DF Reviews Harvey (Walnut Street Theatre)
In the leading role, Ben Dibble is luminously sweet — but the frantic Walnut Street production sometimes robs Harvey of its gentle charm.
DF Reviews Funnyman (Arden Theatre Company)
Bruce Graham’s play, an over-plotted riff on the behind-the-scenes saga of Bert Lahr in Waiting for Godot, is nowhere near as good as the real story.
DF Reviews The Piano Lesson (McCarter Theatre)
Jade King Carroll’s production hits all the right notes, and actors John Earl Jelks and Cleavant Derricks offer a master class in Wilson style.
DF Reviews Les Pêcheurs de Perles (Metropolitan Opera in HD)
Bizet’s wonderful early opera gets a surprisingly effective rethinking by director Penny Woolcock, and it’s beautifully sung.
DF Reviews A Moon for the Misbegotten (Walnut Studio Theater)
Eugene O’Neill’s last completed play finds true greatness in its second half — and Kate Galvin’s production rises to meet it.
DF Reviews The Hard Problem (Wilma Theater)
Stoppard’s meditation on science, the humanities and other big questions has his familiar dazzle, and Blanka Zizka’s direction is visually brilliant. But sometimes the human dimension gets lost.
Further Thoughts on Mahler’s Fourth Symphony
Since my first posting on the final movement of the Mahler 4th Symphony, I’ve had a number of good conversations about the piece […]
DF on Record Collecting, Comparative Listening, and Mahler’s Fourth Symphony
Of my many changing identities (child, adult, student, working man) the one that’s lasted longest – and may be the deepest in […]
Notes on Carol and Director Todd Haynes
I really want to love director Todd Haynes, whose interests and sensibilities are so much like mine that he must be my […]
15 Outstanding Philly Arts Moments in 2015 (for Ticket / Philadelphia Magazine)
Ticket arts writers weigh in on the most important local arts moments of 2015.
reclining standards 