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New and Noteworthy: Theater

New This Week Down Past Passyunk (InterAct Theatre) All around Nick Grillo's cheesesteak shop, Hispanics are moving in. He insists they "speak English." In previews, opens Wednesday.

Damon Bonetti and Jennie Eisenhower in "Arsenic and Old Lace" at the Walnut Street Theatre. (J. Urdaneta Photography)
Damon Bonetti and Jennie Eisenhower in "Arsenic and Old Lace" at the Walnut Street Theatre. (J. Urdaneta Photography)Read more

New This Week

Down Past Passyunk (InterAct Theatre) All around Nick Grillo's cheesesteak shop, Hispanics are moving in. He insists they "speak English." In previews, opens Wednesday.

Midsummer (a play with songs) (Inis Nua) An Edinburgh one-night stand leads to hangovers - and a weekend-long spree. Previews Wednesday, Thursday, opens Friday.

The Musical of Musicals (The Musical!) Montgomery Theater) One plot sung five ways. Don't care for Rodgers and Hammerstein? Sondheim will be along soon. Previews Wednesday, Thursday, opens Friday.

Romeo and Juliet (Philadelphia Shakespeare Theatre) A tragic tale of love and death. In previews, opens Wednesday.

Three Days of Rain (Quince Productions) Traveling back in time, secrets are revealed. Preview Wednesday, opens Thursday.

The Train Driver (Lantern Theater Company) The Philadelphia premiere of Athol Fugard's play about guilt and redemption. Previews Thursday-April 15, opens April 16.

Continuing

Reviewed by Wendy Rosenfield (W.R.), Jim Rutter (J.R.), David Patrick Stearns (D.P.S.), Toby Zinman (T.Z.), and Jim Rutter (J.R.).

Ain't Misbehaving (Delaware Theatre Company) A time line of jazzman "Fats" Waller's career. Through April 27.

Arsenic and Old Lace (Walnut Street Theatre) The nice ladies' boarders check in, but they don't check out in this farcical frolic. Through April 27. - T.Z.

Buried Child (Iron Age Theatre) A good production of Sam Shepard's dated account of a farm family's twisted reunion. Through next Sunday. - J.R.

Dear Elizabeth (People's Light and Theatre) Poets Robert Lowell and Elizabeth Bishop's chaste love story in letters. Through April 27.

Don Juan Comes Home From Iraq (Wilma Theater) Paula Vogel's latest is a powerful antiwar play, emotionally and intellectually challenging. It's terrific. Through April 20. - T.Z.

I'm a Stranger Here Myself (Prince Theater) Mark Nadler performs songs of the Weimar era. Through April 12.

Laughter on the 23rd Floor (Bristol Riverside) Little plot but plenty of punch lines in this Neil Simon comedy set in the writers' room of a weekly variety show. Through next Sunday. - J.R.

Mary Stuart (Philadelphia Artists Collective) Two queens, one of whom wants the other dead. Through April 19.

Mourning Becomes Electra (Quintessence Theatre Group) O'Neill resets The Oresteia as a trilogy about a corrupt family. Through April 27.

The Mystery of Irma Vep (Hedgerow Theatre Company) Charles Ludlam's vampire tribute doesn't benefit from an underdone production. Ends Sunday. - W.R.

The Phantom of the Opera (Academy of Music) This new touring production has changes that intensify the plot and deepen the romantic triangle. Ends Saturday. - J.R.

The Rise and Fall of Little Voice (Walnut's Independence Studio) First a vulgar farce, then a grim working-class drama, then a tender musical, Little Voice is one surprising show. Through next Sunday. - T.Z.

Three Sisters (Arden Theatre) Terrence J. Nolen directs a new translation of Chekhov's play, with a well-acted staging that insinuates itself through the side door. Through April 20. - D.P.S.

Vanya and Sonia and Masha and Spike (Philadelphia Theatre Co.) Christopher Durang's comedy is a mixed bag, but the PTC production hits bull's-eyes all around. Through April 20. - W.R.