Theater: New and Noteworthy

By the Bog of Cats

(Irish Heritage Theatre). The fiery tragedy of

Medea

transplanted to the midlands Ireland. Through Nov. 18.

Every Brilliant Thing (Arden Theatre Company). An audience- participation heartbreaker. What makes life worth living? Make a list. Starring Scott Greer. Thursday through Dec. 10.

The Fantasticks (Eagle Theatre, Hammonton, N.J.). Durable, popular tunefest about two neighboring dads who create a love match. Friday through Dec. 10.

Forever Plaid (Montgomery Theatre, Souderton). Holiday version of Stuart Ross' Plaid Tidings by four guys in plaid ties. Thursday through Dec. 3.

The Gap (Azuka Theatre/The Theaters at the Drake). World premiere of Emma Goidel's play about two sisters, the space between them, and the quest to close it. Through Nov. 19.

Our Town (Gateway Playhouse, Somers Point, N.J.). The Gateway's first full-on show in its comeback season, courtesy of Fool Moon Productions. Through next Sunday.

Quartet (Bristol Riverside Theatre). Ronald Harwood's play, basis of the popular film: a famed opera singer visits a singers' retirement home. Through Nov. 12.

Two Gentlemen of Verona (EgoPo Classic Theatre/Latvian Society Theatre). John Guare's Tony-winning musical reworking of Shakespeare's play. This cabaret-style performance kicks off EgoPo's season-long John Guare Festival. Thursday through next Sunday.

The Winter's Tale (Drama Group/First United Methodist Church of Germantown). This wild, tragic, wacky, mystical tale might be the Shakespeare play whose rep is rising fastest. Fridays and Saturdays, Nov. 10-25.

Reviewed by Tirdad Derakhshani (T.D.), Julia M. Klein (J.M.K.), Jim Rutter (J.R.), John Timpane (J.T.), and Toby Zinman (T.Z.).

Blithe Spirit (Hedgerow Theatre, Rose Valley). Noel Coward's threesome among a husband and two wives, one in this life, one in the next. Witty, sharp, even endearing. Ends Sunday. - J.R.

Blood Wedding (Wilma Theater). A fiery 20th-century masterpiece by Spanish poet Federico García Lorca. Through Nov. 19.

Broken Stones (InterAct Theatre Company). Priceless artifacts are looted from Baghdad museum during the Iraq war; a reservist is sent in to investigate. Through Nov. 19.

But Next Not This (Hella Fresh Theater/The Hum'n'bards Performance Troupe, Fishtown). Two sisters have a bicoastal phone fight. Performed simultaneously in Philly and Los Angeles. 5 p.m. Ends Sunday.

Buyer and Cellar (1812 Productions, Plays & Players Theatre). Dito van Reigersberg (as in Martha Graham Cracker) plays Alex, who takes a job in Barbra Streisand's basement in Malibu. Van Reigersberg is fabulous, both satirical and affectionate toward Babs. Here we go! Ends Sunday. - T.D.

Dare to Be Black (Delaware Theatre Company, Wilmington). The saga of boxer Jack Johnson, whose success spurred the search for a Great White Hope. Through Nov. 12.

Ideation (Theatre Exile). Stressed-out consultants meet to plan their presentation of a mysterious, shady project. Fast, funny, frightening, with great performances and a worthwhile theme. Through Nov. 5. - T.Z.

Lights Out: Nat "King" Cole (People's Light, Malvern). World premiere. Dulé Hill (West Wing, Psych) stars as Cole on the last night of his 1950s TV show. Hill sines, as does Daniel J. Watts as Sammy Davis Jr. Through Dec. 3. - J.T.

Long Day's Journey into Night (Quintessence Theatre Group/Sedgwick Theatre). Eugene O'Neill's autobiographical passion play. A very good performance; stunning work by E. Ashley Izard as Mary. Ends Sunday. - J.T.

My Son the Waiter: A Jewish Tragedy (Penn's Landing Playhouse). Brad Zimmerman's comic tale of long-term (and we do mean long-term) perseverance in pursuit of an artistic dream. Through Nov. 19.

Outside Mullingar (Cape May Stage). John Patrick Shanley's tale of Irish farmers, one shy, one amorous. Through Nov. 10.

Red Herring (Act II Playhouse, Ambler). Michael Hollinger's noir comedy about love, mystery, and nuclear espionage. Through Nov. 19.

Return of the Phantom: A New Musical (Broadway Theatre of Pitman, N.J.). Twenty years later, a new opera debuts at the Paris Opera - and an older Phantom returns. Through Nov. 19.

The Rocky Horror Show (Bucks County Playhouse, New Hope). Let's do the Time Warp again! As seasonal as pumpkin spice. Ends Sunday.

TouchTones (Arden Theatre Company). World premiere of Michael Hollinger and Robert Maggio's musical about intimacy (or is it?) in the communications age. Racy, quirky, engaging, and ultimately romantic. Through Dec. 3. - J.M.K.

2.5 Minute Ride (Theatre Horizon, Norristown). Lisa Kron's bio-play about fathers, history, and love of roller coasters. Leah Walton is expressive, energetic, funny, elegant. Ends Sunday.- J.M.K.

Wrestling Jerusalem (Philadelphia Theatre Company). Aaron Davidman's one-man show exploring many viewpoints of the Palestinian-Israeli conflict. Thoughtful, with moments of passion. Ends next Sunday. - J.T.