Twelfth Night

                                                         Charlie DelMarcelle

The Lantern Theater Company’s presentation of Shakespeare’s Twelfth Night  is a delight. Nobody does Shakespeare like the Lantern and this year’s presentation is no exception.  The adaptation of Twelfth Night adds a few modern touches, such as a “grabber” for picking up trash and a microphone used by the jester ( Charlie DelMarcelle) when he sings with his guitar.  I’m not sure if the original Shakespearean work incorporated music, but the addition of the guitar and accompanying acoustic instruments is wonderous. Twelfth Night is a tale of mistaken identity but on the Lantern’s stage it is so much more. When Viola ( Joanna Liao ) disguises herself as a boy to become a page in court after losing her twin brother Sebastian in a shipwreck, she falls in love with the one who she is serving. He in turn is madly in love with the countess and wants her to plea his case. The countess ( Melissa Rakiro), of course, falls for Viola. (not knowing that he is really a she.) There are exceptional performances by Anthony Wilson (Sir Toby) for his enormous voice and J. Hernandez  (Sir Andrew) and Joanna Liao for their striking facial expressions. There are several instances of madcap mayhem, particularly when Viola’s long-lost brother (Tyler S. Elliott) returns. Seeing this production is a wonderful way to immerse yourself in Shakespeare as the  show is light,  and immensely entertaining. It can be seen in St Stephen’s Theater, 923 Ludlow Street. For more information or tickets visit www.lanterntheater.org or call (215) 829-0395. The show runs through June 18, 2023.

 

 

Arden's 2023-24 Season

 

The Arden Theatre, located at 40 N. 2^nd Street has an exciting schedule of plays for its 2023-24 season. Assassins  with book by John Weidman  and music and lyrics by Stephen Sondheim, is a darkly humorous  musical review which depicts nine misfit men and women who set out to assassinate American presidents. Assassins  spans several musical styles and many decades  from Abraham Lincoln’s presidency to  John F. Kennedy’s. What The Constitution Means To Me, by Heidi Schreck is a Pulitzer Prize finalist as well as a winner of Best American Play and the recipient of the New York Drama Critic Award and the Obie Award. It has opened to critical acclaim in multiple cities and will be appearing next season  on the Arden stage. A 2020 Tony Award-winning play, The Lehman Trilogy by Stefano Massini, is a portrait of Lehman, showing the cost of greed and financial crisis. It is the story of a family and a business that changed the world. It follows the Lehman Brothers from their humble beginnings as immigrants to  America to their rise as a global financial powerhouse to generations later when everything came crashing down. LADYSITTING is a World Premiere adapted by Lorene Carey, based on her memoir, “My Year With Nana at the End of Her Century.”  Once On This Island – lyrics and book by Lynn Ahrens/Music by Stephen Flaherty . In this one-act musical,  a peasant island girl of The French Antilles searches for her place in the world and bargains with the island gods to help her find it. For a subscription or tickets to any of these plays, call 215-922-1122 or visit the website at ardentheatre.org.

                                                       Charlotte Northeast 

The Philadelphia Artists’ Collective is presenting a World Premiere Adaptation of Jane Eyre originally written by Charlotte Bronte and adapted by Kathryn Macmillan, Charlotte Northeast, Jessica Bedford, and Megan Winch with Kathryn Macmillan directing and Charlotte Northeast starring as Jane. This presentation can be seen at the Christ Church Neighborhood House , 20 N. American street through May 28, 2023. There is a large ensemble cast with most of the actors playing multiple roles. In addition to Charlotte Northeast’s  excellent portrayal of Jane, there are 4 other Janes, representing different periods of Jane’s life. The four women act together as a Greek chorus at times to illustrate the different thoughts going through Jane’s mind. In addition to portraying “Jane”, each actor also an additional role in Jane’s life, either by portraying her Aunt Reed, her friend Helen, or Bessie. This production is outstanding. With a stark set that has few changes throughout, the audience is left to concentrate on the dialogue which is extraordinarily well written. The large ensemble cast  is remarkable in their support of Charlotte Northeast. J. Paul Nicholas is an excellent Rochester, lord of the manor, secretly interested in Jane. Interesting projections of other places, under the direction of Damien Figueras , help spice up the setting.

Jimmy Buffett's Escape to Margaritaville

Walnut Street Theatre, located at 825 Walnut Street, is presenting Jimmy Buffett's Escape to Margaritaville  through April 30, 2023. Walnut Street’s main stage is literally transformed into an island paradise and the audience is along for a fun-filled experience. The ensemble cast is very talented. Matteo Scammell, as Tulley, has several opportunities to demonstrate his  voice with his guitar. Amanda Robles, as Rachel, harmonizes very nicely with him. Dana Orange portraying Jamal,  blows everyone away with his version of Volcano, lamenting, ”I don’t know where to go when the volcano blow.” Kelly J. Mazzella as  Tammy, a few days before her wedding day, has an unlikely pairing with bartender Brick, played by Zach Kononov.  Both are delightful to watch and  listen to. The ensemble is an excellent arm of the show. Experiencing  the production is  relaxing, entertaining, and laugh-out-loud funny. One of the songs requires audience participation and the audience loves the involvement. Laughter rings out throughout the theatre. Sets are always an integral part of the production at the Walnut but Brian Froonjian’s scenic designs are incredible. Sets roll out seamlessly one in front of another and others drop from the ceiling. At one minute you find yourself on the beach during the day, then  you're in the middle of starlit- trees at night. It is glorious.  For more information or tickets, call 215-574-3550; visit online at WalnutStreetTheatre.org or visit the box office at 825   Walnut Street.

 

Lady Day at Emerson's Bar & Grill

 

Philadelphia Theatre Company is presenting Lady Day at Emerson’s Bar & Grill  through April 30, 2023. Billy Holliday’s last performance was in Emerson’s Bar & Grill, a dive-bar in Philadelphia in 1959. Philadelphia Theatre Company has set its stage to mimic an intimate nightclub setting with small high-top tables and a bar. Seating is on a first come, first served, basis, so arrive early, get seated,  and have a drink before the show. Laurin Talese brings her classically trained voice to the stage to emulate the late Billie Holiday’s. Singing over a dozen numbers  in the persona of Lady Day, Ms. Talese captivates the audience in this intimate setting with her powerful voice and spot-on interpretation of a performer who is having a difficult time “holding on.” The numbers are  roughly a  recitation of her struggles in  life and are frequently washed down with a glass of "whiskey."  Her performance is riveting and certainly enhanced by her pianist, Musical Director, Will Brock, who portrays Billie Holliday’s right hand-man Jimmy Powers. Both performers are outstanding.

Lantern's 2023-24 Season

 

The Lantern Theater Company, located  in the St. Stephen’s Theater, 10^th and Ludlow Streets, has announced the schedule for its upcoming 2023-2024 theatre season. The first play of their  30^th Anniversary Season will be Moliere’s  TARTUFFE. directed by  Charles McMahon. It will run from September  7- October 8, 2023, with the PRESS OPENING on Wednesday 13, 2023  at 7:OO p.m. Prim and devout Orgon invites Tartuffe , a charlatan, into his household, laying the scene for social outrage. The next play is Crumbs From the Table of Joy by Lynn Nottage which will run from November 9 – December 10. 2023 with a PRESS OPENING on Wednesday, November 15, 2023, at 7:00 p.m. The Crump family is newly landed in Brooklyn from the South and are seeking their place in the Philadelphia-based Father Divine movement, but their two teenage daughters are uncomfortable with their father’s religious strictures. They  are given encouragement from their carefree and lively communist Aunt Lily. The third offering is Faith Healer  Brian Friel and directed by Peter DeLaurier from February 1-March 3. 2024 with a PRESS OPENING on Wednesday, February 7. 2024 at 7:00 P.M. The Lantern Theater Company produces one  of Shakespeare’s works every year. Next year, it will be The Comedy of Errors, directed by Charles McMahon from May 16- June 16, 2024, with the PRESS OPENING on Wednesday, May 22, 2024, at 7:00 P.M. 2023-24 The Special Holiday Production is Charles Dickens’ A Christmas Carol from December 2-27, 2023. This is an original adaptation by Anthony Lawton in collaboration with Christopher Colucci and Thom Weaver. For tickets, call 215- 829-0395 or visit online at www.lanterntheater.org.