Results tagged “davejadico”

Cherry Bomb, the title of 1812 Productions' current production is intentionally self-descriptive: the show chronicles the very real Vaudeville career of the Cherry sisters—who, in every performance, bombed. And yet for a while, these teetotaling, uppity Midwesterners sold out some of America's largest theatres. People came from miles away to see just how bad the Cherry Sisters could be. And the answer was: pretty damned bad. Clearly, this story had great potential for the kind of comic fodder that 1812 thrives on—potential that Jennifer Childs (book and lyrics) and James Sugg (music) were well aware of.

I've said it once, and I'll say it again: Phillyist's own Don Montrey is a funny, funny guy. I'm saying it now because Don also happened to be the head writer on 1812 Productions' This Is the Week That Is: The Election Special which itself is largely a funny, funny show.

Performances: Disco Descending (Karen Getz) (future performances)

I am a big fan of Shakespearean plays that are deconstructed and reimagined. So imagine my surprise when I walked into the Arden Theater and saw the cutest Macbeth ever! A stage of laid down newspaper is easily transformed into the Scottish heath and Dunsinane. Pepper's interpretation of Macbeth is both harrowing and adorable, while Mitzie's Lady Macbeth is snuggly and a revelation ("Out damn spot!" takes on a whole new meaning here). The other puppies are unbelievably cute and believably effective as the Scottish thanes. I especially liked the casting of three Siamese cats as the witches. Type-casting? Maybe, but brilliant. Don't miss this!

This review is cheating.

The Theatre Alliance of Greater Philadelphia's December On Stage listings make note of four productions of A Christmas Carol (one of which, admittedly, I loved), plus productions of A Christmas Story, Christmas City Follies, Comet, the Fifth Reindeer, The Eight: Reindeer Monologues, The Holiday Goose - A Musical, Holiday Show at the Swing Club, The Nutcracker, O'Henry Christmas, The Santaland Diaries, Tiny Tim's Christmas, and Winter Musicale 2007. In short, the season is saturated...

. I knew most of the music, so I just kind of took for granted that I'd actually seen the show. But I was wrong, so somehow, my first-ever viewing of the longest-running musical in history was performed by puppets.

. It's a show that we know quite well and we felt that we were in a good position to be tough critics if that's what was required of us.