Saturday, October 16, 2021

Lantern Theater Company's The Plague



            
                           Ensemble Cast        
                          

The Plague, adapted  from Albert Camus’ La Peste, will be live-streamed as filmed from Lantern Theater’s main stage through Nov. 7. An all-star cast featuring Anthony Lawton as Dr. Rieux, Peter  DeLaurier as Jean Tarrou, Kirk Wendell Brown as Grand, J. Hernandez as Raymond Rambert, and Amanda Schoonover as Cottard certainly does not disappoint. I would go anywhere to see Anthony Lawton perform; the other four members of the cast give memorable performances as well. Following words hurled onto the stage in quick succession – “odd” “out of place” “out of the ordinary,” "ugly”-  Dr. Rieux recounts  the tale of two dead rats found in a hallway in the middle of April. By the end of April there is a death count of 8,000 people in the town and in the beginning of May one of the characters announces that no one is qualified to isolate anyone who is sick. There is an urge to avoid a panic. Camus wrote La Peste as a reminder of a cholera epidemic but also as a metaphor for rising fascism. Camus continues with death tolls, madness in the streets and looting. Eventually, when a serum is finally developed, there are some deniers who refuse to have the hope that is offered. Written in the 1940’s, it is all too uncomfortably a mirror for our present-day lives. Neil Bartlett’s adaptation, The Plague, is haunting. This stellar cast presents a performance that reverberates long after the final words are spoken.


Thursday, October 7, 2021


Felicia Boswell and Company
 

The Walnut Street Theatre, located at 825 Walnut Street, Philadelphia, Pa. has opened its 2021-2022 season with an exciting musical tribute to some of the greatest musical voices of our time: Beehive – The 60’s Musical. Created by Larry Gallagher and directed and choreographed by Richard Stafford, the show will be presented through October 31. The show begins with a black and white video from the 60’s as the 6 girls enter the stage- Jasmine- ( Ayana Major Bey ), Alison-( Lindsey Bliven ), Wanda-( Felicia Boswell ), Laura- (Sara Gallo ), Gina – (Karissa Harris ) and  Pattie – ( Bonnie Kelly ). They introduce The Name Game to the audience and ask for volunteers. The entire audience becomes involved as it is played three times and then again with each actor. The entire first act is high energy as there are quick costume and wig changes  off stage while one actor has a solo or three sing together on stage. Everyone has a chance for a solo, whether it is “Where the Boys Are “ against a curtain with a gown that matches its color in a shimmering blue, or “My Boyfriend’s Back” against a background of a video showing snapshots of a myriad of young men. The second act features tributes to individual performers  such as Tina Turner, Janis Joplin, and Aretha Franklin. The talent of these young actors is extraordinary. The audience wants to sing along with old-time favorites and roars appreciatively along with each rendition. Costume designer Mary Folino had an enormous task supplying an abundance of costumes and she accomplished it superbly. For more information or tickets to this toe-tapping show, call 215-574-3550 , 800-982-2787 or visit www.walnutstreettheatrer.org ticketmaster.com