Theatre Exile's "American Buffalo' (1st review)

Testosterone for three

Theatre Exile's revival of David Mamet's breakthrough play, American Buffalo, is driven by Pete Pryor's brilliant performance as the testosterone-laced Teach. But while Teach's bullying behavior might have been considered borderline psychotic a generation ago, it's a reflection of daily life today.

Robert Zaller

Apr 17, 2009 · Articles · 5 minute read

InterAct's "Jihad Jones'

An Arab actor with a problem

A serious Arab actor gets a shot at fame and fortune; all he must do is perpetuate the worst possible Muslim terrorist stereotype. Yussef El Guindi has a fine idea for a 15-minute comedy skit, but its humor soon wears thin, especially given the play's flimsy underlying premise.

Dan Rottenberg

Apr 16, 2009 · Articles · 3 minute read

Theatre Exile's "American Buffalo' (2nd review)

Delusions of urban males

David Mamet is a master at capturing the euphemisms and rhetorical devices through which men rationalize and evade the cruelty of their words and deeds. But other writers handle this subject matter even better.

Dan Rottenberg

Apr 15, 2009 · Articles · 4 minute read

Lantern Theater's hyperactive "Hamlet' (1st review)

What's Shakespeare's real point? That is the question

The question in Hamlet may be less why the play's hero fails to avenge his father's murder than why he fails to claim his crown. The Lantern Theater's fast-paced production of the play treats it as an action drama but misses its darker drives and subtler shades of meaning.

Robert Zaller

Apr 14, 2009 · Articles · 7 minute read

Arden's "A Year With Frog and Toad'

The Arden reconsidered: How a frog and a toad made me a believer

After more than ten years' absence from the Arden, it took a children's show to get me there at last and make a believer out of me. What impressed me above all about A Year With Frog and Toad was the enthusiastic attention that the Arden crew paid to even the tiniest detail.

Dan Rottenberg

Apr 13, 2009 · Articles · 4 minute read

Luna Theater's "Hot 'n' Throbbing'

When women enable violent men

Are women turned on by abusive men? Anyone seriously disturbed by that possibility should avoid seeing Luna's intense and surprisingly funny production of Paula Vogel's Hot 'n' Throbbing.

Jim Rutter

Apr 11, 2009 · Articles · 4 minute read

"Jihad Jones' and Arab stereotypes

Bombers, billionaires and belly dancers: What's worse than an Arab stereotype?

In Yussef El-Guindi's comedy Jihad Jones and the Kalashnikov Babes, an Arab-American actor refuses to play stereotypical Arab bomb-throwing roles. And maybe he should. But let's not throw the baby out with the stereotypical bathwater. With a video interview.

Jim Rutter

Apr 07, 2009 · Articles · 4 minute read

Theatrical readings, and where to find them

A playwright's trial by fire

Theatrical readings are getting a bad rap in Broad Street Review. But as a playwright, I can attest that they're a necessary element in bringing a play from a writer's mind onto the stage. The audience (and even critics) benefit too. And in Philadelphia, there are many opportunities to participate.

Mark Wolverton

Mar 31, 2009 · Articles · 4 minute read

Why "Hamlet' still matters

A distant mirror to the modern world: Why I never grow tired of Hamlet

After 500 years, why does Hamlet still fascinate us? Because Hamlet's character continues to embody every facet of what it means to be a human. He's the thread upon which all our male cultural archetypes, even Mad Max, now unravel. With video interview: Click here.

Jim Rutter

Mar 31, 2009 · Articles · 5 minute read

Simpatico's "Long Day's Journey Into Night' (2nd review)

Long Day's Journey, up close and personal

Simpatico reminds us that Long Day's Journey is an intimate play with a small cast, set in one living room. Very appropriate, then, to see it close up on a small stage, even if the actors look better than they sound.

Steve Cohen

Mar 28, 2009 · Articles · 4 minute read