'After Guantanamo' at Live Arts/Philly Fringe Fest

Tom Weinberg Wilson has assembled all the ingredients for a potent sociopolitical drama, but the play disintegrates into tirades about Dick Cheney and American imperialism, which play more like the author’s words than the characters.’

After Guantanamo. Written and directed by Tom Weinberg Wilson. Live Arts/Philly fringe Festival, at Walnut Street Theatre Studio 5, 825 Walnut St.

Lewis Whittington

Sep 14, 2006 · Articles · 1 minute read

Pig Iron's 'Love Unpunished'

Love Unpunished. Directed by Dan Rothenberg, choreographed by David Brick. Presented by Pig Iron Theatre Company, through Sept. 17, 2006 at Cinema at Penn, 3925 Walnut St. (215) 413-1318 or Philadelphia Live Arts Festival and Philly Fringe.

This starkly minimalist 55-minute allegory of 9/11 and Hurricane Katrina may be the most interesting work staged in Philadel

Robert Zaller

Sep 14, 2006 · Articles · 5 minute read

The trouble with gay theater

Thanks in part to a profusion of brilliant gay playwrights, the straight world’s Age of Ignorance about the gays and lesbians among us is rapidly drawing to a close. That’s good news for civilized society but bad news for gay playwrights themselves, since gay-on-gay relationships are inherently less dramatic than the eternally mysterious dance between men and women.

Dan Rottenberg

Jul 13, 2006 · Articles · 5 minute read

Arden's 'A Funny Thing Happened'

Director Terrence J. Nolen once again displays his grasp of Sondheim, pumping fresh life into an often-revived musical chestnut that’s beginning to seem almost as ancient as the Roman Empire it lampoons.

A Funny Thing Happened On The Way To The Forum. Steven Sondheim musical with script by Burt Shevelove and Larry Gelbart; directed by Terence J. Nolan. Presented June 2006 by Arden Theatre Company. www.ardentheatre.org.

Lewis Whittington

Jul 06, 2006 · Articles · 2 minute read

Philadelphia Gay and Lesbian Theatre Festival

Despite his adolescent trauma, Martin Moran engagingly demonstrates that he’s a truer Catholic than the counselor who abused him. Blair Fell’s exploration of Shakespeare’s sexuality offers some unexpectedly inspired characterizations.

Fourth Philadelphia Gay and Lesbian Theatre Festival. June 15-July 1, 2006. www.philagaylesbiantheatrefest.org
The Tricky Part, one-man show by Martin Moran. June 19, 2006, at Haas Stage at the Arden Theater.

Lewis Whittington

Jul 06, 2006 · Articles · 3 minute read

McNally's 'Some Men' at PTC

Almost everything about this exuberant/poignant salute to the gay survivors of the repressed old closeted days is first-rate, and Terrence McNally’s script is by turns entertaining, funny and incisive as far as it goes. Unfortunately it does not go very far, because McNally is mostly preaching to the choir here.

Some Men. By Terrence McNally; directed by Philip Himberg. World premiere presented through June 11, 2006 by Philadelphia Theatre Co. at Plays & Players,&

Dan Rottenberg

May 18, 2006 · Articles · 4 minute read

Wilma's 'A Number'

As a play of ideas, Caryl Churchill’s A Number raises significant issues about our human future. As drama, however, it’s largely mired in naturalistic convention.

A Number. By Caryl Churchill; directed by Jiri Zizka. Through June 4, 2006 at Wilma Theater, 265 S. Broad St., 215-546-7824 or www.wilmatheater.org.

Robert Zaller

May 16, 2006 · Articles · 4 minute read

Villanova's Irish Festival

In just 35 minutes, Sebastian Barry’s Fred and Jane provides a lifetime of experience, such as only theater can give in the hands of a master. Conor McPherson’s The Good Thief, at twice the length of Fred and Jane, is also twice the length it needs be.

Fred and Jane, By Sebastian Barry, and The Good Thief, by Conor McPherson. Irish Festival April 24- 30, 2006, at Villanova Theatre. 610-519-7474 or

Robert Zaller

May 01, 2006 · Articles · 3 minute read

Wilma's 'Cloud Nine'

This sendup of Victorian sexual repression and post-‘60s sexual confusion vaulted Caryl Churchill into prominence a generation ago. But from the perspective of the early 2000s, it is all rather shooting fish in a barrel, despite director Blanka Zizka’s brisk pacing and a lavish production.

Cloud Nine. By Caryl Churchill; directed by Blanka Zizka. Through May 28, 2006 at The Wilma Theater, 265 S. Broad St. (215) 893-9456 or

Robert Zaller

May 01, 2006 · Articles · 4 minute read

Shakespeare Festival's 'Tempest'

A mixed bag whose virtues— including at least one performance worthy of a Barrymore Award— outweigh its flaws and justify the admission price.

The Tempest. By William Shakespeare. Directed by Carmen Khan. Through May 21, 2006 (in repertory with Much Ado About Nothing and The Complete Works of William Shakespeare) at the Philadelphia Shakespeare Festival, 2111 Sansom Street. www.phillyshakespear

Robert Zaller

Apr 28, 2006 · Articles · 4 minute read