Hay Fever

 

Ensemble cast in the Bliss' home

Walnut Street Theatre is presenting Noel Coward’s Hay Fever through March 19, 2025, on its main stage. Gifted set designer Roman Tatarowicz has designed a palatial home with many exits and entrances for the actors. Hay Fever premiered in London’s West End in1925 and was a smash hit. It has had many revivals in the intervening years. Although today’s production is a bit dated, there are enough ridiculous situations presented to make the comedy down-right laughable. The first act takes place on a Saturday afternoon.  It introduces the members of the Bliss family and their plans to invite guests for the weekend. No one respects anyone else’s wishes and there is quite a bit of arguing about who should sleep in “The Japanese Room.” Act Two takes place Saturday evening. It is quite a bit more frantic, with Judith Bliss (Alicia Roper) switching men with her daughter Sorel (Anna Baily) and her son Simon Bliss, (Brandon O’Rourke), announcing an engagement to Jackie Coryton ( Ellie Mooney ) . In Act 3, guests all arise before the rest of the household and agree to escape before breakfast, leaving a tip for Clara  (Carlotte Northeast) the maid. The acting is commendable. There are a few scenes when the actors have to speak at the same time as if they were in a big argument. This is very well done.  In other scenes the actors have to keep a straight face while delivering a ridiculous line. They also  do this  well. For tickets or more information, visit WalnutStreetTheatre.org or Ticketmaster or call 215-574-3550.

& Juliet

 

Ensemble Arts Philly and the Shubert Organization will be presenting the hit musical & Juliet  Academy of Music from March 25 - April 6, 2025 , as part of  its 2024- 25 Broadway Season. Created by the Emmy- winning writer from Schitt’s Creek, this hilarious new musical asks- What would happen next if Juliet didn’t end it all over Romeo? Juliet finds a new ending to her tale and a new  beginning to her life with a second chance at love. Her story is accompanied by a playlist of many old - time favorites of songwriter/producer  Max Martin, including “Since U Been Gone,” and “Can’t Stop the Feeling.” & Juliet  has now been performed on four continents since its World Premiere in September 2019  at the Manchester Opera House in England. Tickets can be purchased by calling 215-893-1999 or visiting online at www.ensembleartsphilly.org.     In-person tickets can be purchased daily from 10 a.m. – 6 p.m. at the Academy of Music Box Office, located at 240 S. Broad Street.  See www.ensembleartsphilly.org. for more information.

Quoixotic Professor Qiu

                                                              Bi Jean Ngo & Justin Jain

InterAct Theatre Company, housed  in the Proscenium Theatre at the  Drake, 302 Hicks Street, is presenting the world premiere of The Quixotic  Professor  Qiu through February 23, 2025. Though a satire, this work is based on several actual occurrences. Professor Qiu, (Justin Jain) a mathematician, has received a  small grant toward his research in prime numbers from a Chinese institute through the auspices of his childhood friend Bi Jean Ngo). Valeria. his teaching assistant, (Madeline Garcia), reading more into a dinner than a casual date with the Professor, feels spurned and turns to the FBI with wild conspiracy theories which the FBI are thrilled  to embrace. The professor embarks on a trip to China to plead with his friend to clear his name. What he discovers gob smacks him. The acting in this ensemble cast is mesmerizing. David Pica and Tamir Periasamy play multiple roles. The lighting changes orchestrated by lighting designer Lindsay Alayne Stevens are phenomenal. Following the Saturday matinees there will be discussions with cast members on the themes of the play. On February  8 , Actors Bi Jean Ngo and Madeline Garcia will be in the discussions. On February 15, Tamir Periasamy will be participating and on February 21 Playwright Damon Chua will be in the discussion. Sunday matinees will have professionals in the after-performance discussions. On Sunday, February 9, Carol Rollie Flynn, a 30- year veteran of the CIA and consultant for the Homeland TV show will participate . On February 16, Jacques de Lisles, Professor of Chinese Law, and Politics at UPenn, and on February 23, Xiaoxing Xi, Professor of Physics who was falsely painted as a spy from China by the FBI will lead the discussions. For more information or tickets to this fascinating premiere. Visit www.interacttheatre.org.