LATEST REVIEWS

by Deitra Oliver For 40 years, The Ritz Theatre Company in Haddon Township has been bringing affordable, high-quality productions to the region, and this celebratory season has been a joy to partake in. La Gringa, the current show for their 40th season, directed by Edwin “Rico” Santiago, was very much a homecoming event for me as a reviewer. As a “No Sabo” kid, raised by a Puerto Rican mother and an African American father, this story spoke to a struggle I have felt my whole

by Robert Banskter Konstantin Stanislavski once said, “There are no small parts, only small actors.” A phrase we have all heard at one point or another in our theatre careers. One-Act Play Festivals are a testament to that fact, creating so many opportunities for actors who have not had a chance to shine in lead or featured roles to get a chance to stretch their wings, and it allows performers who wish to try directing an opportunity to do so. The 6th Annual One-Act Play Fes

by Stephen Kreal On Friday, September 4th, I went to see the opening night performance of “Marrying George Clooney: CONFESSIONS FROM A MIDLIFE CRISIS,” a sharp-witted play written by award-winning playwright, screenwriter, and activist Amy Ferris, and adapted from her best-selling memoir, at Haddonfield Plays and Players. This production was part of special programming at HPP, which has produced female-centric plays for several years now. The stage adaptation (adapted from

by Shannon Reed At some point in our lives, each person has likely read a Shakespeare play or two. As I have ventured more and more back into the theatre, I have been lucky to experience more and more of Shakespeare’s works. The thing that always seems to strike me the most as I watch these pieces unfold onto the stage is the relevance of the lessons in our world today. A similar sentiment is seen in this production of The Winter's Tale at the Players Club of Swarthmore. Dire

by Abigail Williams There’s nothing like dating in the modern era. No, really… there’s NOTHING like it. For people of all ages, the dating game can be a struggle and blow to self-esteem or make you the star in your own rom-com movie. In Langhorne Players’ production of On the Market, Charlotte (Janet Rosenberg) experiences it all and more. Written by Jason Odell Williams, On the Market is a modern rom-com following Long Island real estate agent, Charlotte, as she re-enter

by Devion Watson Musical theatre has a way of completely pulling you out of your own world and putting you inside someone else’s, and Beautiful: The Carole King Musical at the Levoy Theatre did exactly that. I absolutely loved this production. It was captivating from beginning to end, and there were so many moments where I completely forgot I was watching actors perform a musical. I felt like I was actually watching Carole King tell me her story. Every piece of this producti

by Jacob Graves From the moment I entered the theatre at Salem Community College, I immediately felt transported into the wonderful world of the 1920s. The painted set offered an interesting twist on the usual staging of Anything Goes, creating a warm, “homey” atmosphere aboard the cruise liner that made me feel as though I was being pulled into the story. The set construction by Noah McFadden and Ben Wentzell, along with the painting work of Amber Baratz and Travis Gibson a

by Deitra Oliver Kelsey Theatre of Mercer County, in conjunction with Off-Centre Stages, presents Company, the classic musical by Stephen Sondheim and George Furth. Produced by Abigail Acolia and directed by Jonathan Edmondson, with assistant directors MJ Santry and Alaina Stampe. Company is an exploration of relationships in various forms through the eyes of consummate bachelor Robert- Bobby to his friends. Starting with Robert’s 35th birthday, surrounded by his bevy of co

by Ellorah Maeve Is blood thicker than water? If a relationship is bad, would you leave the person or stay and give them a second chance? These are questions that can have many different answers. As stated by the local playwright, Michael Roche, we can all relate to having difficult relationships. Eden Street Players production of the one-act plays It’s My Birthday, Bitch and All My Plants Are Dead are great character studies into the dynamics of what a toxic relationship