"Darker Face of the Earth' at Temple

Slavery in the Old South (with an Oedipal twist) is brought to vibrant life by director Charles Dumas and a brilliant ensemble cast in a drama that deserves serious attention.

The Darker Face of the Earth. By Rita Dove; directed by Charles Dumas. Through February 16, 2008 at Randall Theatre, Temple University, 2020 North 13th St. (215) 204-1122 or www.temple.edu/theater.

Josh L. Hitchens

Feb 09, 2008 · Articles · 4 minute read

"Whistle Down the Wind' at Merriam

There may be some merit in the idea of an escaped convict who is mistaken for Jesus Christ by a grief-stricken teenager who has just lost her mother. But not enough to carry a two-act musical.

Whistle Down the Wind. Music by Andrew Lloyd Webber; book by Patricia Knop, Gale Edwards and Webber; lyrics by Jim Steinman. Through February 10, 2008 at Merriam Theatre, 250 S. Broad above Spruce St. (215) 336-1234 or www.thewhist

Steve Cohen

Feb 09, 2008 · Articles · 3 minute read

"Avenue Q' at the Forrest

Avenue Q may be the most over-hyped show on Broadway and on the touring circuit. And if you never spent much time watching "Sesame Street," you’ll miss the point of many of the songs.

Avenue Q. Music and lyrics by Robert Lopez and Jeff Marx; book by Jeff Witty. Through February 10, 2008 at the Forrest Theatre, 1114 Walnut St. (800) 432-7250 or www.forrest-theatre.com.

Steve Cohen

Feb 05, 2008 · Articles · 2 minute read

"Grace' and "The Price' (3rd review)

Were Arthur Miller alive today, I’d tell him to take notes from Craig Wright’s Grace. Where The Price is almost all talk, Grace offers a love triangle, murder, attempted suicide, religious conversion and a real battle of wills—between each character and God.

Grace. Play by Craig Wright; directed by Gregory Scott Campbell. Luna Theater Company production through February 23, 2008 at Walnut Street Theatre Studio 5, 825 Walnut St.

Jim Rutter

Feb 03, 2008 · Articles · 7 minute read

"Wittenberg' at the Arden (3rd review)

In Wittenberg, playwright David Davalos serves up heaping portions of wit and cleverness but misses the chance to offer a serious drama about opposing forces.

Wittenberg. By David Davalos; directed by J. R. Sullivan. Through March 16, 2008 at Arden Theatre, 40 N. Second St. (212) 922-1122 or www.ardentheatre.org.

Steve Cohen

Feb 03, 2008 · Articles · 4 minute read

"Wittenberg' at the Arden (2nd review)

Wittenberg is witty, and tiresome. David Davalos inventively seeks to show Martin Luther, Hamlet and Dr. Faustus as they seemed before they became forever fixed as history remembers them. But even three characters become too many the way Davalos inconsistently ladles on his material.

Wittenberg. By David Davalos; directed by J. R. Sullivan. Through March 16, 2008 at Arden Theatre, 40 N. Second St. (212) 922-1122 or www.a

Lesley Valdes

Feb 02, 2008 · Articles · 3 minute read

"Grace' by Luna Theater Co. (1st review)

Grace is a work of black humor with issues too real to ignore, as well as excellent ensemble acting.

Grace. Comedy by Craig Wright; directed by Gregory Scott Campbell. Luna Theater Company production through February 23, 2008 at Walnut Street Theatre Studio 5, 825 Walnut St. (215) 704-0033 or www.lunatheater.org.

Lesley Valdes

Feb 02, 2008 · Articles · 3 minute read

"The Price' at the Walnut (2nd review)

In the first act of The Price I found myself impatiently fidgeting and even dozing off at Miller’s familiar script devices. So why, then, did I find myself riveted and even choking back tears in the second act? The answer is surely personal, which is the essence of great theater.

The Price. Drama by Arthur Miller; directed by Michael Carleton. Through March 2, 2008 at Walnut Street Theatre, 825 Walnut St. (215) 574-3550 or

Dan Rottenberg

Feb 02, 2008 · Articles · 4 minute read

PTC's "M. Butterfly'

In many respects this production of M. Butterfly is a feast for eye, ear and mind alike. But maybe it’s a little too much of a feast. All those visual and aural goodies tend to conceal the shortage of intellectual protein at its center.

M. Butterfly. Drama by David Henry Hwang; directed by Joe Calarco. Philadelphia Theatre Co. production through February 24, 2008 at Suzanne Roberts Theatre, Broad and Lombard Sts. (215) 985-0420 or

Dan Rottenberg

Jan 29, 2008 · Articles · 7 minute read

Beckett's "Happy Days' in Brooklyn

The London production of Samuel Beckett’s Happy Days is soundingly heroic in Irish actress Fiona Shaw’s performance, but misses some of the play’s subtler notes of despair.

Happy Days. By Samuel Beckett; directed by Deborah Warner. National Theater of Great Britain production through February 2, 2008 at Harvey Theater, Brooklyn Academy of Music, 30 Lafayette Ave., Brooklyn. (718) 636.4100 or www.bam.or

Robert Zaller

Jan 27, 2008 · Articles · 4 minute read