"Drumline Live' at the Merriam

Strike up the (pumped up) band

The spectacular Drumline Live celebrates the type of pumped-up band music played at historically black, mostly Southern colleges. It's dazzling stuff, but to judge from the audience at the Merriam, it's mostly preaching to the choir.

Steve Cohen

Oct 22, 2012 · Articles · 2 minute read

New City's "RFK' at the Adrienne

Bobby Kennedy's unfinished (and uncertain) legacy

Jack Holmes's RFK is a play for our political season, but also a sympathetic and sometimes searching portrayal of Americans' last political icon. Russ Widdall's performance is a tour de force.

Robert Zaller

Oct 20, 2012 · Articles · 9 minute read

"Gutenberg! The Musical' at Ambler

Let's put on a show! On second thought, let's not

Gutenberg! The Musical! is a parody of simpletons trying to create a Broadway show in total ignorance of its subject. What next— a parody of retarded children?

Steve Cohen

Oct 20, 2012 · Articles · 3 minute read

The Inquirer's dwindling theater coverage

…And then there were none: The Inquirer's last theater critic

Howard Shapiro, the Inquirer's last full-time theater critic, was recently reassigned, leaving the theater beat to be handled by free-lancers. Is this how a major metropolitan newspaper covers one of Philadelphia's most exciting continuing stories?

SaraKay Smullens

Oct 16, 2012 · Articles · 4 minute read

"Next to Normal' at the Arden (2nd review)

Up from normality

Diana, the obsessively grieving mother in Next to Normal, has more than her share of hangups. But she's far less dangerous than the “normal” relatives and mental health professionals who attend her.

Jackie Schifalacqua

Oct 16, 2012 · Articles · 3 minute read

'Mark Twain' at People's Light

Tried and true

A one-man show about Mark Twain isn't exactly an original idea, but with material like this, who cares?

Bill Murphy

Oct 15, 2012 · Articles · 2 minute read

"This Is the Week That Is,' by 1812 Productions (2nd review)

The case for live political satire

Jon Stewart and Steven Colbert may be the kings of political satire, but there's no substitute for a live revue that involves the audience— especially when the troupe in question hits its target more often than, say, “Saturday Night Live.”

Steve Cohen

Oct 09, 2012 · Articles · 3 minute read

EgoPo's "Jesse James'

Robin Hood he wasn't

From dime novels, folk songs and contemporary newspaper stories about Jesse James and his gang, EgoPo has ingeniously cobbled together the sort of vaudeville show that would have pandered to the bank robber's devotees after his murder in 1882.

Steve Cohen

Oct 08, 2012 · Articles · 4 minute read

"Next to Normal' at the Arden (1st review)

The things we notice when we turn down the volume

Unlike the Broadway musical, which looked and sounded like a rock concert, Terrence Nolen's Arden production brings out the quiet yet deep emotions of a family dealing with illness and loss.

Steve Cohen

Oct 06, 2012 · Articles · 3 minute read

"This Is The Week That Is' by 1812 Productions (1st review)

Are politicians funny?

Once again, the 1812 troupe is trying to replicate the sort of political satire that Letterman, Leno, Jon Stewart and Stephen Colbert deliver so much better every night on TV.

Dan Rottenberg

Oct 04, 2012 · Articles · 2 minute read