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.