PTC's "Stars of David' at the Suzanne Roberts (2nd review)

The new Jew revue

Jews comprise a large segment of urban theater audiences, so any show with a Jewish theme enjoys a good head start. But even discriminating Jewish theatergoers may gag on this musical celebration of Jewishness. It's all heroes, no villains, and too many cooks concocting the songs.

Dan Rottenberg

Oct 25, 2012 · Articles · 6 minute read

Graham's "Outgoing Tide' in Wilmington

Alzheimer's, rendered more believable

In Delaware Theatre Company's incarnation, nothing has changed in Bruce Graham's script about a man with Alzheimer's, but the direction and acting interpretations revealed the story in a new light.

Steve Cohen

Oct 23, 2012 · Articles · 2 minute read

Albee's "Virginia Woolf' revived on Broadway

George stands up to Martha, for once

Rarely does a revival shed new light on a play with the same intensity as the blazing new production of Who's Afraid of Virginia Woolf? that just opened on Broadway on its 50th anniversary.

Carol Rocamora

Oct 23, 2012 · Articles · 4 minute read

"Drumline Live' at the Merriam

Strike up the (pumped up) band

The spectacular Drumline Live celebrates the type of pumped-up band music played at historically black, mostly Southern colleges. It's dazzling stuff, but to judge from the audience at the Merriam, it's mostly preaching to the choir.

Steve Cohen

Oct 22, 2012 · Articles · 2 minute read

New City's "RFK' at the Adrienne

Bobby Kennedy's unfinished (and uncertain) legacy

Jack Holmes's RFK is a play for our political season, but also a sympathetic and sometimes searching portrayal of Americans' last political icon. Russ Widdall's performance is a tour de force.

Robert Zaller

Oct 20, 2012 · Articles · 9 minute read

"Gutenberg! The Musical' at Ambler

Let's put on a show! On second thought, let's not

Gutenberg! The Musical! is a parody of simpletons trying to create a Broadway show in total ignorance of its subject. What next— a parody of retarded children?

Steve Cohen

Oct 20, 2012 · Articles · 3 minute read

The Inquirer's dwindling theater coverage

…And then there were none: The Inquirer's last theater critic

Howard Shapiro, the Inquirer's last full-time theater critic, was recently reassigned, leaving the theater beat to be handled by free-lancers. Is this how a major metropolitan newspaper covers one of Philadelphia's most exciting continuing stories?

SaraKay Smullens

Oct 16, 2012 · Articles · 4 minute read

"Next to Normal' at the Arden (2nd review)

Up from normality

Diana, the obsessively grieving mother in Next to Normal, has more than her share of hangups. But she's far less dangerous than the “normal” relatives and mental health professionals who attend her.

Jackie Schifalacqua

Oct 16, 2012 · Articles · 3 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

"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