Jonathan Larson and "Rent'

Death before his time:
Rent and its creator

Jonathan Larson’s Rent— a musical based on Puccini’s La Bohème and set in New York’s East Village— has finished its Broadway run but continues to tour. But what of its creator, who died before Rent took off?

Rent continues to tour and will visit Philadelphia’s Academy of Music, February 3 through 8, 2009. (215) 893-1999 or www.kimmelcenter.org.

Steve Cohen

Oct 05, 2008 · Articles · 3 minute read

"Rock and Roll' at the Wilma

Stoppard, by way of Blanka Zizka

Perhaps because she’s a Soviet block refugee herself, the Wilma’s Blanka Zizka has made brilliant sense of Tom Stoppard’s incredibly ambitious though very disjointed take on the Cold War and its effects on individuals caught in ideological battles.

Rock and Roll. By Tom Stoppard; directed by Blanka Zizka. Through October 26, 2008 at Wilma Theater., 265 S. Broad St. (at Spruce). (215) 546-7824 or www.wilmatheater.org.

Jim Rutter

Oct 05, 2008 · Articles · 5 minute read

"The Persians' at People's Light

A 2,500-year-old play for all seasons

Ellen McLaughlin’s The Persians is a mesmerizing event for anyone interested in the constancy of human relationships and universal reactions to power.

The Persians. By Ellen McLaughlin; directed by Jade King Carroll. Through October 19, 2008 at People's Light and Theatre Company, 39 Conestoga Rd, Malvern, Pa. (610) 644-3500 or http://www.peopleslight.org.

Anne R. Fabbri

Sep 30, 2008 · Articles · 3 minute read

"The Giant Squid' at Fringe Festival

Science of the absurd

In a brilliant and very funny faux science lecture demonstration, the “class” discovers the life, times and sex life of a 600-ton squid that weighs "the same as the Norwegian Parliament."

Jonathan M. Stein

Sep 24, 2008 · Articles · 1 minute read

EgoPo's "Woyzeck' (2nd review)

Suffering without end (or even religion)

Between them, director Brenna Geffers and Dan Hodge create a terrifying atmosphere that builds up slowly in intensity, forcing you to confront your despair and question your faith in humanity. I doubt that even Barack Obama would find any hope in this production.

Jim Rutter

Sep 23, 2008 · Articles · 4 minute read

Pinter's "Hothouse' at Lantern Theater

Pinter vs. Orwell:

An early Harold Pinter play reveals a flawed but prophetic work that, unlike most revivals, has as much to say about our times as its own.

Robert Zaller

Sep 21, 2008 · Articles · 5 minute read

"Candide' at the Arden

The best of all possible Candides

In this latest version of Leonard Bernstein's 52-year-old musical, Terrence Nolen has surpassed himself, bringing cogency and resonant tone to a very difficult play. It's the most convincing Candide I've ever seen.

Steve Cohen

Sep 21, 2008 · Articles · 5 minute read

"Melting Bridge' by Thaddeus Phillips

Thaddeus Phillips’s broad worldview is again on display in The Melting Bridge. But this play lacks his feel for American life that was such a strong presence in last year’s Flamingo/Winnebago.

The Melting Bridge. By Thaddeus Phillips. World premiere by Lucidity Suitcase Intercontinental, September 10-13, 2008 at Plays & Players, 1710 Delancey Pl. www.pafringe.com/details.

Steve Cohen

Sep 16, 2008 · Articles · 3 minute read

EgoPo's "Woyzeck'

Georg Büchner’s Woyzeck is a forerunner of the Expressionist movement that stressed emotion above exposition. EgoPo’s intensely sexual and violent production goes far beyond mere historical re-examination and leaves a lasting, disturbing impression.

Woyzeck. Drama by Georg Büchner; translated by Nicholas Rudall; directed by Brenna Geffers. Presented by EgoPo through September 26, 2008 at German Society of Pennsylvania, 611 Spring Garden St. (

Steve Cohen

Sep 13, 2008 · Articles · 2 minute read

"4x4' at Fringe Festival

Todd Holtsberry’s tour de force marches audiences through the back rooms of the Plays and Players Theater, where four different plays by four different Philadelphia playwrights are in progress. It’s a good example of the intriguing, generally inexpensive evenings the Fringe Festival adds to the Philadelphia season.

“4X4”: Crumbled Worlds, By Robin Rodriguez; The Last Dance, by Sam Toll; The Opposite of Moths, by Brian Grace

Tom Purdom

Sep 09, 2008 · Articles · 3 minute read