Author Archives

University administrator and teacher by day, theater and arts critic by night.

Sack of Rome — DF Reviews The Rape of Lucretia at AVA (for Parterre Box)

A rewarding effort for audiences and, one presumes, for AVA’s talented artists.

Brian Friel’s great play feels new-minted in a production featuring three Philadelphia actors at their very best.

A superb new play, superbly done at Theatre Exile, as their season goes from strength to strength.

In this interview from 2017, the late, great musical star talks about her storied career… and performing in Philly!

Ah, that Bernstein dichotomy.

My short video tribute to Parterre Box on its 30th birthday… and James Jorden.

A cast of 1st and 2nd Year AVA artists showed considerable promise, and sometimes more than that.

No show should last for 20 years.

It sounds like a bad joke, but Beth Wohl’s riveting Camp Siegfried–superbly done by Theatre Exile–is rooted in reality.

In this vulgar world, there is no situation that can’t be limned with a power ballad.