One-man performances of Charles Dickens' A Christmas Carol go back to the Victorian era, when Dickens himself gave readings of his instant hit. A new recorded production, starring Jefferson Mays, breathes new life into the tradition, and offers a genuinely moving—and truly theatrical—story about redemption and kindness. This recording was created to benefit partner theaters around the country that were affected by the pandemic. Directed by Michael Arden, adapted by Arden, Mays, and Susan Lyons and conceived by Arden and Dane Laffrey, the filmed version is based on the 2018 production that made its premiere at Los Angeles’ Geffen Playhouse. The script

Family gatherings are rarely peaceful, especially when a family is gathering to say goodbye to a dying parent. In Peace for Mary Frances, a new play by new playwright Lily Thorne, the tumult begins as 90-year-old Mary Frances announces that she is ready to die and will no longer take any measures to extend her life. As the family gathers to say goodbye to the matriarch, old rivalries flare up and arguments ensue—and everyone seems to have an agenda behind his or her words and deeds. Lily Thorne’s ambitious script is very detailed in its depiction of hospice care—almost a

Cardinal Second Stage Snapshot Review: Never Makes Any Real Impression Jena Tesse Fox, Reviewer Cardinal, which opened last week at Second Stage, never seems quite sure of what it is supposed to be: If it’s a black comedy, there aren’t a lot of laughs. If it’s a drama, it’s not a particularly emotional one. The story could be compelling, and it raises some interesting issues, but Greg Pierce’s script is so thin that it never makes any real impression. The story, such as it is, follows a young woman’s return to her upstate New York hometown, where she pitches an idea to the mayor