Vampires Suck * Lame comic spoof of the popular horror-film genre. 1 hr. 20 PG-13 (sexual content, violence, profanity) - W.S.
Theater
Reviewed by critics Howard Shapiro (H.S.) and Toby Zinman (T.Z.).Live Arts Festival/Philly FringeBack for the 14th year, 16 madcap days of dance, theater, music, invention, revulsion, excess, success, fun all over town. The first festival week includes regular-season premieres by three local professional theater companies: Gas & Electric Arts (
Between Trains, Wednesday); Idiopathic Ridiculopathy Consortium (
The Madwoman of Chaillot, Friday); and Pig Iron Theatre Company (
Cankerblossom, Saturday). For a full festival schedule, go to livearts-fringe.org.
Chase Me, Comrade! (Hedgerow Theatre) The company's annual summer show by British farce master Ray Cooney involves a defecting ballet dancer, the defense ministry official who unknowingly shelters him, and a torrent of zaniness. Through Sept. 12.
- H.S.The Dictator (East Lynne Theater Company) A 1904 comedy hit by Philadelphia-born journalist Richard Harding Davis. Through Saturday.
Just Say Love (Quince Productions) Overlong one-act about a gay man and his studmuffin who discover True Love. Endearing performances cannot save this drivel from itself. Ends Sunday. - T.Z.
A Midsummer Night's Dream (Mauckingbird Theatre Company) Mauckingbird gender-bends Shakespeare's already tangled love romp. Through Sept. 12. - T.Z.
Video
Harry Brown **1/2 Michael Caine IS Harry Brown, the ads tell us, and he's also the only good reason to see this British take on the vigilante fantasy genre. With Emily Mortimer as an apologetic and depressed police detective, and a whole bunch of snarling, tattooed young actors as the menacing thugs who have turned a London housing project into an urban nightmare. 1 hr. 43 R (violence, profanity, drugs, adult themes) - S.R.
