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

Walnut's 'Natural History'

Jennifer Camp’s script provides a few very funny moments and a few poignant ones, and three actors demonstrate their versatility, but much of the territory here seems like familiar ground.

Natural History. By Jennifer Camp; directed by Thom Sesma. Through May 7, 2006, at Walnut Street Theatre’s Studio 3, 825 Walnut St., (215) 574-3550 or www.wstonline.org.

Dan Rottenberg

Apr 28, 2006 · Articles · 1 minute read

Pig Iron's 'Hell Meets Henry Halfway'

An allegory about Europe’s doomed bourgeoisie exhausts its slender material early but redeems itself by the finale, with help from a uniformly capable cast.

Hell Meets Henry Halfway. Adapted by Adriano Shaplin from the novel by Witold Gombrowicz. Directed by Dan Rothenberg, presented April 11-16, 2006, by Pig Iron Theatre Company at
Mandell Theater, Drexel University. www.pigiron.org/home.html.

Robert Zaller

Apr 27, 2006 · Articles · 2 minute read

InterAct's 'Reinventing Eden'

Despite some flaws, Seth Rozin’s nuanced and even-handed look at the ethical conflicts of a driven geneticist succeeds at dramatizing abstract intellectual issues, compelling his audience to confront the miracle of existence and the ambiguities of tampering with our genetic structure.

Reinventing Eden. By Seth Rozin, directed by Harriet Power. Presented by InterAct Theatre Co. through May 7, 2006, at Adrienne Theatre, 2030 Sansom St. (215) 568-8077 or

Dan Rottenberg

Apr 27, 2006 · Articles · 5 minute read

Lantern's 'Richard III'

Charles McMahon’s direction keeps the play moving briskly--a shade too much so, since the results sometimes teeter on confusion. But there's method in the occasional madness.

Richard III. By William Shakespeare, directed by Charles McMahon. Presented by Lantern Theater Co. through April 30, 2006, at St. Stephen’s Theater, 923 Ludlow St. (215) 829-9002 or www.lanterntheater.org.

Robert Zaller

Apr 01, 2006 · Articles · 5 minute read

PTC's 'Intimate Apparel'

This compelling but also wrenching drama introduces us to people who’ve been rendered largely anonymous by history, enabling us to empathize with the bad choices that people make when they feel desperate.

Intimate Apparel. By Lynn Nottage; Philadelphia Theatre Co. production directed by Tim Vasen. Through April 16 at Plays & Players, 1714 Delancey St., (215) 569-9700 or www.phillytheatreco.com.

Dan Rottenberg

Mar 23, 2006 · Articles · 4 minute read