Lantern Theater Company is opening its theater season with a production of Tom Stoppard’s The Real Thing, directed by Peter DeLaurier. Tom Stoppard’s play is a bit autobiographical as he had an affair with an actor, as his main character Henry does. Henry’s wife, Charlotte, is in the play he is writing about, and may have had an affair with Max, her lead. Henry, meanwhile, has an affair with Annie, Max’s wife. When the affairs become known, he swears undying love to Annie. There are aspects of a “play within a play” that fade in and out of Stoppard’s work. You must pay close attention, or you will wonder why certain lines of the play are repeated. The acting of all the ensemble cast members is first rate. Henry (J Hernandez) is a playwright who is dedicated to the printed word. Annie (Campbell O’Hare) is resolute, first to Henry, then to activists and their causes. Charlotte (Brett Ashley Robinson) is dedicated to several men. Brodie (Adam Howard) is dedicated to a variety of causes, and it shows through his activism), prison sentence, and poor play writing. Billy (Trevor William Fayle) is dedicated to acting well in a badly written play, as well as making an impression on Annie. Debbie (Cheyenne Parks) is dedicated to making her own way in the world with her boyfriend. There are multiple reasons to grab a ticket to see Tom Stoppard’s latest play. The Real Thing explores real themes of tastes in music, honesty, suspicion, romance, and love. The play runs through October 5, 2025, at St. Stephen’s Theater, 10^th and Ludlow Streets, Philadelphia, Pa.