Permanent Collection

Tim Moyer and Frank X

InterAct Theatre, located at 2030 Sansom Streets, is reprising its 2004 Barrymore Awarded Outstanding New Play, Permanent Collection through May 5.  There is no reason to wonder why the initial presentation was the most successful production in InterAct's history.   Provocative and thought-provoking, the question of racial bias rears its ugly head when Frank X, portraying Sterling North, a newly appointed black Executive Director of a museum, tries to add historically significant African Artifacts to the permanent collection in its main gallery.  Tim Moyer, his perfect foil, portrays longtime operations manager of the museum who insists that the collection stay intact, per the founder’s instructions in his will.  Maureen Torsney-Weir returns in her role of Gillian Crane, the shrewd journalist and Tom McCarthy is once again seen as founder Alfred Morris.  As excellent as the performances are of each actor (and they really are outstanding), McCarthy’s short moment’s on stage steal the show.  Not enough can be said about the work of the design team. Working hand-in-hand Set Designer Nick Embree and Lighting Designer Peter Whinnery have fashioned a creation nothing short of brilliant.  If you have never seen this show, you must see it now.  If you saw it in its initial run, you will want to see it again.  It’s just that captivating. For more information or tickets, call 215-568-8079 or visit online at www.interact.org.

The Exit Interview

Cheryl William and Dan Hodge

InterAct Theatre Company is presenting The Exit Interview on the Main Stage of The Adrienne, 2030 Sansom Street, through November 11. It has been written by Williams Missouri Downs and is directed Seth Rozin.  The night I saw the performance, an announcement was made to the eagerly awaiting theatre goers in the lobby that the curtain would be delayed by 30 minutes as it had just been discovered that a laptop had been stolen which held all of the actors’ cues and work had to be done to reconstruct them.  Offers were made to give rain checks, but everyone waited and believe me, it was worth the wait. The playwright treats the bold question, “do things really happen for a reason?”  in a cheeky manner, much to the audience’s delight.  Dick Fig, an agnostic college professor who has just lost his job, is forced to endure a parting conference with a devout Christian examiner.   While Fig alludes to the virtues of Berthold Brecht in trying to convince his examiner that God does not exist, William Missouri Downs, with his tongue in his cheek, offers up all the elements of an epic Brechtian play. While the exit interview is being conducted to the tune of nearby gunshots. there are actors who speak directly to the audience; explanatory placards; stage directions spoken aloud; songs used to interrupt the action and several small vignettes within a loosely held plot. Commercial plugs for the second act are the height of the ridiculous This is irreverent comedy at its best. For more information or tickets call 215-568-8079 or visit online at www.interacttheatre.org.

In A Daughter's Eyes

Krista Apple and :Lynnette R. Freeman

In A Daughter’s Eyes is a world premiere inspired by Philadelphia history. It is being presented by the InterAct Theatre Company on the main stage of the Adrienne, 2030 Sansom Street, Philadelphia, through June 19, 2011.  Mumia Abu-Jamal is an activist who was briefly a Black Panther and has been incarcerated in Pennsylvania prisons for the past thirty years for  the murder of a Philadelphia Police  Officer. There are those who disagree with his guilty verdict and the veracity of the eye witness account and therein lies the basis for the beginning of this riveting saga. Don’t get too comfortable in your seat for you’ll soon be sitting on the edge of it. Lynnette R. Freeman is phenomenal in her role as Rehema Salaam, the sophisticated Stanford educated attorney/cum daughter of the imprisoned Abu Jamal. The impassioned vitality she brings to her character electrifies the stage. Krista Apple layers many dimensions to her role of Kathryn Tinney, daughter of the slain police officer. At times meek and friendly with Rehema, who wants Kathryn to testify on her father’s behalf, she becomes argumentative and belligerent when the two don’t see eye to eye. More than one tragedy befalls these two daughters who cannot seem to escape the destiny of their family’s history. With each calamity their need for each other temporarily overcomes their innate mistrust…until it doesn’t. Hold onto your seats for the ride of your life! For tickets or further information about this superb performance, call 215-568-8079 or visit online at www.InterActTheatre.org.