Rabbit Hole by David Lindsay-Abaire

Grace Gonglewski as Becca. Photo by Mark Garvin.

This is a story of family. This is a story of grief. And this is a story of consolation.

“Consoling me had become her hobby.”

Rabbit Hole, written by David Lindsay-Abaire and directed by James J. Christy, is a complex and sophisticated look at a family coping with the death of a child. As with any tragedy, everyone grieves differently. Some are able to accept, or at least try to pretend that they can. Others, well, for others it’s harder. And no matter what, no one has truly moved on, if that’s even possible. It’s funny in a strange way, however, that some people are able to find solace in the strangest of places.

“You can’t erase him.”

Howie (Brian Russel) and Becca (Grace Goglewski) have two separate ways of coping. Howie finds solace in group meetings with other parents who have lost their children and he can’t understand why Becca doesn’t. But then, Becca doesn’t seem to find solace in anything, or at least anything that Howie or Becca’s sister Lizzy (Julianna Zinkel) thinks is normal. However, by the end, Becca does find comfort, but only in the last place anyone would think. 

“It doesn’t seem to go away, which is fine actually.”

This production is a perfect example of a very serious, heart wrenching show that can still make you laugh. The chemistry between Gonglewski and Zinkel creates a very real, very convincing relationship between two sisters.  The relationships between all of the characters are complex, and yet overwhelmingly realistic.  Janis Dardaris is hysterical as Nat, Becca’s overbearing and eccentric mother.

“I don’t remember the Runway Bunny being so weird. The mom’s a stalker.”

Rabbit Hole is one of those plays that won’t let you forget what you saw or heard. It’s a passionate piece of theatre that really has something to say.

Arden Theatre Company presents Rabbit Hole, written by David Lindsay-Abaire and directed by James J. Christy, October 22^nd to December 20^th at the Arcadia Stage at 40 N. 2^nd Street. 215-922-1122, www.ardentheatre.org.

Coming Home by Athol Fugard

Sometimes, there is a show that leaves you with little to say, and that show is the Wilma Theater’s Coming Home, written by Athol Fugard and directed by Blanka Zizka. Set in South Africa, this is a story of a woman who, as the title alludes, returns home. Veronica (Patrice Johnson) is a singer, or at least, that’s what she left home to do.  However, when she returns home after years of living in Cape Town, she returns to an empty house with a son and a secret.

(Patrice Johnson as Veronica; Elijah Felder as Mannetjie, age 5; Nyambi Nyambi as Alfred Witbooi - Photo by Jim Roese)

Intense and touching, it would be difficult to not be moved by Coming Home. It is not only the story of a woman, but also the men who loved her. Raised by her grandfather, more affectionately called Oupa (Lou Ferguson), Veronica has fond memories of the home she’s returned to and although Oupa is only physically in a very small portion of the play, his presence is known the entire time. Additionally, Alfred (Nyambi Nyambi), a not-so-smart childhood friend, is the first person to be by Veronica’s side.

The talent in the Wilma’s production is extraordinary and extremely impressive. Every actor, even the two young boys (Antonio J. Dandridge and Elijah Felder) who play Veronica’s son at different ages, are great. Patrice Johnson as Veronica is absolutely phenomenal. She has a powerful stage presence and really knows how to draw the audience in. Nyambi Nyambi is moving as Alfred. His character, even if not smart, is full of love and concern for Veronica, and it’s hard not to adore Alfred by the end of the play.

Stunning and simple, the set is really something to look at. With a backdrop replicating the mountains and a simple, modest one-room home, the set isn’t complicated, but it doesn’t need to be. The simple set is a nice contrast to the play itself, which is intense and powerful.

Wilma Theater’s Coming Home is not to be missed. Full of talented actors and portraying a moving and heartbreaking story, it’s a reflection not only of South Africa, but the world we live in as a whole.

Wilma Theater presents Coming Home, written by Athol Fugard and directed by Blanka Zizka, October 14^th – November 15^th, 2009 at the Wilma Theater, 265 S. Broad Street. 215-546-7824, www.wilmatheater.org

Haunted Poe

Scary? Check.

Screams? Check.

Story? Check.

Presented by BRAT Productions and featuring twenty-one different area actors, Haunted Poe allows participants to experience Edgar Allen Poe’s work in a way never done before – through a haunted house. Eerie, uncomfortable and creepy all join together with literary exposure to create an original and highly uncomfortable encounter that will have you thinking about what’s really scaring you.

Conceived by Michael Alltop and directed by Madi Distefano, in concurrence with Poe’s 200^th birthday, Haunted Poe is a typical haunted house that is only typical in form. It takes you through 13 unlucky rooms that detail Poe’s life and work. Everything from the classic poem The Raven to the very graphic The Black Cat to the audience interactive Masque of the Red Death is presented, each in a different way, and each scarier and more creepy than the room prior. Haunted Poe, unlike other haunted houses, tells a story and does more than just tie together random and stereotypical thrills.

Haunted Poe is not traditionally scary, so don’t expect to scream at every turn. It plays on the creepiness and eccentricity of Poe’s works than on the typical ‘jump and scare’ tactics. Don’t worry, things WILL jump out at you, there’s that traditional element, but there are definitely things that are scarier than a guy in a mask at Haunted Poe.

BRAT Productions has found a way to merge art, history, literature and Halloween horrors in a way that creates an original and definitely unique piece of theatre.

Be prepared. Haunted Poe IS scary and has significant audience participation. If you don’t want to be scared, don’t go. But if you do, this is the place for you. It’s a lot of fun.

BRAT Productions presents Haunted Poe, October 1^st through November 1^st at the Haunted Poe Warehouse at 38 Jackson Street in South Philadelphia. For tickets, visit www.hauntedpoe.com or call 1-800-838-3006. 

(Photo by Gabriel Bienczycki, featuring Meredith Boring, Dave Johnson and Katie Scheidt.)

The First Day of School by Billy Aronson

“Do you wanna have sex with me?” – “That’s really direct.”

In the fashion of all 1812 Productions’ work, The First Day of School, written by Billy Aronson and directed by Pete Pryor, is wildly funny. The show is billed as a “soccermom sex farce” and that’s exactly what it is. The show opens with Susan (Karen Peakes) and David (Pete Pryor) discussing the experience of dropping off their kids for the first day of school. Both having already taken the day off, they decide to use their time to “sleep with other people.” The goal is to figure out which other parent they want to sleep with. However, the challenge for Susan and David is the less than confident partners they choose and the process of winning them all over. It eventually works and boy have they got a plan for fun.

“It’s like my son’s team – no one should be alone, standing under the basket shouting – I’m open, I’m open!”

The First Day of School has a brilliant use of monologues, giving each of the couple’s prospective affair partners the chance to think aloud, if you will. Each actor’s performance was amazing and Peter (Chris Faith)’s initial monologue was just spectacularly done and hysterically clever.  The chemistry between all the actors was apparent and the humor just radiated from every word and movement.

The set itself for this production is a work of art. Frankly, the home of Peter and Susan is nicer than most homes you’ll see in real life. It doesn’t feel like you’re staring at a stage, it feels as if you’re inside their home, somewhere off in the suburbs, watching this all happen. 

The First Day of School is the kind of production that reminds an audience that not all theatre needs to mean something – there’s still such a thing as a simple, fun and quirky show that will have you laughing the entire time. Not everything needs to make you think, and this won’t, but it’s a definite good time. 

1812 Productions’ presents The First Day of School written by Billy Aronson and directed by Pete Pryor, October 1st – October 25th at Plays and Players, 1714 Delancy Street. 215 592-9560, www.1812productions.org.

The History Boys by Alan Bennett

 “Make it interesting – it’s all the same either way.”

The Arden Theatre Company’s production of The History Boys, written by Alan Bennett and directed by Terrence J. Nolan, does make it interesting.  In a British prep school for boys, the Headmaster (David Howey) is intent on sending some of his students to Oxford and Cambridge. There is absolutely nothing he wants more. However, he needs outside help, a young, fresh thinking professor, almost straight out of university, to help him. Irwin (Matthew Amendt) turns the dynamic between the students and professors upside down, while Hector (Frank X) turns the school on its head for another, less well looked upon reason.

(Michael Doherty as Posner and Frank X as Hector. Photo by Mark Garvin.)

“It’s not education – it’s culture.”

That becomes one of the questions asked through the piece – what’s ultimately the difference and what keeps them apart? Through everything that happens within this play, there is always a tug of war going on. The boys seem to believe that art, in its many forms, is not part of their education and should not be mixed with history. However, they quickly learn that, art is what makes history interesting and how it is put into context for many people.

“There’s no better way of forgetting something than by commemorating it.”

The talent for this production is phenomenal. Frank X is at his height as Hector, creating a character the audience loves, and even when it’s obvious that he’s doing inappropriate things, the audience still loves him. That’s a very hard thing to do. On the contrary, Matthew Amendt’s Irwin starts as the outsider, and even though the students eventually become fond of him, he still always seems different. The boys are all extremely talented, but two definitely stood out. Posner (Michael Doherty) was a highlight – he wasn’t like the other boys and his singing was exceptional. Scripps (Matt Leisy) was really confident and gave personality to a character who seemed to often be a bouncing board for other characters. Additionally, the only female character in the entire show, Mrs. Lintott (Maureen Torsney-Weir) was a riot. Every time she walked on stage, it seemed that the audience was laughing for one reason or another.

This show is technically spectacular. The lighting – it’s hard to believe how subtle it could be while still being so dramatic and effective. Additionally, the scene transitions done in character by the boys were a highlight of the show. Entertaining to watch, it really helped develop character and relationships between the characters early on in the production.

“Do you really believe that or are you just trying to make us think?”

This production really does the show justice, but almost everything that the Arden Theatre Company puts on is so well crafted and full of talent, that they never seem to miss the mark.  A definite must see this season.

Arden Theatre Company presents The History Boys by Alan Bennett and directed by Terrence J. Nolen, September 24^th  – November 1^st at the F. Otto Haas Stage at the Arden, 40 N. 2^nd Street. Tickets $29 – $48. 215-922-1122, www.ardentheatre.org.

MICROWORLD(s) Part #1 by Thaddeus Phillips

Set in Toyko and performed using a 3 by 3 by 8 foot white box, MICROWORLD(s) Part # 1 was the best show that I saw during the 2009 Philly Fringe Festival. Absolutely the best. It was well crafted, sharp and absolutely stunning to watch.

Both designed and performed by Thaddeus Phillips, this piece really stretched out of the box (no pun intended). The show, which features only Phillips, attempts to blend the line between supporting renewable, reusable resources and humor.

The show, which is lit only using only power from a foot pump, was about a man, Milo, who lived in Nakagin Capsule Tower in Tokyo and had a rubber duck as a best friend. The tower is going to be torn down, but Milo doesn’t want to leave.

The highlight of the show was when Phillips created a bathtub from the 3 by 3 by 8 foot box.

Part performance art, part protest, MICROWORLD(s) Part #1 is a fabulous, must see show that will have you thinking about it for weeks to come.

And it gets even better – MICROWORLD(s) Part #2 can be expected in 2010.

 

Additionally, MICROWORLD(s) Part #1 is part of the Off The Grid Fest, a group of performances focused on promoting renewable resources and all run with solar and alternative sources of energy.

 

MICROWORLD(s) Part #1 runs at the Painted Bride through 9/19. For more information, check the Philly Fringe Website or the Off The Grid Fest website.

Clover by Christopher M Bohan

“They usually kill off the runt of the litter, somehow, you survived.”

Someone did eventually kill Fergus (Jeff Luttermoser), the youngest brother in the O’Donovan family and the entire show is set around the frame of the interrogation of Mick (Adam Rzepka), who is the believed murderer.

Clover, written and directed by Christopher M Bohan, explores the lives of those left behind when Dylan (Damn Bonetti), leaves to fight with the British during WWII. An IRA member, he claims that he was “so good at fighting against them, they [the British] asked me to fight for them”. However, when he returns from fighting two years later, he’s changed and he’s got a secret.

The use of a frame in Clover was fantastic and really created a nice flow to the piece. Everything was well fused together and it was a very tight, faultless piece. The acting, especially Kristie J Lang (Elizabeth) and Adam Rzepka (Mick), was really spectacular. 

Considering this is playwright Bohan’s first full produced work, he’s done a phenomenal job and really created something unique, entertaining and suspenseful.  

Clover runs at the First Unitarian Church through 9/18. Tickets are $10. For more information, visit the Philly Fringe Website.

Missed Connections: A Craigslist Fantasia

“Then again, we’re both trash.” Some people give blowjobs at Penn’s Landing.

“You are a nasty, mega bitch.” Some people write crazy letters to their crazy roommate’s girlfriends.

“One can not kill oneself with a malfunctioning firearm.” Some people grab for attention by trying to kill themselves – and failing.

Words from the Internet.  The world beyond real life – a world of false identity, invented self-esteem and altered reality.

In Missed Connections: a Craigstlist Fantasia, directed by Liz Carlson, the world beyond that of reality is on display. A combination of Craigslist listings, creative movement and digitalized music, this piece explores the stranger, racy and sometimes crude aspects of our society. Online, people are free to be who they want, when they want, where they want. Missed Connections is a great example of that.

Although the beginning is slow, and doesn’t necessarily grab you immediately, it quickly picks up the pace. Following a young man and his journey to locate his white rabbit, a young girl he keeps failing to find.

The movement throughout the performance, although in the beginning a little bizarre, became less strange as the show went on and really a very cool technique to emphasize certain points.

The lowest point of this production was the verbal projection. At points, the music was too loud for the actors to be heard and there were several actors who continued to speak away from the audience. The inaudibility was rather distracting and definitely detracted from the overall enjoyment of the show.

The best point had to have been some of the characters the actors created. Dan Tamburello was hysterical as a ‘bro’ and a guy who ‘hates his roommate’s girlfriend.’ Natalie Cisternas was absolutely a riot with her ‘brazillian waxer’ and her ‘trashy blow-job girl’.  

A fun, imaginative piece that really tries to bring the audience’s attention to the underbelly of what was originally thought to be a simple and innocent tool to bring people and information together – the internet.

Missed Connections: A Craigslist Fantasia runs at the Calvary Center Sanctuary at 48^th and Baltimore through 9/19. Tickets are $15. For tickets and more information, visit the Philly Fringe Website. 

Photo Credit: Robert Hornak

'Ships by Shawn O'Shea

She only wears pink shoes. He plays the tough guy. Together, they’re the adorable couple. At least, it seems that way.

‘Ships, written by Shawn O’Shea, is the story of 4 people and their relationships to one another. Chip (Ken Sandberg) and Joanna (Nikiya Palombi) have been dating for over two years. But Dillion (Peter Roccaforte) doesn’t think they’re right for each other and Noah (David Stahl), Chip’s twin brother, wants Joanna for himself. However, each character is lying about something, and when the truth comes out, it changes everything. 

Funny and charming, this show’s portrayal of life and love is a fantasy. The complications are extreme and a definite exaggeration of real life.

The actors were energetic and the staging was excellent. The movement through most of the show felt extremely natural, but at points seemed almost forced.

Overall, a fun show that will have you laughing. 

‘Ships playing through 9/19 at The Philadelphia Shakespeare Theater. Tickets are $10 and can be purchased the Philly Fringe Website.

Zombie! The Musical

“Are you some kinda girl scout?”

“No, but I killed one.”

Zombies have come to a small, peaceful town, but so has Bella (Victoria Frings), a self-made zombie killer. She’s there to help, but will she ultimately be able to?

Zombie! The Musical is Plays and Players’ latest attempt at being modern. Inspired by every zombie flick and book ever made popular, this musical is not like any other you’re likely to see.

Creating a musical is no easy task. The music was great, except it was loud – louder than the vocals. When the lyrics could be heard, they were creative and different for the stereotypes that most musicals adhere to. Admittedly, the best part of the show was listening to Victoria Frings sing as Bella. She was absolutely fantastic – a voice like hers stands out and leaves its mark.

This show is not a piece of high art – it’s silly, outrageous and fun – everything you’d think a musical about zombie’s should be.

The most disappointing part of this production was that not once did the zombies break out into song. I was waiting for it to happen through the entire show and it just never happened. Admittedly, it would probably have been a little goofy, but the whole show was a little goofy.

Zombie! The Musical runs at Plays and Players through 9/11. Tickets are $15 and can be bought through the Philly Fringe website.