All stories by Toby Zinman on BroadwayStars

Monday, May 29, 2023

TWELFTH NIGHT (Lantern): Shall we set about some revels? by Toby Zinman

“Shall we set about some revels?” Yes!  The battle begins: Lantern Theater Company opened its excellent and enjoyable production of Shakespeare’s Twelfth Night; soon to… The post T…

SOURCE: phindie.com at 11:57AM
Saturday, May 20, 2023

OF GOD AND COUNTRY (PMA): A dilettante at large review by Toby Zinman

The DAL is having quite a week! First the Orchestra and then the Museum: Philadelphia’s finest institutions providing much enjoyment. Philadelphia Museum of Art has… The post OF GOD AND…

SOURCE: phindie.com at 07:11PM
Thursday, May 18, 2023

THE PHILADELPHIA ORCHESTRA’S GREAT STAGES GALA: A Dilettante at Large review by Toby Zinman

DAL is pleased to report that this gala was more fun than glam. Oh, there was the occasional gown and a sprinkling of black ties,… The post THE PHILADELPHIA ORCHESTRA’S GREAT STAGES GAL…

SOURCE: phindie.com at 03:05PM
Monday, May 8, 2023

FAT HAM + ABANDON: Considering James Ijames’s new and newer work by Toby Zinman

James Ijames won the Pulitzer Prize for Fat Ham, which is now running on Broadway; his even newer play, Abandon, has just opened at Theatre Exile.  The post FAT HAM + ABANDON: Considering J…

SOURCE: phindie.com at 11:32AM
Sunday, May 7, 2023

GALILEE (Azuka): A tale from down under by Toby Zinman

A small town’s main business—tourism— dries up and bit by bit small businesses follow.  The post GALILEE (Azuka): A tale from down under appeared first on phindie.

SOURCE: phindie.com at 01:11PM
Saturday, May 6, 2023

THE PLAY THAT GOES WRONG (1812): Fall-off-your-chair hilarity by Toby Zinman

This is not the admiring smirk or a contemptuous Ha-ha!, but fall-off-your-chair, eye-mopping hilarity. The post THE PLAY THAT GOES WRONG (1812): Fall-off-your-chair hilarity appeared first …

SOURCE: phindie.com at 12:47PM
Monday, May 1, 2023

DON GIOVANNI (AVA): A dilettante at large review by Toby Zinman

Mozart’s Don Giovanni is the greatest opera ever written. Don’t take my word for it—what do I know, I’m a dilettante—but that was the opinion… The post DON GIOVANNI (AVA): A dil…

SOURCE: phindie.com at 08:07AM
Wednesday, April 26, 2023

[NYC] PRIMA FACIE (John Golden Theater): Ordeal by theater by Toby Zinman

Take the trigger warnings seriously: This is ordeal by theater. The post [NYC] PRIMA FACIE (John Golden Theater): Ordeal by theater appeared first on phindie.

SOURCE: phindie.com at 06:56PM
Sunday, April 23, 2023

PLUM BUN (EgoPo): Passing on history by Toby Zinman

This remarkable adaptation of a century-old novel concludes EgoPo’s Harlem Renaissance season The post PLUM BUN (EgoPo): Passing on history appeared first on phindie.

SOURCE: phindie.com at 10:45AM
Tuesday, April 18, 2023

[NYC] CAMELOT (Lincoln Center): Back to the round table by Toby Zinman

Sometimes cynical, ultra-cool  critical disdain—much in evidence these days— just won’t do. I loved this show; it’s filled with wonderful songs and wonderful singers, an… The pos…

SOURCE: phindie.com at 10:35AM
Friday, April 14, 2023

LADY DAY AT EMERSON’S BAR & GRILL (PTC): A living portrait and an evening of wonderful songs by Toby Zinman

At 15th & Bainbridge—only a few blocks from Philadelphia Theatre Company’s stage at Broad & Lombard—there stood a legendary dive bar called Emerson’s. Jazz greats—John… …

SOURCE: phindie.com at 03:24PM
Tuesday, April 11, 2023

ESCAPE TO MARGARITAVILLE (Walnut Street): A wackadoodle of a show by Toby Zinman

What a wackadoodle of a show! Part party, part pop musical, the Walnut Street Theatre’s production of Jimmy Buffett’s hit is an enjoyable evening, but… The post ESCAPE TO MARGARITAVIL…

SOURCE: phindie.com at 03:02PM
Thursday, April 6, 2023

[NYC] SWEENEY TODD (Lutt-Fontanne): How to review a show that is just about perfect? by Toby Zinman

I should have such a problem all the time: how to review a show that is just about perfect.  The post [NYC] SWEENEY TODD (Lutt-Fontanne): How to review a show that is just about perfect? ap…

SOURCE: phindie.com at 01:35PM
Friday, March 24, 2023

SIX (National Tour): The merry wives of Henry VIII by Toby Zinman

And now, “live in consort,” the six wives of Henry VIII: “divorced, beheaded, died, divorced, beheaded, survived.” The post SIX (National Tour): The merry wives of Henry VIII appeare…

SOURCE: phindie.com at 12:17PM
Thursday, March 23, 2023

[NYC] PARADE (Bernard R. Jacobs Theatre): An all too familiar morality lesson by Toby Zinman

Well, of course I know they were clapping for the cast and not the characters, but there was something creepy about hundreds of people—some of… The post [NYC] PARADE (Bernard R. Jacobs …

SOURCE: phindie.com at 11:51AM
Saturday, March 4, 2023

THE PHILADELPHIA FLOWER SHOW: A dilettante at large review by Toby Zinman

You'll find much beauty in the vast halls of Convention Center.  The post THE PHILADELPHIA FLOWER SHOW: A dilettante at large review appeared first on phindie.

SOURCE: phindie.com at 09:17PM
Sunday, February 19, 2023

MEET ME AT DAWN (Inis Nua): Mysteries and satisfaction by Toby Zinman

Leave it to Inis Nua, the theater company whose name means “New Island” and is dedicated to producing plays from England, Ireland, Scotland and Wales.… The post MEET ME AT DAWN (Inis …

SOURCE: phindie.com at 09:58PM
Saturday, February 18, 2023

New York Theater Report: Reviews of PICTURES FROM HOME, ENDGAME, and CORNELIA STREET by Toby Zinman

Toby Zinman looks at three plays now New York stages. The post New York Theater Report: Reviews of PICTURES FROM HOME, ENDGAME, and CORNELIA STREET appeared first on phindie.

SOURCE: phindie.com at 04:25AM
Friday, February 17, 2023

DON PASQUALE (AVA): A Dilettante at Large review by Toby Zinman

Our dilettante at large reviews Academy of Vocal Arts' South Philly themed production of Donizetti’s comic opera The post DON PASQUALE (AVA): A Dilettante at Large review appeared first on…

SOURCE: phindie.com at 10:26PM
Friday, February 10, 2023

THE LIFESPAN OF A FACT (Lantern): Conveying a larger truth by Toby Zinman

In the political news in the past few years, the concern has been not with the lifespan of facts, but the lifespan of lies The post THE LIFESPAN OF A FACT (Lantern): Conveying a larger truth…

SOURCE: phindie.com at 08:58PM
Monday, February 6, 2023

Carmina Burana + Credo (Opera Philly): A dilettante at large review by Toby Zinman

The Dilettante at Large is at large again, writing about the culture as an enjoyer rather than an expert. Her latest pleasure was Opera Philly’s… The post Carmina Burana + Credo (Opera …

SOURCE: phindie.com at 01:25PM
Sunday, February 5, 2023

CLYDE’S (Arden): All the ingredients are here by Toby Zinman

Terrific actors playing lovable characters, important issues, snappy dialogue, and plenty of comedy The post CLYDE’S (Arden): All the ingredients are here appeared first on phindie.

SOURCE: phindie.com at 05:40PM
Saturday, February 4, 2023

KISS (Wilma): What does it mean when someone else is representing you? by Toby Zinman

A play is about acting as well as the political act of making theater as well as about getting it wrong through cultural appropriation The post KISS (Wilma): What does it mean when someone e…

SOURCE: phindie.com at 05:05PM
Friday, February 3, 2023

BROADS (1812 Productions): A tip of the hat to the grand old dames of comedy by Toby Zinman

Take it from this old broad, Broads, 1812 Productions’ new show, is an entertaining 75 minutes—if you like funny songs and dirty jokes. The post BROADS (1812 Productions): A tip of the …

SOURCE: phindie.com at 12:20PM
Saturday, January 28, 2023

BEOWULF (Benjamin Bagby): A rare theatrical experience by Toby Zinman

Benjamin Bagby takes on the role of the scop, the storyteller The post BEOWULF (Benjamin Bagby): A rare theatrical experience appeared first on phindie.

SOURCE: phindie.com at 06:21PM
Saturday, January 21, 2023

LAST OF THE RED HOT LOVERS (Walnut): Feeling nostalgic? by Toby Zinman

Are you missing those bad hairdos and baggy blue suits of 1969? The post LAST OF THE RED HOT LOVERS (Walnut): Feeling nostalgic? appeared first on phindie.

SOURCE: phindie.com at 06:54AM
Friday, December 16, 2022

[NYC] OHIO STATE MURDERS: Still experimental, still challenging, and still exciting controversy by Toby Zinman

Adrienne Kennedy’s crushingly beautiful play, Ohio State Murders, is making a long overdue debut on Broadway. The post [NYC] OHIO STATE MURDERS: Still experimental, still challenging, and …

SOURCE: phindie.com at 10:57PM

[NYC] SOME LIKE IT HOT: Irony-free goodness by Toby Zinman

This new musical comedy, a Big Broadway rewrite of the 1959 classic movie, Some Like it Hot, offers fabulosity: huge production numbers, flashy costumes, marvelous… The post [NYC] SOME LI…

SOURCE: phindie.com at 10:46PM
Monday, December 12, 2022

[NYC] BECKY NURSE OF SALEM (Mitzi E. Newhouse Theater at Lincoln Center) by Toby Zinman

The Crucible, has withstood all manner of productions, from starry Broadway to high school drama club, and it will withstand Sarah Ruhl’s crass replay, Becky Nurse of Salem The post [NYC] …

SOURCE: phindie.com at 10:55AM
Monday, November 21, 2022

BIG APPLE CIRCUS: A dilettante at large review by Toby Zinman

Where are the great acts I remembered? The trained cats? the galloping horses? the iron men? the Wheel of Death? The post BIG APPLE CIRCUS: A dilettante at large review appeared first on phi…

SOURCE: phindie.com at 09:01PM
Monday, November 7, 2022

DEATH OF A DRIVER (InterAct): Years pass, roads are built, potholes appear by Toby Zinman

“We are together.”  This line is an often-repeated refrain in Death of a Driver, a grim new play by Will Snider presented by InterAct at the Drake’s Proscenium… The post DEATH O…

SOURCE: phindie.com at 12:34PM

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