The Strides Collective presents Matt Shvyrkov’s Confabulation

Having a lot of character

The Strides Collective presents Matt Shvyrkov’s Confabulation, a frequently engaging portrait of misfits that seems at odds with its overly ambiguous structure. Kiran Pandey reviews.

Kiran Pandey

Oct 15, 2024 · Reviews · 4 minute read

1812 Productions presents This Is the Week That Is

Outdated election-year satire

1812’s popular political satire revue This Is the Week That Is returns to Plays & Players to take on the 2024 election in its 19th edition. But out-of-touch sketches offer mostly limp laughs. Josh Herren reviews.

Josh Herren

Oct 15, 2024 · Reviews · 2 minute read

Hedgerow Theatre presents Dave Droxler’s Robin & Me: My Little Spark of Madness

A marvelous madcap journey in time

This solo show from Delco native Dave Droxler mixes his real-life childhood in the Philly burbs with his love for a slew of comedians, especially his imaginary friend and real idol, Robin Williams. Erin Dohony reviews.

Erin Dohony

Oct 15, 2024 · Reviews · 3 minute read

Philadelphia Theatre Company and Edgewood Entertainment present Erlina Ortiz’s La Egoísta

Who gets to be selfish?

In Erlina Ortiz’s La Egoísta, now getting its Philly premiere at PTC, two very different sisters (one an irreverent comedian and the other a devoutly Christian bank employee) navigate the demands of career and caretaking. Krista Mar reviews.

Krista Mar

Oct 15, 2024 · Reviews · 3 minute read

Quintessence Theatre Group presents Edmond Rostand’s Cyrano de Bergerac, adapted by Martin Crimp

A classic tale with contemporary flair

Quintessence kicks off its 15th anniversary season with a bold adaptation of Cyrano, casting the charismatic yet insecure hero as a defiant poet fighting against mediocrity and bourgeois conformity. Josh Herren reviews.

Josh Herren

Oct 07, 2024 · Reviews · 2 minute read

Fever Dream Repertory presents Steve Yockey’s Mercury

A queer, occult delight

Fever Dream Repertory, a new local company, lands at Plays and Players for the Philly premiere of Mercury, a pitch-black horror comedy that evokes Hitchcock’s comedy and a queer and bloody Twilight Zone. C.M. Crockford reviews.

C.M. Crockford

Oct 07, 2024 · Reviews · 3 minute read

Philadelphia Orchestra presents Yannick Nézet-Séguin conducting Mahler’s Third Symphony

A lengthy thrill

Mahler’s Third, the longest symphony in the standard repertoire, got an exciting, multifaceted performance from Yannick Nézet-Séguin and the Philadelphia Orchestra, alongside soloist Joyce DiDonato and three choirs. Linda Holt reviews.

Linda Holt

Oct 07, 2024 · Reviews · 3 minute read

The Public Theater presents James Ijames’s Good Bones

No place like home

James Ijames takes on the weighty topic of gentrification in Good Bones with this production at New York’s Public Theater, but the play itself is still in need of renovation. Cameron Kelsall reviews.

Cameron Kelsall

Oct 03, 2024 · Reviews · 3 minute read

Delaware Theatre Company presents Harvey Fierstein and Cindy Lauper’s Kinky Boots

The most beautiful thing in the world dazzles in Wilmington

Delaware Theatre Company marks 45 years on Wilmington’s waterfront with an all-out, thigh-high production of Kinky Boots. Gail Obenreder reviews.

Gail Obenreder

Oct 01, 2024 · Reviews · 4 minute read

Philly Fringe 2024: Leigh Huster presents sorry just seeing this

It’s always screen time

“Sorry just seeing this” is one of the best possible endings to a text thread silence. In their new Fringe show, Leigh Huster explores the ways our smartphones connect and divide us. Helen Walsh reviews.

Helen Walsh

Sep 30, 2024 · Reviews · 3 minute read