Reviews

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Page 15
Book cover: title above a sepia photo of a worn sculpture of a hand holding another pair of clasped hands.

Frume Halpern’s Blessed Hands, translated by Yermiyahu Ahron Taub

An American writer, in English for the first time
Blessed Hands: Stories, a collection of 20th-century writer Frume Halpern translated into English for the first time, is a treat for Yiddish literary scholars, but leaves a general reader still hungry. Helen Walsh reviews.
Helen Walsh

Helen Walsh

Reviews 4 minute read
Book cover: gold and orange split on a rough halfway diagonal, over an ancient fresco of a winged man holding a gold helmet

Homer’s The Iliad, translated by Emily Wilson

The Odyssey’s bloodier cousin
Philadelphia-based translator and UmPenn professor Emily Wilson follows her acclaimed English translation of The Odyssey with a similarly lucid and lean new Iliad. Kiran Pandey reviews.
Kiran Pandey

Kiran Pandey

Reviews 5 minute read
In the show, Scammell, on stilts with a large fake head, plays a giant holding Money’s hand. She looks up at him in wonder.

Arden Children’s Theatre presents The BFG

Puppets and people
The Arden presents The BFG, an adaptation of the Roald Dahl classic, in a production fit for both kids and the young at heart. Jill Ivey reviews.
Jillian Ashley Blair Ivey

Jillian Ashley Blair Ivey

Reviews 4 minute read
Baca, with arms spread, supports Dolan’s body as she swoops in a downward curve, a knee around his waist. They wear white.

How do three popular Philly versions of The Nutcracker compare?

Beyond Balanchine
In December, the Philly dance calendar seems to become nothing but Nutcrackers. Dance writer Camille Bacon-Smith heads to three different productions, to see how this enduring ballet looks in 2023.
Camille Bacon-Smith

Camille Bacon-Smith

Reviews 6 minute read
In a nighttime gallery room next to a large window, an airy, dramatically lit large sculpture of white bamboo strips.

The Museum for Art in Wood presents FLOE: A Climate of Risk

Cold, hard fiction
If we won’t engage with the bare facts of climate change, is there another way in? Interdisciplinary artist Stephen Talasnik wonders in his FLOE: A Climate of Risk, which imagines the aftermath of an icebound shipwreck. Pamela J. Forsythe reviews.

Pamela J. Forsythe

Reviews 4 minute read
Davis, with short, gingery hair & beard, wearing a white tee, holds a wooden nutcracker doll and has a thoughtful expression.

Chris Davis presents One-Man Nutcracker

A magical reimagining, back for 2023
Chris Davis has been bringing his fresh and
funny one-man take on The Nutcracker to Philly theaters since 2019. This year, the still-delightful show lands at the Drake. An Nichols reviews.
An Nichols

An Nichols

Reviews 2 minute read
Rottsolk, in a black & pink dress, sings on a golden, pillared chancel with 8 black-clad musicians playing around her.

Piffaro presents Christmas in Southern Germany

Old music, fresh performance
Piffaro celebrates the season by treating audiences to Christmas in Southern Germany, an uplifting and accessible multi-instrumental deep dive into sacred works of the 16th and 17th century. Gail Obenreder reviews.
Gail Obenreder

Gail Obenreder

Reviews 4 minute read
Gilbert squats with Fenton lying gracefully extended across his knees. They both wear bronze, silver & gold bodysuits.

PHILADANCO! presents Intangible Influences

Premieres and a tribute to Gene Hill Sagan
PHILADANCO! honors late resident choreographer Gene Hill Sagan in a program also including two company premieres and two world premieres featuring returning and new choreographers. Melissa Strong reviews.
Melissa Strong

Melissa Strong

Reviews 4 minute read
Elmore, in a striped tee & suspenders, sings with a wildly costumed ensemble of about 10 grouped behind him.

Delaware Theatre Company presents Peter and the Starcatcher

A Peter Pan prequel panto
As an American-style panto, this ebullient, exceptional production of Peter and the Starcatcher from Delaware Theatre Company is a welcome respite from endless Christmas Carols. Gail Obenreder reviews.
Gail Obenreder

Gail Obenreder

Reviews 5 minute read
Vintage opening-night poster with all the featured bands & Franklin’s face in front of a factory, all in orange ink.

Drexel University presents Electrified: 50 Years of Electric Factory

Reelin’ in the years
Philly live music lovers should hurry to a new special exhibition at Drexel University spotlighting the history of the Electric Factory, including iconic guitars, a Rock-Ola jukebox, and tons of memorabilia. Pamela J. Forsythe reviews.

Pamela J. Forsythe

Reviews 6 minute read