there’s always the hope — however faint — that love will save the day, if only we are capable of it.

Carol Rocamora

Feb 10, 2015 · Articles · 5 minute read

'Under the Skin' at the Arden

What do we owe each other?

Which organ is more important, the kidney that cleanses our bodies of toxins or the heart, considered symbolically as the organ that connects us emotionally to each other? And would we really give up a part of ourselves to keep someone else alive?

Naomi Orwin

Feb 06, 2015 · Articles · 4 minute read

Tom Stoppard's 'The Hard Problem' at London's National Theatre

Solving a hard problem

In his first new work in almost a decade, Stoppard offers a 90-minute jewel that, in the tradition of theater of ideas, will challenge you to think as well as feel.

Carol Rocamora

Feb 03, 2015 · Articles · 4 minute read

‘The Dangerous House of Pretty Mbane’ at InterAct

Victims and fighters in “the new South Africa”

The world took in “the new South Africa” during the 2010 World Cup, but fatal injustice still infects a reinvented country in The Dangerous House of Pretty Mbane, a National New Play Network-commissioned premiere.

Alaina Johns

Jan 30, 2015 · Articles · 5 minute read

Four history plays in London

From monarchy to anarchy

In London, four powerful productions about the perils of those who rule.

Carol Rocamora

Jan 27, 2015 · Articles · 5 minute read

'Doubt: A Parable' at Lantern

A timely look at priestly abuse

Coinciding with the Vatican announcement of the head of a new appeal panel for sanctioned priests, John Patrick Shanley’s Doubt: A Parable opens at the Lantern Theater.

Kathryn Osenlund

Jan 27, 2015 · Articles · 5 minute read

'Private Lives' at Walnut Street Theatre

Lovers behaving badly

Does being witty make a bad marriage any better? If you dress well and have money, do you get away with behaving badly?

Naomi Orwin

Jan 27, 2015 · Articles · 3 minute read

Mamet’s ‘Life in the Theatre’ at the Walnut Street Theatre

A glimpse behind the curtain

When we go to the theater, we want to believe in magic, but Mamet reminds us that it’s all make-believe created by actors not that different from ourselves.

Naomi Orwin

Jan 24, 2015 · Articles · 3 minute read

'Body of an American' at the Wilma

Is war personal?

Photographers look at what we prefer not to see; as a result they are haunted by the images they capture on film. But does making war a personal issue really help to rid the world of war?

Naomi Orwin

Jan 17, 2015 · Articles · 5 minute read