New City's "Extremities'

Extremities is a strong play with a powerful central idea: What do you do when the law can’t— or won’t— protect you? The New City production is believably acted and efficiently and unobtrusively directed.

Extremities. Drama by William Mantrosimone; directed by William Roudebush. Presented by New City Stage Company through January 20, 2008 at Mumpuppetheater, 115 Arch St. (215) 563-7500 or

Tom Purdom

Jan 13, 2008 · Articles · 2 minute read

Back to the "40s in Norristown (2nd review)

At the opening curtain, this musical revue seems like a first-rate production without a point, other than nostalgia. It winds up drawing a bold contrast between a war-consumed but hopeful America and our own war-mired times that now stagnate in pessimism, rancor and despair.

Holiday Show at the Swing Club. Directed by Matt Decker. Through December 31, 2007 at the Centre Theatre, 208 DeKalb St., Norristown, Pa. (610) 283-2230 or

Jim Rutter

Dec 22, 2007 · Articles · 4 minute read

Back to the '40s in Norristown (1st review)

In a nightclub on December 31, 1943, an emcee gathers musicians and singers for one last show before they head off to war. This is a re-creation of what a live show was like on a New Year’s Eve in wartime, with a terrific cast and spectacular tap dancing and jitterbugging.

Holiday Show at the Swing Club. Directed by Matt Decker. Through December 31, 2007 at the Centre Theatre, 208 DeKalb St., Norristown, Pa. (610) 283-2230 or

Steve Cohen

Dec 18, 2007 · Articles · 4 minute read

Wilma's "Age of Arousal' (2nd review)

Despite an overwhelmingly successful and very funny production— the best individual and ensemble acting I’ve seen all season— and Blanka Zizka’s thoroughly engaging direction, this is quite clearly the wrong play for the wrong time.

Age of Arousal. By Linda Griffiths; directed by Blanka Zizka. Through January 6, 2008 at Wilma Theater, 265 S. Broad St. (215) 546-7824 or www.wilma

Jim Rutter

Dec 15, 2007 · Articles · 5 minute read

Wilma's "Age of Arousal' (1st review)

Like Tom Stoppard, playwright Linda Griffiths tells her story through the highly verbal interaction of individuals whose lives intersect the great issues of their time. The subject of Age of Arousal is sexuality, to be sure. Blanka Zizka’s staging and an excellent cast transcend what’s called for in the script.

Age of Arousal. By Linda Griffiths; directed by Blanka Zizka. Through January 6, 2008 at Wilma Theater, 265 S. Broad St. (215) 546-7824 or

Steve Cohen

Dec 15, 2007 · Articles · 4 minute read

Wilma's "Age of Arousal' (3rd review)

Only in an age when feminists feel secure can one safely kid around about feminism without seeming to be sexist or chauvinist. Linda Griffiths is fortunate to live in an age that offers such an opportunity, and so is her audience.

Age of Arousal. By Linda Griffiths; directed by Blanka Zizka. Through January 6, 2008 at Wilma Theater, 265 S. Broad St. (215) 546-7824 or www.wilmatheater.org.

Dan Rottenberg

Dec 15, 2007 · Articles · 5 minute read

EgoPo's 'Vieux Carré'

In his revival of Tennessee Williams’s forgotten sequel to The Glass Menagerie, director Lane Savadove stresses physicality and intense emotion. That’s what makes this 30-year-old play jump out at us.

Vieux Carré. Drama by Tennessee Williams; directed by Lane Savadove; musical director Daniel T. Peterson. EgoPo production through December 22, 2007 at Christ Church Neighborhood House, 20 N. American St. (215) 552-8773 or

Steve Cohen

Dec 08, 2007 · Articles · 4 minute read

On boycotting Greg Wood

Greg Wood, Grace Gonglewski, Tom Teti, Frank X…. It’s fun to see local actors evolve and grow in new roles. But even Laurence Olivier could become tiresome if you watched him every week. Is this a world-class theatrical community or a small town?

The School For Wives. Comedy by Molière; directed by Kathryn Nocero MacMillan. Lantern Theater Co. production through December 9, 2007 at St. Stephen’s Theater, Tenth and Ludlow Sts. (215) 829-0395 or&nbsp

Jim Rutter

Dec 04, 2007 · Articles · 6 minute read

"Drowsy Chaperone' at Academy

The Drowsy Chaperone is more than just another Broadway Roaring ‘20s song-and-dance show. It’s original and clever in its own right.

The Drowsy Chaperone. Music and lyrics by Lisa Lambert and Greg Morrison; directed and choreographed by Casey Nicholaw. November 27-December 2, 2007 at Academy of Music, Broad and Locust Sts. groups.telecharge.com.

Steve Cohen

Dec 01, 2007 · Articles · 2 minute read

Roles for Philadelphia actresses

Theater may be booming in Philadelphia, but roles for actresses remain in short supply. Four plays this month may offer the beginnings of a solution.

Jim Rutter

Nov 20, 2007 · Articles · 3 minute read