Oleanna

Baker struggling with Barlow

Bristol Riverside Theatre, located at 120 Radcliffe Street, Bristol Pa. is beginning its 2012-13 season with a production of Oleanna by Pulitzer Prize winner David Mamet. This spellbinding drama is scheduled to run through October 14.  Blair Baker reprises the role that she performed on Broadway, that of Carol, a struggling college student who meets with her professor to seek his help. David Barlow presents us with John, a professor who professes to love teaching and is willing to forestall urgent personal matters to aide a student in distress. This piece is fraught with “what if “ and “ if only”.  What if the professor hadn’t tried to console Carol when she thought she was a dismal failure?   What if he hadn’t tried to stop her from leaving his office so that he could speak to her reasonably?  And the phone….. If only the phone didn’t ring at every crucial moment in the dialogue between the professor and his student….  If only John didn’t answer the phone….There are countless instances of expertise in this production. Barlow’s one way phone conversations, displaying constantly interrupted speech patterns, are nothing short of brilliant.  Baker’s transformation from a meek, helpless, college student to a shrew representing “her group” is a revolutionary shift of power.  The combined efforts of Set Designer Julia C Lee and Lighting Designer Charles S. Reece perfectly set the stage for this powerful work.  If you are familiar with David Mamet’s work, you will need no convincing to come and see this production.  If you are not, then make sure you see Oleanna and find out for yourself why Mamet is a Pulitzer Prize winning playwright.  For more information or tickets, call 215-785-0100  or visit online at brtstage.org.

Baker and Barlow in office

Bristol Riverside Theatre, located at 120 Radcliffe Street, Bristol Pa. is beginning its 2012-13 season with a production of Oleanna by Pulitzer Prize winner David Mamet. This spellbinding drama is scheduled to run through October 14.  Blair Baker reprises the role that she performed on Broadway, that of Carol, a struggling college student who meets with her professor to seek his help. David Barlow presents us with John, a professor who professes to love teaching and is willing to forestall urgent personal matters to aide a student in distress. This piece is fraught with “what if “ and “ if only”.  What if the professor hadn’t tried to console Carol when she thought she was a dismal failure?   What if he hadn’t tried to stop her from leaving his office so that he could speak to her reasonably?  And the phone….. If only the phone didn’t ring at every crucial moment in the dialogue between the professor and his student….  If only John didn’t answer the phone….There are countless instances of expertise in this production. Barlow’s one way phone conversations, displaying constantly interrupted speech patterns, are nothing short of brilliant.  Baker’s transformation from a meek, helpless, college student to a shrew representing “her group” is revolutionary.  The combined efforts of Set Designer Julia C Lee and Lighting Designer Charles S. Reece perfectly set the stage for this powerful work.  If you are familiar with David Mamet’s work, you will need no convincing to come and see this production.  If you are not, then make sure you see Oleanna and see for yourself why Mamet is a Pulitzer Prize winning playwright. For more information or tickets, call 215-785-0100  or visit online at brtstage.org

Oleanna

Blair Baker and David Barlow

 New Jerusalem, The Interrogation of Baruch de Spinoza at Talmud  Torah Congregation: Amsterdam, July 27, 1657

Spinoza and Rabbi

The Lantern Theater Company, located at 10th and Ludlow Streets in St. Stephens Church is bringing back New Jerusalem.... for a return engagement through September 23. A knock-your-socks-off philosophical debate between two of the greatest minds of their times, this presentation, directed by Charles McMahon, far surpasses the excellence of the drama which was enacted by the same cast last year.  Perhaps it is because the actors are more seasoned or more comfortable in their roles. Sam Henderson is very convincing as a young Spinoza who must plead for his freedom of thought while denying that he is a heretic. David Bardeen gives a strong performance as Rabbi Saul Levi Mortera who struggles with the burden of excommunicating his protoge. Seth Reichgott's Abraham van Valkenburgh is disturbingly forceful. The weighty subject matter is evenly tempered with just the right touch of wit. It is a shame there will be no room in Lantern’s schedule to extend the run again this year. There is a special Spinoza Fest this weekend. The Spinoza Fest Pass is available for $85 ($70 for seniors, students and groups of 10 or more) The Pass grants access to all events plus one ticket to any performance of New Jerusalem.     Friday September 7  6:30 PM- Director Charles McMahon will lecture and conduct Q & A on  Spinoza's  impact on modern philosophy and how these ideas shaped Lantern's production.10:30 PM Post-show Discussion- Artists in Conversation with the New Jerusalem cast.  There are many more events scheduled for Saturday and Sunday.  For tickets or more information, visit online at www.lanterntheater.org or call 215-829-0395.

Much Ado About Nothing

Mauckingbird Theatre Company is committed to producing professional gay-themed theatre at their off Broad Street location of First Baptist Church, 1636 Sansom Street.  Their production of Much Ado About Nothing brings together an ensemble cast of 11 young men and two women to cast a different light on Shakespeare’s classic.  And the light is brilliant and refreshing and at the same time sweet and sensitive. I have twice seen the original version of Shakespeare’s young love, trickery, and tomfoolery but nowhere have I seen it better performed. Cameron Slusser and Griffin Back, as the young men Hero and Claudio, give excellent performances of young lovers, a scorned lover, and a falsely accused.  Matt Tallman and Sean Thompson as Benedick and Beatrice, two men who have foresworn affairs of the heart, give strong performances as men who have been tricked into falling in love with each other.  Barrymore award winning actress Cheryl Williams demonstrates her award winning capabilities in her enactment of Leonato.  Kudos must be given to Marie Anne Chiment, Costume Designer, for the innovative attire. Mauckingbird’s Much Ado About Nothing runs through August 26. This is a must see production for Shakespeare lovers and non-lovers alike.  For more information or tickets call 215-923-8909 or visit online at www.mauckingbird.org

Etched in Skin on a Sunlit Night

Olafur, Jonsi and Jules in Iceland

InterAct Theatre located at 2030 Sansom Streets is presenting the World Premiere of Etched in Skin on a Sunlit Night through June 24.  This brilliant piece of theatre has intricately woven plots and subplots that keep the audience glued to the edge of their seats.  Just when the story line seems somewhat clear, one more layer of the onion is peeled away to display yet another portrait of the tortured Jules, the artist in question and the pictures she is giving birth to... Phyllis Johnson portrays Jules, a black ex-patriot American who has fled to Iceland to make a new life for herself.   Johnson does exceptional work as Jules is simultaneously mired down with three conflicts... with her husband Olafur, portrayed by Ian Bedford, with Warton, another black American visiting Iceland who is portrayed by Akeem Davis, and most acutely with herself, as is sometimes is shown by an Icelandic spirit or alter ego Jonsi, portrayed by Jared McLenigan.  Warton and Jules are both hiding secrets that they only share with each other and Olafur has secrets of his own which are known only by the man in the street. Thrown into the mix is the innocence of an 8 year old, the beautiful and talented Aria Jones who portrays Kina, the biracial daughter of Olafur and Jules. This outstanding production asks more questions than it answers.  Why would a white father give his biracial daughter a book that clearly denigrates blacks?  Of all the characters, who has the most to atone for? Would it make a difference in their lives if the whole truth were known? Can you ever  “go home” again?  Most playwrights tie up all the loose ends very nicely by the end of their work.  Kara Lee Corthron leaves you thirsting for more. For tickets or further information call 215-568-8079 or visit online at   wwww.InterActTheatre.org.