Delaware Theater Reviews: Best Shows & Critic Recommendations

Review: MARY POPPINS - THE BROADWAY MUSICAL at Wilmington Drama League
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...

Review: SPRING AWAKENING at City Theatre Company
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...

Review: HOME FOR THE HOLIDAYS - IN THE 302 - at DE Theatre Co
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...

Review: HOLIDAY INN at Candlelight Music Theatre
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:...

Review: ROUGH CROSSING at Resident Ensemble Players
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...

Review: KINKY BOOTS at DE Theatre Co.
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....

Review: THE COMPLETE WORKS OF WILLIAM SHAKESPEARE (ABRIDGED) at UD Rep Ensemble
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...

Review: 9 TO 5 at Candlelight Music Theatre
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...

Review: CARRIE: THE MUSICAL at Wilmington Drama League
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...

Review: THE FANTASTICKS at Candlelight Music Theatre
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 ...

Review: MOON OVER BUFFALO at Candlelight Music Theatre
by Greer Firestone - May 20, 2024

Candlelight’s MOON OVER BUFFALO is an uproariously funny comedy by Tony Award winning playwright Ken Ludwig. Last year they mounted his LEND ME A TENOR which was both parts as hilarious and charming. Ludwig’s plays have starred Carol Burnett, Alec Baldwin and Tony Shaloub, to name a few.nk of MOON O...

Review: FIRST STATE BALLET THEATRE AT THE GRAND OPERA HOUSE at The Grand Opera House
by Greer Firestone - May 10, 2024

It is not surprising to those who work in the live arts, performing arts or fine arts, that we understand a vibrant arts community attracts visitors who spend money and help keep local businesses thriving. They keep Delaware residents spending their money locally, vital income for local merchants....

Review: DANCING AT LUGHNASA at City Theatre
by Greer Firestone - April 20, 2024

Celebrating its 30th year as Delaware’s off-Broadway theatre, City Theatre delivers DANCING IN LUGHNASA, a stunning tour de force in ensemble acting, direction (Mary Catherine Kelley), linguistics/dialect (Michael Toner), scenic design (Rick Neidig) and every musical and technical aspect imaginable....

Review: THE MYSTERY OF EDWIN DROOD at Candlelight Music Theatre
by Greer Firestone - March 25, 2024

What did our critic think of TCandlelight Music Theatre normally plays it safe when scheduling a season. That’s’ why Aisle Say was surprised that “THE MYSTERY OF EDWIN DROOD” was part of this year’s season. And more so for the musical was written by Rupert Holmes, whose most prominent claim to fame ...

Review: HELLO DOLLY! at Candlelight Music Theatre
by Greer Firestone - January 29, 2024

Hello Dolly! Opened on Broadway in 1964 with the irrepressible, wide-eyed, charismatic Carol Channing in the title role, winning 10 Tony’s including Best Musical and Best Actress for Channing. The show was her signature and, to understate, she held it close. An understudy once remarked that she was ...

Review: WHO'S AFRAID OF VIRGINIA WOOLF? at Walnut Street Theatre
by Greer Firestone - January 26, 2024

It’s 23 years into George and Martha’s minefield marriage, and passion has long since cooled into contempt The play is a cruel and competitive game of escalating insults between career-stalled history professor George (a riveting Greg Wood) and Martha (a boozy and absolutely compelling Susan Riley S...

Review: IT'S A WONDERFUL LIFE at Candlelight Music Theatre
by Greer Firestone - November 27, 2023

Aisle Say considers something we’ve all thought about it. During episodes of grave doubt and seemingly unrelenting anxiety – whether it be family or financial or health – we have considered maybe the world would be a better place if we had not been born....

Review: IN THE HEAT OF THE NIGHT at Resident Ensemble Players
by Greer Firestone - November 13, 2023

Aisle Say has had the privilege of reviewing this staggering talented ensemble since 2008. Still do I remember their second show of the season, THE IMAGINARY INVALID. Forever imprinted in my mind are the enema gloves of Michael Gotch and Mic Matarrese. These two actors and many of their colleagues f...

Review: INTO THE WOODS at Candlelight Music Theatre
by Greer Firestone - September 27, 2023

Candlelight Theatre continues to astound. While regional professional theatres are going from six week runs to three (see DE Theatre Co), the funky old barn in the bowels of sylvan Arden continues to welcome sold out crowds for a full six....

Review: SOUND OF MUSIC at Candlelight Music Theatre
by Greer Firestone - July 20, 2023

What did our critic think of SOThe Preludium (i.e. prelude) begins Candlelight Music Theatre’s Sound of Music. Sung in Latin and – one must believe – meticulously rehearsed by Music Director Douglass Lutz and Sisters Margaretta (Neena Boyle) Berte (Lindsey Grant), Sophia (Leah Senseney) and Mother A...

Review: FREAKY FRIDAY at Wilmington Drama League
by Greer Firestone - June 15, 2023

Community theatre is where it all begins. Children attain their first production in community theater; life experiences never to be forgotten. A nurturing Mom and Dad could say, “Hey, why not try this. It’s a cool.” Or a friend might comment, “Hey, I auditioned for this show. Come on. Let’s have fun...

Review: THE MUSICAL COMEDY MURDERS OF 1940 at The Candlelight Theatre
by Rosanne DellAversano - May 24, 2023

The Candlelight Dinner Theatre, the only dinner theater in Delaware, offers a topsy-turvy murder mystery to go along with your dinner & drinks....

Review: MAN OF LA MANCHA at Delaware Theatre Company
by Greer Firestone - April 24, 2023

Matt Silva’s first foray into two leadership roles: Artistic Director and Stage Director of DTC, resulted with an inspiring and majestic MAN OF LA MANCHA at Delaware Theatre Co....

Review: I LOVE YOU, YOU'RE PERFECT, NOW CHANGE at Candlelight Music Theatre
by Greer Firestone - April 28, 2023

What dAisle Say was a trifle surprised at the first dialogue interchange of I LOVE YOU, YOU’RE PERFECT, NOW CHANGE, the current production at Candlelight. It was risqué, somewhat risk-taking from the norm, owing to the senior citizen demographics of their audience.id our critic think of I LOVE YOU, ...

Review: SISTER ACT at Candlelight Music Theatre
by Greer Firestone - February 27, 2023

Having the privilege of reviewing Candlelight Theatre for years, the once community theatre has morphed into a fully professional troupe. Over the past 3 years, Aisle Say has witnessed productions there that absolutely rival non-equity touring shows staged at The Playhouse....