Author Archives

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

Rotten Egg: DF Reviews The Great Gatsby at Paper Mill Playhouse (for Parterre Box)

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

Another year, another strong group of AVA artists give us careers to look forward to.

A beautiful, funny, disquieting study by an artist whose mastery of understatement is nonpareil.

If only good intentions were good theater!

Wanna feel old? Hair, “The American Tribal Love-Rock Musical,” has its 56th birthday this month.

Despite some stunning stage images, this adaptation of The Pianist remains stubbornly literary and often inert.

The writers of the Box and James’s friends are saddened to announce the death of the inimitable founder of Parterre Box.

Director Terry Nolen’s second production of this Sondheim work is an intriguingly different take on the piece.

Unholy Wars is most an opera when it is, with “Lascia ch’io pianga,” actually an opera.

In sum: not a perfect Simon Boccanegra—is there such a thing?—but a grand and often great one.