Knights Arts Challange

nominees in Philadelphia Art Museum

Knights Arts Challange Winners

Knights Arts Challenge Nominees

the Outgoing Tide

A. Lawton, R. Poe & R. Moseley

The Philadelphia Theatre Company, located in Suzanne Roberts Theatre at Broad and Lombard Streets, is presenting the East Coast premiere of Bruce Graham’s new play, the Outgoing Tide through April 22. Directed by highly acclaimed director, James J. Christy, this production has Barrymore written all over every aspect of it. Playwright Bruce Graham has given his three-member cast a wonderful vehicle to work with. Treating the serious theme of Alzheimer’s with touches of humor engages the audience every minute of the two-act play. Through Richard Poe, as Gunner, the audience is provided insight into an aging character whose mind is clear one minute and then wandering the next. Robin Moseley, as his wife Peg, artfully displays the gamut of emotions from frustration in having to answer, Are we having pancakes?” several times to desperation when her husband, in a moment of lucidity, wants to spare her the pain of caring for him. Philadelphia native Anthony Lawton does an excellent job trying to walk a tightrope to maintain a balance between his two parents.  It is not only the writing and the acting that are noteworthy.  Every member of the creative team deserves plaudits as well. David Gordon designed an authentic Chesapeake beach-front cabin along with a beach and accompanying dock and a brilliant sky that morphs into gorgeous hues of oranges and purples at sunset. Lighting Designer R. Lee Kennedy must be given credit for some of the sunset as well as the lighting changes that take place when the cabin slides out onto the beach and opens to reveal the interior. Bart Fassbender will receive a Barrymore for sure for his lifelike sound effects. When father and son grab baseball gloves to have a catch, there is no ball thrown, but as each one mimics catching a ball, the audience can hear the sound of a ball dropping into the glove. As father and son try to skip stones on the bay, the sound of each skip echoes throughout the theatre. This is Bruce Graham at his best. Don’t be one of the few to miss this performance. For tickets or further information call 215-985-0420 or visit online at PhiladelphiaTheatreCompany.org.

the Outgoing Tide

Anthony Lawton as Jack and his parents

The Golem

on a cattle car headed toward Prague

It has been said that it takes a village to raise a child, but it takes a finely tuned ensemble to create a Golem. Such a group can be found at EgoPo working out of the 2^nd floor of the Prince Theater on Broad Street. A Golem is a character from Jewish lore that is created out of mud to protect or serve. A talented assemblage of actors and musicians created the piece that appears on the stage, including Genevieve Perrier, Dave Jadico, Kevin Chick, Lorna Howley, Ross Beschler, Sarah Schol, Griffin Stanton-Ameisen and Josh Totora.  After months of research they have designed three scenarios that recount the tale of the Golem as told by characters on a cattle car heading out of Prague. Each tale is unique. One uses Czech inspired puppets to tell how the Golem protects the Jewish people from the evil priest in cases of blood libel, where Jews were accused of killing Christian children and using their blood to make matzo for Passover.  Another employs original Klezmer music and dance to set the mood for a story of a Rabbi who is more involved with his Golem than with his wife. The third piece deals with another aspect of Golem lore… What happens when things run amok and the Golem refuses to listen?  Although fascinating to watch this cluster of talent on stage, the show might have been a bit more cohesive if a blackout were to occur between each individual tale.   Matthew Miller’s set is very effective as the painted red slats and small window give the appearance of a freight train or cattle car.  This impression is further enhanced when sliding doors open to reveal people behind them sitting on their suitcases with big yellow Jewish stars pinned on their clothes.  For a truly exceptional experience, EgoPo is inviting audiences join them in Passover Seders on the first and second nights of Passover, April 6^th and 7^th at the Prince Music Theatre. For information on these nights or any other performances, call 800-595-4TIX or visit online at www.egopo.org.  

Valiant

Seth Rozin has done it again!  He has found yet another successful way to bring innovative theatre to InterAct’s stage by giving voice to eight thought-provoking productions in four weeks. To kick off its “Voices from the Other America Festival”, InterAct Theatre Company, located at 2030 Sansom Street, opened its month-long Outside The Frame body of work with a presentation of Valiant. Lanna Jofffrey adapted the work from the book Valiant Women in War and Exile by Sally Hayton-Keeva.  Lanna is also one of the three performers, along with Phyllis Johnson and Leeanne Hutchison. All three actors have a myriad of stage and screen experience which they bring to this multi-media presentation.  In front of a huge screen which gives the illusion of pages being typed on a typewriter, and in response to a voice which presumes to be the interviewer, the women stand up in turn, sometimes interrupting each other, to tell their tale of war. The actual interviews took place in many countries over a span of five years.  The women play multiple roles as they speak of the angst that war has brought to them and their families. As they flit in and out of roles, so, too, their accents change. In a flick of an ear and a blink of an eye, each actor is a native of a different country pouring out another heart-wrenching tale. This exceptionally well-performed piece will only be here for a few days so you must hurry if you want to catch it. There is plenty of time to avail yourself of the seven other pieces in the Festival, however. There will be the world premiere of Draw the Circle, written and performed by Deen, as well as several Philadelphia premieres, including Lay of the Land, written and performed by Tim Miller. For information on show schedules visit online at www.InterActTheatre.org.

Steel Magnolias

Truvy and Shelby in beauty shop

The Bristol Riverside Theatre, located at 120 Radcliffe Street in Bristol, Pa, is presenting Steel Magnolias through Sunday April 8. The very able ensemble cast of Jennie Eisenhower, portraying Shelby; Diane J Findley, portraying Clairee; Laura C. Giknis, playing Annelle;  Barbara McCulloh, playing M’Lynn;  Susan Moses playing Ouiser; and Jo Twiss portraying Truvy  trade quips and one-liners faster than your ears can catch them. They represent a multi-generational group of women in a small parish in Louisiana who find comfort in each other’s company as they gather for gossip and support at Trudy’s Hair Salon. Each character has a distinct personality and the actors do a fine job of developing these personalities onstage. Barbara McCulloh’s performance, however, is outstanding. Her soliloquy in the final scene is heart wrenching.  Set entirely in Truvy’s Beauty Salon, the production has four scenes which span two years. Thanks to the exceptional work of set designer Nels Anderson and lighting designer Kate Ashton, the audience is able to get a peek at what lies just outside the main room in the salon although the action always takes place center stage. Costume designer Lisa Zinni has created wonderful clothing changes for these six women. It is not easy to represent different seasons when you have the same indoor set, but the costume changes go a long way toward creating that illusion. For more information or tickets for this enjoyable show, call 215-785-0100 or visit online at brtstage.org.