PATCHWORK PLAYHOUSE

by Greer Firestone - December 20, 2024

Even with a sentimental attachment (more on that later), Aisle Say had not visited Wilmington Drama League for years. I reviewed FREAKY FRIDAY, starring the luminous Becky Kotsifas and antenna then sprung from my ears. Next came KINKY BOOTS (starring Catherine Callahan, who is the titular star pres...

by Greer Firestone - December 18, 2024

City Theatre remains true to its mission with a stunning, joyous, provocative rock n roll SPRING AWAKENING. This story ain’t OKLAHOMA!, wherein the greatest tension was who was going to take Laurey to the Box Social. Or is it anywhere akin to MARY POPPINS, the fantastic and fantastical show I saw th...

by Greer Firestone - December 13, 2024

Delaware Theatre Company serves up a frothy confection of a Christmas juke box musical in HOME FOR THE HOLIDAYS -IN THE 302. Juke box refers to the likes of MAMMA MIA, JERSEY BOYS Sand BEAUTIFUL: The Carol King Musical. They are popular for people enjoy hearing the tunes they’re already familiar wit...

by Greer Firestone - November 21, 2024

Aisle Say didn’t have enormous expectations for “Holiday Inn”, mostly because I have zero expectations for society in general right now. Happily, Candlelight abandoned their normal “Christmas by Candlelight” (a grab bag of seasonal ‘heartwarming’ songs). Two words you will never read in this column:...

by Greer Firestone - November 14, 2024

The curriculum vitae of Tom Stoppard is staggering. 1964’s “Rosencrantz and Guildenstern Are Dead” brought him initial fame in the theatre world. Prolific does not do the man justice. In every theatrical/writing genre he has excelled. Tony Awards, Academy Awards and every other conceivable one. To g...

by Greer Firestone - October 02, 2024

Aisle Say has watched professional wresting for decades. Theatre people love both larger than life characters and drama. Think Randy “The Macho Man” Savage, his gfriend Elizabeth, the Hulkster, Ric Flair and Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson, et al....

by Greer Firestone - September 25, 2024

Aisle Say began reviewing UD REP - Resident Ensemble Players – in a campus gym, long before the capacious and elegant Roselle Center for the Arts became a reality. I was always struck with their overarching quality of both acting and tech. In many reviews called them the pre-eminent acting company i...

by Greer Firestone - September 19, 2024

We all love Dolly. She wrote all the songs for 9 to 5. On Broadway, the musical had a short life, as did attempts on London’s West End. UK tours and those in Australia met a quick demise. Plan B: license to regional theatres. The show’s producers added a vid with Dolly herself at opening curtain sin...

by Greer Firestone - September 16, 2024

Aisle Say was never a Stephen King fan. ‘Horror and Supernatural’. ‘Fear and Psychological Terror’. ‘Coming of Age’. I’ve experienced a ‘come to Jesus” moment. 180 degrees. I had written an historical novel, ALEXEI and The Mad Monk RASPUTIN and given the opportunity for a book signing at Huxley an...

by Greer Firestone - July 21, 2024

Aisle Say cannot imagine any veteran of community theatre who does not some relationship with THE FANTASTICKS; who does not look on the show with fondness and a sense of nostalgia. The original 1960 off-Broadway production closed in 2002 with 17,000 performances and revived from 2006 to 2017. There ...