Theater: New and Noteworthy

A Child's Christmas in Wales

(Walnut Street Theatre Independence Studio on 3). The Irish Repertory Theatre of New York's adaptation of Dylan Thomas' beautiful memoir. Saturday through Dec. 23.

Dublin by Lamplight (Inis Nua; Mandell Theater, Drexel University). Dublin, 1904: The Irish National Theatre comes into its own in a city rent by poverty and political unrest. Wednesday through next Sunday.

Sleeping Beauty: A Musical Panto (People's Light). A reimagining of the British tradition of the panto, with song, action, and laughs. Wednesday through Jan. 15.

12 Chairs (Revamp Collective/Plays & Players Theatre). John O'Hara's play about mothers and daughters, performed by six different casts and directors on a rotating basis. Wednesday through Friday and next Sunday through Nov. 19.

Reviewed by Nancy Chen (N.C.), Bill Chenevert (B.C.), Hugh Hunter (H.H.), Julia M. Klein (J.M.K.), Joseph Myers (J.M.), Wendy Rosenfield (W.R.), and Jim Rutter (J.R.).

Buyer and Cellar (Bucks County Playhouse, New Hope). A struggling L.A. actor takes a job working in the Malibu basement of Barbra Streisand's house. One day, Barbra comes downstairs to play. Woo! Through Nov. 26.

The City of Conversation (Delaware Theater Company). A political family spans six generations. In 1979, a family member must choose between life and politics. A well-paced, biting look at how politics can divide generations and families. Ends Sunday. - J.R.

Delirium (EgoPo Classic Theatre at Latvin Society). A raucous distillation of Dostoevsky's Brothers Karamazov, with lights, sound, and puppets. Plenty of serious business, but you keep wondering if it's a send-up. Ends Sunday. - H.H.

Found (Philadelphia Theatre Company). A musical based on Davy Rothbart's mag/website of people's anonymous notes to self and the world. Wednesday through Dec. 11.

Godspell (Eagle Theatre, Hammonton, N.J.). The famed musical on faith and theater, in the round. A fresh, inspiring production, centering on comedy. Through Dec. 11. - J.R.

Guards at the Taj (Theatre Exile/Studio X). The Taj Mahal is brand new - but two imperial guards are asked to perform an unthinkable task, and it shakes their notions of right, wrong, and friendship. An excellent, thought-provoking production. Ends Sunday. - J.M.

Handle with Care (Montgomery Theater, Souderton). Christmas Eve in a seedy hotel. She has little command of English; he has little command of romance. Here we go! Through Dec. 4.

An Iliad (Lantern Theater Company). The Muse sings of the wrath of Achilles, the Trojan Horse, and a lady named Helen. Through Dec. 11.

The Legend of Georgia McBride (Arden Theatre Group). An out-of-work Elvis impersonator finds occupational and personal salvation through drag. With Dito von Reigersberg of Martha Graham Cracker fame. A toe-tapping, tuneful joy. Through Dec. 4. - B.C.

Maurice Hines Is Tappin' Thru Life (Penn's Landing Playhouse). Gregory's brother, himself a high-quality hoofer, sings and dances his life story. Includes local dancers Hines chose at auditions. Through next Sunday.

Mauritius (Act II Theatre Company). Eminent playwright/TV writer Teresa Rebeck creates a crime drama. A captivating crime drama, one of this season's best productions. Through next Sunday. - J.R.

Once (McCarter Theater, Princeton). A Dublin street musician meets a woman fascinated by his songs. Through Saturday.

Out of the City (Passage Theatre, Trenton). Two couples in their 60s discover the unexpected ways of romance. Ends Sunday.

Will Rogers Follies (Broadway Theatre, Pitman, N.J.) Rogers narrates his colorful life story, from Wild West to vaudeville to the movies, aided and abetted by Ziegfeld dancers and tunes from the era. This sparkling revival reminds us of how funny Rogers was, and how humorless our politics has become. Through next Sunday. - H.H.

The Wizard of Oz (Walnut Street Theatre). Because, because, because, because, because. The great tunes, great lines, great story, plus a few surprises. Through Jan. 8.

Working (Bristol Riverside Theatre). An inspiring production of the musical based on Studs Terkel's great oral history of laborers. Through next Sunday. - H.H.