'King Arthur': People's Light's annual panto

Kidding a legend

In its annual panto, People's Light takes the Arthurian legend and slapsticks it up for kids, with corny jokes, wildly mugging actors, a large man dressed as a woman, songs, puppets, and lots and lots of audience participation.

Bill Murphy

Nov 29, 2014 · Articles · 2 minute read

'QED' revived at Lantern Theater

The limits of science

Science can do many things, but it cannot forever stave off individual suffering. Faced with prolonging a life of pain, or giving up, how does a theoretical physicist decide what to do?

Naomi Orwin

Nov 25, 2014 · Articles · 4 minute read

'Tamburlaine, Parts I and II' at Theatre for a New Audience

Blood will have blood

Be prepared to multitask for three hours, with one eye on the program notes and the other on the stage, so you won’t fall behind. Believe me, it’s hard not to, with 19 actors playing roughly 60 roles. But you won’t want to miss a beat.

Carol Rocamora

Nov 25, 2014 · Articles · 5 minute read

‘Rest in Pieces’ in Wilmington

Second chances

If our late parents came back to life, would we treat them better? Would they treat us better? Would they treat each other better? Steve Bluestein’s play explores the line between comedy and tragedy, with uneven results.

Steve Cohen

Nov 22, 2014 · Articles · 3 minute read

'Mary Poppins' at the Walnut Street Theatre

The dark side of our favorite nanny

Mary Poppins makes a bad nanny but a fun family musical.

Naomi Orwin

Nov 18, 2014 · Articles · 3 minute read

'Father Comes Home from the Wars' and 'The Oldest Boy'

Myths that define us

Father Comes Home from the Wars and The Oldest Boy are each steeped in mythology, and each has a compelling tale that changes the way we view the world.

Carol Rocamora

Nov 18, 2014 · Articles · 4 minute read

'Great Expectations' at the Arden Theatre

Cliffs Notes on a classic

A Dickens adaptation that makes us laugh? Seeing the Arden Theatre Company’s Great Expectations is like watching the Cliffs Notes come to life — in a good way.

Naomi Orwin

Nov 11, 2014 · Articles · 3 minute read

'The Last Ship' and 'On the Town'

Setting sail on Broadway

Two musicals currently on Broadway — The Last Ship and On the Town — are both about life ashore, but they couldn't be more different.

Carol Rocamora

Nov 11, 2014 · Articles · 4 minute read

‘As You Like It’ and ‘Richard II’ at Quintessence Theatre Group

Going all the way with Shakespeare?

When directors send Shakespeare back to its roots, just which roots do they choose to stick with, and why? These classic shows in rep may leave audiences wondering.

Alaina Johns

Nov 08, 2014 · Articles · 5 minute read

‘Bad Jews’ at the Walnut (2nd review)

Jews behaving badly

Secularism clashes with religiosity during a tense reunion of family members after a funeral. And you don’t have to be Jewish to squirm and laugh at the conflict.

Steve Cohen

Nov 07, 2014 · Articles · 3 minute read