Theater: New and Noteworthy
New This Week A Christmas Carol (Walnut Street Theatre). It wouldn't be the holiday season without it. Saturday through Dec. 22.
New This Week
A Christmas Carol
(Walnut Street Theatre). It wouldn't be the holiday season without it. Saturday through Dec. 22.
A Year with Frog and Toad (Arden Theatre). They're back again - grumpy Toad and can-do Frog in the popular family show. Wednesday through Jan. 29.
Continuing
Reviewed by Nancy Chen (N.C.), Bill Chenevert (B.C.), Hugh Hunter (H.H.), Julia M. Klein (J.M.K.) , Wendy Rosenfield (W.R.), Jim Rutter (J.R.), and Toby Zinman (T.Z.).
Buyer and Cellar (Bucks County Playhouse, New Hope). A struggling L.A. actor takes a job working in the Malibu basement of Barbra Streisand's house. One day, Barbra comes downstairs to play. Woo! Ends Saturday.
A Child's Christmas in Wales (Walnut Street Theatre Independence Studio on 3). The Irish Repertory Theatre of New York's adaptation of Dylan Thomas' beautiful memoir. Through Dec. 23.
Dublin by Lamplight (Inis Nua; Mandell Theater, Drexel University). Dublin, 1904: The Irish National Theatre comes into its own in a city rent by poverty and political unrest. Highly stylized and not always emotionally engaging mash-up of theatrical techniques, including vaudeville, mime, and kabuki. Ends Sunday. - J.M.K.
Found (Philadelphia Theatre Company). A musical based on Davy Rothbart's mag/website of people's anonymous notes to self and the world. Polished, high-spirited fun. Through Dec. 11. - J.M.K.
Godspell (Eagle Theatre, Hammonton, N.J.). The famed musical on faith and theater, in the round. A fresh, inspiring production, centering on comedy. Through Dec. 11. - J.R.
Handle with Care (Montgomery Theater, Souderton). Christmas Eve in a seedy hotel. She has little command of English; he has little command of romance. A "Jewish Christmas story" that boils down to standard holiday fare. Through Dec. 4. - N.C.
An Iliad (Lantern Theater Company). The Muse sings of the wrath of Achilles, the Trojan Horse, and a lady named Helen. Harnesses the enthralling power of Homer's war poem. Through Dec. 11. - T.Z.
The Legend of Georgia McBride (Arden Theatre Group). An out-of-work Elvis impersonator finds occupational and personal salvation through drag. With Dito von Reigersberg of Martha Graham Cracker fame. A toe-tapping, tuneful joy. Through Dec. 4. - B.C.
Maurice Hines Is Tappin' Thru Life (Penn's Landing Playhouse). Gregory's brother, himself a high-quality hoofer, sings and dances his life story. Includes local dancers Hines chose at auditions. Ends Sunday.
Mauritius (Act II Theatre Company). Eminent playwright/TV writer Teresa Rebeck creates a crime drama. A captivating crime drama, one of this season's best productions. Ends Sunday. - J.R.
Sleeping Beauty: A Musical Panto (People's Light). A reimagining of the British tradition of the panto, with song, action, and laughs. Through Jan. 15.
Will Rogers Follies (Broadway Theatre, Pitman, N.J.) Rogers narrates his colorful life story, from Wild West to vaudeville to the movies, aided and abetted by Ziegfeld dancers and tunes from the era. This sparkling revival reminds us of how funny Rogers was, and how humorless our politics has become. Ends Sunday. - H.H.
The Wizard of Oz (Walnut Street Theatre). Because, because, because, because, because. The great tunes, great lines, great story, plus a few surprises. Amazing special effects, fine singing, and a great get-away from a world of turmoil. Through Jan. 8. - B.C.
Working (Bristol Riverside Theatre). An inspiring production of the musical based on Studs Terkel's great oral history of laborers. Ends Sunday. - H.H.