Richard III
by William Shakespeare
directed by Paul Mullen

Richard the III is back on stage for the first time in ten years at the Shakespeare Theatre of New Jersey.

Richard, Duke of Gloucester, is played by Derek Wilson who delivers a chilling performance as a bloodless, cut-throat cripple that slashes his way to the throne. 

He exploits anyone that will hasten his trip to kingship and then ruthlessly murders them.  Even women and children are not exempt from his callous and conscious-free maneuvers.  The deceit and death-dealing leave spectators gasping and shrieking but a clever Richard tries to warm us up to his ideas but talking directly to audience and disclosing his plans as if to gain our support.

The set is cold and bland, offset only by a chandelier at the top right of the stage.  The costumes are not period correct but rather more of an unroyal crime-organization style.  A rather large cast brings the commotion to vivid life with a robust performance.  For more information, contact the box office at the number below.  Performances through November 6th.

                                                  The Shakespeare Theatre of New Jersey

36 Madison Avenue

Madison, NJ 07940

973-408-5600

THE ALLWOOD DINER
913 Allwood Road
Clifton, New Jersey 07012
973-365-2575

Dark, earthy tones, contrasted by white pendant lights, create a chic, inviting atmosphere...(Impeccably clean.  Major sweep currently underway.  See?)

Food order was taken at 2:48 p.m. and promptly delivered to the table at 2:56 p.m.  Potatoes weren't well done as requested but the waitress quickly realized this on her own and whisked our plates back to the kitchen for more grill time.

Guacamole, our favorite side for eggs over medium, was very fresh and I rejoiced in my head that the ketchup was full and the bottle neck was clean.  The potatoes, still not at preferred done-ness, were flat and bland but overall it was a very nice diner experience with lots of staff busying around to keep patrons properly serviced.  We didn't feel rushed at all to turn the table over which gave my breakfast-at-dinner-time companion ample time to practice his magic skills.

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Our favorite and regular diner order, for price comparison purposes, is two eggs over-medium, rye toast with butter home fries well-done and guacamole on the side.

SEX WITH STRANGERS

SEX WITH STRANGERS

by Laura Eason

GEORGE STREET PLAYHOUSE

David Saint, Artistic Director

Michael Mastro, Resident Artistic Director

Kelly Ryman, Managing Director

Sex with Strangers is spicy and charged as two mismatched authors grapple to determine if it was love or opportunity that brought them together.

Ethan (Kyle Coffman), 28, is a high profile blogger that posts his indiscriminate sexual encounters as he pursues the challenge of sleeping with a different party girl every night for a year without the hangup of a conscious.  He books a weekend at a winter bed and breakfast where he knows he'll find Olivia (JoAnna Rhinehart), 39, a talented, yet apprehensive writer.  

At the onset, Ethan is brash and vulgar as he practically busts into the inn to escape the cold.  It is immediately evident that the two characters share little in common and struggle to make it through their fist encounter.  But as the conversation continues, they realize they have more in common than first depicted and Ethan is quick to show a different, more substantive side of himself.  He is eager to shed his indecent profile as a writer and Olivia quietly wants to see her work in print again. Their separate situations, life changing if paired, lead them to a questionable love.

Their far-fetched relationship was a fast union of two writers; one youthful, worldly and entitled; the other reclusive, practical and pragmatic which renders them an unlikely couple.  Their performances, however, were energetic and smooth as the entire play rested on these two characters alone.

A snug lodge set is the backdrop for this fast encounter that later spins into a novelist's book-lined apartment.  Costumes of cozy socks and loungewear make the audience want to sit by the fire, too.  

For tickets or more information visit www.GSPonline.org or call the box office at 732-246-7717.

George Street Playhouse 

9 Livingston Avenue, New Brunswick, NJ

March 8 through March 27.