Displaying items by tag: Goodman Theatre

Eboni Booth’s 2024 Pulitzer Prize-winning drama Primary Trust is a deeply introspective and bittersweet exploration of abandonment, routine, and the disorienting reality of sudden change. Directed with sensitivity by Malkia Stampley in her Goodman debut, the production skillfully tells the story of Kenneth, a quiet, unassuming man in his late 30s who has spent his entire life working at a single bookstore. When the shop closes, Kenneth is forced to confront not only the uncertainty of unemployment but also the emotional abandonment that surfaces as his stable, predictable world unravels. The closure of the bookstore, along with his long-standing isolation, pushes Kenneth to face a future where the comforting routines and relationships he once relied on are gone, underscoring the profound effects of abandonment in his life.

Namir Smallwood’s portrayal of Kenneth is truly extraordinary. He captures the character’s quiet vulnerability, depicting a man whose life revolves around the safety of a small, predictable world. Smallwood infuses Kenneth with a subtle yet profound emotional depth, inviting the audience to experience both his fear of change and his intense longing for connection. His interactions, especially with his imaginary friend Bert, reveal Kenneth’s deep-seated need for stability and companionship. Bravo!

Charles Andrew Gardner plays Bert, Kenneth’s imaginary friend and a manifestation of his internal struggles. Gardner’s portrayal is warm and engaging, bringing a sense of playfulness and hope to the otherwise heavy emotional landscape. The dynamic between Smallwood and Gardner is captivating, with Bert acting as both a comforting presence and a stark reminder of Kenneth’s profound isolation. Gardner brings a lightness to the role that underscores the bittersweet nature of Kenneth’s imaginary companionship.

Christiana Clark is impressive in her portrayal of 27 characters, most notably Corrina, a waitress at a bar where Kenneth frequently dines. Clark brings a vibrant energy to her roles, providing Kenneth with moments of real, tangible connection. Her Corrina is kind but grounded, gently pushing Kenneth to consider the world beyond his limited bubble. Clark’s range is showcased as she shifts between 27 (you read that) 27 different personas, offering a fresh perspective to each new character.

Fred Zimmerman also takes on multiple roles, including Kenneth’s boss, Clay, and various other characters. His versatility adds depth and dimension to the play’s supporting cast, each character uniquely distinct and contributing to Kenneth’s journey. Zimmerman’s performance helps fill out the world of Primary Trust with a sense of realism and gentle humor.

Mike Przygoda’s onstage musicianship brings a delicate, almost whimsical layer to the production. His understated presence as the tiki bar musician, playing late 90s top 40 hits, highlights key emotional moments in Kenneth’s journey. The music acts as an emotional echo, amplifying Kenneth’s solitude and brief glimpses of hope.

Lex Liang’s set design perfectly captures the small town of Cranberry, N.Y. where Kenneth lives. He brilliantly makes the town feel even smaller through his presence. Heather Gilbert’s lighting design enhances this with soft, natural tones and hints of color that create a sense of warmth while subtly highlighting a sense of hope.

Malkia Stampley’s direction allows the story to unfold at a measured pace, giving space for the quiet moments to resonate. She lets the production breathe as she skillfully balances the play’s themes of abandonment, loneliness and hope, guiding the audience through Kenneth’s gradual self-realization with care and empathy. The delicate interplay between reality and fantasy is handled with a light touch, allowing the audience to feel immersed in Kenneth’s internal world without losing sight of the story’s emotional core.

Primary Trust is a moving and tender exploration of a fragile man struggling to cope with the sudden upheaval of his carefully structured life. With an outstanding cast and an inspired creative team, the production offers a quiet yet profound reflection on human connection, personal growth, courage, and the essential need for primary trust. Yeah, it’s okay to not be okay.

HIGHLY RECOMMENDED

When: Through Nov. 3

Where: Goodman Theatre 170 N. Dearborn

Tickets: $25 - $40

Infor:www.goodmantheatre.org/show/primary-trust/

“It takes a smart fellow to say he doesn’t know the answer”

Attorney Henry Drummond- 'Inherit the Wind'

The Goodman Theatre's production of "Inherit the Wind," written by the same duo who brought us "Auntie Mame" (Jerome Lawrence and Robert E. Lee), expertly directed by Henry Godinez, offers a powerful and thought-provoking exploration of the clash between religion and science.

National figures Clarence Darrow, a civil liberties attorney and founder of the ACLU, and William Jennings Bryan, a fundamentalist Christian and populist three-time Democratic Presidential candidate, argued the famous Scopes “Monkey” Trial in 1925. 

This fictionalized account, a  legal battle over the teaching of evolution in American public schools, remains as relevant today as when the trial happened  in 1925. It reflects the ongoing "culture wars" playing out today, particularly around education. The play's trial centers on the right to teach evolution, a debate that has echoed into modern fights over what can and should be taught in American schools.

In 2024, school boards and state legislatures are hotbeds of conflict, with debates over the teaching of history, race, gender, and even basic scientific principles. Across the country, there are movements to ban books, restrict what educators can discuss, and roll back curriculums deemed "woke" or politically incorrect. The themes of "Inherit the Wind" – the right to free thought, academic freedom, and the importance of challenging societal norms – feel eerily timely as education becomes a battleground in this year's election.

Alexander Gemignani delivers a tour-de-force performance as Matthew Harrison Brady, the charismatic and deeply religious prosecutor. Gemignani captures Brady's unwavering faith and his conviction that the Bible is the ultimate source of truth. His portrayal is not simply a blowhard preacher clinging to outdated values, but a man genuinely trying to protect his worldview in a rapidly changing society. His performance is both commanding and sympathetic, allowing audiences to understand the man's genuine belief in his cause.

Harry Lennix, as the defense attorney Henry Drummond, is equally impressive. Lennix portrays Drummond as a complex figure, a man who values both reason and compassion. His performance is marked by intelligence, wit, and a deep respect for the law. Lennix's Drummond becomes more than a  cynical intellectual—he is a defender of the individual’s right to think, to question, and to change. In Lennix’s hands  Drummond is a compelling character who challenges audiences to consider the importance of critical thinking and the dangers of censorship, a joy to watch.

The supporting cast is exceptional. Mi Kang delivers a memorable performance as E.K. Hornbeck, a cynical and opportunistic reporter who views the trial as nothing more than a spectacle. Christopher Llewyn Ramirez is heartbreaking as Bertram Cates, the young schoolteacher at the center of a national controversy. Robert Schleifer is poignant as Meeker, a deaf actor who was truly engaging, and Presley Rose Jones is charming and insightful as Melinda, a young woman who falls in love with Cates. The contemporary casting choices make this production particularly moving.

Collette Pollard's set design is a marvel. The set, a myopic bird’s eye view of a small town, a place where everyone knows everyone else and where secrets are hard to keep. Pollard's use of perspective creates a sense of claustrophobia, suggesting that the characters are trapped in a world that is both familiar and stifling. The floor of the courtroom suggesting  uniformity and order

In many ways, Inherit the Wind is a powerful allegory for the struggles America faces in 2024. As the nation heads into a pivotal presidential election, the play’s themes of free thought, the conflict between science and belief, and the influence of populism and religion on politics provide a rich framework for understanding the stakes of this moment in history. The questions it raises—about who controls knowledge, who gets to speak, and how we balance faith with reason—are the very questions that are being asked on debate stages and in polling booths across the country today.

HIGHLY RECOMMENDED

When: Through Oct. 20

Where: Goodman Theatre 170 N. Dearborn

Tickets: $30 - $45

Infor:.goodmantheatre.org/show/inherit-the-wind/

When one first thinks of improvised comedy (and perhaps this is an unfair assumption), the mind immediately jumps to the image of a group of extremely energetic and theatrical actors, running onto the stage and asking the audience for a suggestion. From the start, TJ and Dave’s take on long-form improv brings in a completely different energy. There is no suggestion, and very little theatrics. They seamlessly pick up cues from one another and create a whole world with no external aids. Conversations happen at the pace of real life, not shying away from moments of silence, and characters are (for the most part) grounded in truth. The result is nothing short of hilarious, and very impressive.

The show lasts for 1 hour and 45 minutes, with a 15-minute intermission halfway through. The two actors walk on a bare stage, a black curtain as their background, and briefly introduce themselves. Then, they welcome the singer-songwriter Ike Reilly, who this time brings his son along. The two, with only their guitars and a harmonica, sing their way through the first half of the show, while TJ and Dave prepare backstage. There is a storytelling quality to all of Reilly’s songs, with a lyricism that mixes both poetry and hint of comedy. He and his son sing about a range of topics, from learning to apologize to dating somehow with horrible politics. The beautifully stripped-down musical performance somehow matches the type of improvisational comedy that follows.

After the intermission, TJ and Dave return to the stage, and dispensing with any audience participation, they jump right in. In real time, the two experienced improvisers act out a one-act play that somehow manages to have complete arcs, conflict, relationships, moments of seriousness and drama, some philosophical musings, and a whole lot of jokes and recurring bits. The play I got to witness featured two sons visiting their father at the hospital. There is an immediate tension between the two around who is entitled to more of dad’s money: the oldest son is significantly wealthier, and lives in a town called “Carefree”. The play features characters like the careless father (who ends up donating all the money to a shelter), two inexperienced nurses, a doctor lacking tact, and another one of the patients- all of which rotate between the two actors, who are able to inhabit every character with fascinating detail.
Without relying too much on creating unimaginable situations or out-of-this-world characters, most of the comedy comes from witticisms in the language, and the natural awkwardness of everyday life.

It was incredible to watch and would appeal to both lovers of theater and lovers of improvisational comedy.

Language may be the backbone of human communication, but there’s a lot that happens between the lines. Sanaz Toosi’s 2023 Pulitzer Prize winner ‘English’ explores what we learn when studying a new language. Director Hamid Dehghani assembles an all-Iranian cast for Goodman Theatre’s Chicago debut of this exciting new play.

When American students take foreign languages in high school, it’s more or less travel lessons. There’s a sense that languages are more of an elective than a necessity. And sadly, most adults don’t retain much of their high school French after graduation—even those who travel extensively. The world reinforces the idea that English is the dominant international language and that the West is the dominant culture. Though history would tell us this is a relatively new idea.

Sanaz Toossi’s play takes place entirely in an Iranian classroom in which four students of various ages are learning the notoriously difficult English language. Each character has their own consequential reason for learning English. Marjan (Roxanna Hope Radja) teaches more than sentence structure to her students: Goli (Shadee Vossoughi), Roya (Sahar Bibiyan), Omid (Pej Vahdat) and Elham (Nikki Massoud)—she’s teaching them hope for a better future. However, it begs the question, why can’t there be hope in Iran, or rather in their native tongue, Farsi?

‘English’ premiered in New York in 2022 and went on to win the 2023 Pulitzer Prize. While it’s easy to see how this play could be one of the most produced around the world, ethnically ambiguous casting would be a disservice to the underlying messages of the play. Goodman’s choice to cast Iranian theatre-makers both on and off stage lends a truly authentic feel to this work, and this degree of perfection would be hard to recreate.

Goodman’s production soars thanks in huge part to this incredibly talented cast. While the action of the play does start off a bit slow, the 90-minute play really gets going when we learn why older student Roya is trying to learn English. Her story of emotional and physical distance from her adult son in Canada underscores what a person can lose when they renounce their culture. Sahar Bibiyan gives a devastating performance that cuts to the play’s overall message, empathy.

‘English’ is more complicated for teacher Marjan and her obstinate student Elham. The two characters spar throughout and Toossi makes not only a point about optimism versus pessimism, but also of the competitiveness that can arise between women. Roxanna Hope Radja and Nikki Massoud are well matched as the play’s two anchors.

Ultimately, ‘English’ has a happy ending if you consider whether the main characters get what they want. While the themes of this deeply human play are fraught, at its core it’s a celebration of what it means to be a foreigner. It’s a celebration of one’s home. Though the plot is straight forward, each of the brief scenes leaves an important mark on your heart.

This is a play meant to inspire Western audiences to practice more empathy when we hear an accent we aren’t used to. At the end of the day, everyone is trying their best and when we assume positive intent, it’s amazing how much we can learn even when words don’t come easy.

Through June 16 at Goodman Theatre. 170 N Dearborn St. 312-443-3800

Director Chuck Smith returns to Goodman with another major August Wilson revival–“Joe Turner’s Come and Gone”. This is the second play in Wilson’s 10-play “American Century Cycle”. Goodman produced the first play in the series, “Gem of the Ocean” in 2022 as well as “Two Trains Running” in 2015. Both directed by Chuck Smith. Returning also is A.C. Smith, a staple of any August Wilson production in Chicago.

“Joe Turner’s Come and Gone” takes place in 1911, in Pittsburgh, where most of August Wilson’s work is set. Staged in a boarding house respectably kept by Seth (Dexter Zollicoffer) and Betha (TayLar) Holly, where their regular lodgers Bynum Walker (Tim Rhoze) and Jeremy Furlow (Anthony Flemming III) keep them busy. When a mysterious man and his young daughter arrive looking for a room strange things begin happening.

Wilson has a gift for turning vernacular into poetry. His world-weary characters speak with a sort of casual beauty that rivals Tennessee Williams. That much is never clearer than when Molly Cunningham saunters into the boarding house. Krystel V McNeil captivates as Molly, delivering every line with seductive authority. The purpose of her character is somewhat ambiguous but she’s a welcomed presence nonetheless.

The mysterious man, Herald Loomis, is in search of his wife Martha who is also the mother of this daughter. Bynum and Seth are skeptical but when supernatural things begin happening, a revelation is exposed that calls into question how free the nation really was in the early part of last century.

As always, A.C. Smith’s commanding performance showcases not only a true talent for reinvention, but a deep understanding of August Wilson’s intentions. The chemistry between director Chuck Smith and A.C. Smith is palpable in everything they work on together.

Wilson wrote epics. And this production feels epic. Though there are thematic overlaps in his play cycle, each are distinct masterpieces in themselves. “Joe Turner” like all of Wilson’s plays feels like classic theater. It combines so many elements from lore to magical realism, but on a Goodman-scale backdrop. What a treat it is to see these works produced to impeccable, if not gold standards complete with dream casting.

Thanks to a special relationship between Chuck Smith and August Wilson, Chicago is a mecca for August Wilson’s plays. Between the Court Theater in Hyde Park and Goodman, you’re likely to see all of them if you stay in Chicago long enough. While each has been presented on Broadway at one time or another, his plays aren’t produced nearly as often as they should. Thankfully Denzel Washington is committed to getting each of the plays in the cycle adapted into a film–so far, also to impeccable standards. 

Wilson wrote essential plays that speak for more than just the African American experience, but rather the entire American experience and where it might be headed. Though the last century was full of strife, Wilson finds triumph in every era. His plays certainly don’t shy from the truth, but they always offer a road to hope. 

Through May 19 at Goodman Theatre. 170 N Dearborn. 312-443-3800.

“The Penelopiad” is a zesty romp and very entertaining. With a script by a writer I adore, Margaret Atwood of “The Handmaid's Tale” fame, and based on her novella by the same name, it tells the story of Odysseus’ wife Penelope (played stunningly by Jennifer Morrison)—and how she occupied herself during the long odyssey recounted in Homer’s Greek epic poem, “The Odyssey.” I had recently finished reading a new translation so that story was fresh on my mind.

Of course, this being Atwood, it is a reset of the tale, told from the woman’s point of view. And it is very scholarly, perhaps a bit cerebral in the first half, relating in more detail than Homer’s work the origins of Penelope, and how she ended up married to Odysseus, the King of Ithaca. We also see what life was like in the palace from Penelope’s perspective, and that of her dozen maids.

Odyseus went off to fight in the Trojan War. He was gone such a long time, 20 years, that princes of his realm presumed him dead, and vied to marry his supposed widow Penelope, and claim the throne. As the years wore on, they didn’t behave nicely—living on the palace’s largess and hitting on the maids relentlessly. It was an unapologetic patriarchy, to be sure.

In Homer’s version, Penelope is celebrated for being steadfast and true. And Atwood gives us this too, but without the male gaze. Penelope constantly thwarts and outwits the obnoxious suitors, and her corps of maids switches genders and roles to show what that was like. With an all female cast, and set with frequent music and dance, “The Penelopiad” relates many of the high points of the original poem. The first act, then, is a recitation of the Odyssey revisited.

Without question, “The Penelopiad” under the direction of new artistic director Susan V. Booth gives the best ever and very understated caricature of male behavior by women actors: the boasting stance, the lack of self-awareness, the entitlement, and the varieties of ways this is displayed by classically awful male personality types. It’s a bracing and edifying experience for a man to see.

This corps of maids also plays identifiable characters (though not credited in the program): the growing Telemachus, evolving from whiny teenager critiquing his mother Penelope’s behavior, to self-empowered accomplice when his father does finally return; the oldest maid, who carps at Penelope and the sisterhood she forms with the young maids. She soon recognizes the disguised Odysseus by his scars when he returns, and selects at his request the maids who will be punished for fraternizing with the suitors.

We also see a maid as Odysseus himself, a pompous braggart at times, who certainly did not make rushing home to Penelope his priority. These transformations in gender are aided by artful breastplate costumes (costume designer Kara Harmon).

Atwood describes “The Penelopiad” as most akin to a cabaret along the lines of Kurt Weill. The music and scintillating choral singing is composed by Samuel Davis and directed by Jeremy Ramey.
While in the first half we get mostly a poetic oration in a series of scenes—Penelope being cast heartlessly into the ocean by her father, surviving and gaining stature as a demigoddess; Penelope’s first encounter with the immature Odysseus—the second half gives rise to real drama. As the years wear on, Penelope develops one final ruse to avoid the suitors: she will weave a shroud for her father-in-law, and when it is done, will select one of the group to marry. Famously she unweaves the shroud each night, and eventually the suitors catch her. 

Luckily, Odysseus is back, and the Odyssey plot grinds quickly to its well-known conclusion. Odysseus slays the suitors, and then horrifically hangs the maids as well. Penelope examines herself in Atwood’s retelling of the epic, and how she has survived only because she sacrificed the maids to the suitor’s unwanted advances. She was powerless to keep Odysseus from hanging the maids, though to her credit, Odysseus kept his intent from her. It’s a truthful and sad conclusion, set in a wholly entertaining frame of music and dance. Kudos to the dramaturg Neena Arndt for her role in bringing us this lesser known work.

”The Penelopiad” runs at Chicago’s Goodman Theatre through March 31

Mozart’s masterpiece, and one of the world’s most frequently performed operas, The Magic Flute, is given a modern-day makeover in award-winning director and writer Mary Zimmerman’s production of The Matchbox Magic Flute, now playing at The Goodman Theatre on its Owen stage.

In this world-premiere production, Zimmerman has adapted the traditionally lavish and grandiose opera with full company and orchestra and has created what has been dubbed an opera-in-miniature with a cast of ten and an orchestra of five. The results are nothing less than triumphant.

From the orchestra members dressed in costume with candles flanking their music stands to the delightful Spirit (wonderfully performed by Reese Parish) who guides us through the performance, to the Zimmerman-trademarked scenery which effortlessly flows from forest to palace and back again, every detail contributes to the overall ambiance of the production to create an intimate theatre experience. The audience feels as if they are part of the performance as the actors frequently turn to us and bring us into the action and let us in on the jokes.

The production follows the traditional story line of Prince Tamino (Billy Rude) who finds himself lost in the forest pursued by a dragon. He is rescued by three woodland ladies, who show him the portrait of Princess Pamina (Marlene Fernandez), the daughter of the Queen of the Night (Emily Rohm), who has been abducted by Sarastro (Keanon Kyles) and his sidekick, Monostatos (Russell Mernagh).

The Prince falls in love with the Princess instantly, and when the Queen of the Night commissions him to rescue her daughter, promising him her daughter’s hand in marriage, the Prince is only too happy to oblige. Aided by a magic flute and accompanied by the lovelorn half-bird, half-man, Papageno (brilliantly played by Shawn Pfautsch), the Prince commences his magical mission.

In adapting this classic opera, Zimmerman has gone line by line, not only condensing the plotline to fit a two-hour running time, but also updating the libretto to include unexpected and humorous references to modern life. For instance, when the three woodland ladies (Lauren Molina, Monica West, and Tina Munoz Pandya) discover the unconscious Prince, they coo over his physique as one who has obviously gone to the gym.

Later when Papageno and the Princess meet and sing about “the bird and the girl,” they encourage one another to persevere and not be discouraged “as when you are waiting in the grocery line.” These references are so cleverly embedded throughout the performance that you find yourself waiting and listening for them.

Even though only one of the ten cast members is a trained opera singer (Kyles who plays Sarastro), all have the musical theatre credentials to do justice to Mozart’s soaring operatic scores. Rohm as Queen of the Night gives an outstanding performance of one of the opera’s most well-known arias, Der Hölle Rache, with its fast repetition of High C’s, that challenges most sopranos. And the superbly comedic duet of Pfautsh’s Papageno and his newfound love, Papagena (also played by Lauren Molina), Pa pa pa, is a show-stopper. Also, not to be missed is Kyles’ impressive baritone, whose lower range wows the audience.

Rude as Prince Tamino and Fernandez as Princess Pamina shine in their respective roles, both vocally and in their character portrayal. Fernandez has a particularly beautiful soprano that is magnificent to hear. The three woodland ladies (Molina, West, and Pandya) are outstanding in their roles, adding humorous commentary on the action to both those on stage and to the audience. Mernagh’s Monostatos, as the one real villain in the story, is played with just the right comedic touch in his clumsy attempts to seduce the Princess.

What ensues is a thoroughly engaging and entertaining production that is fast-paced and lively. Toss in a few woodland creatures, whose dancing border on the hilarious as they throw in a little soft shoe, and you have a family-friendly show perfect for all ages. Even some of the musicians get involved and join the action on stage, as when flautist Dalia Chin, leads the Prince and Princess through their final trials with her “magic flute.”

Zimmerman herself sums up the production as a fantastical, adventuresome journey with something for everyone – dancing animals, magical instruments, lessons learned, along with a bit of humor, all set to Mozart’s time-honored classic score. What’s not to like?

Don’t miss your chance to introduce the younger generations – or even yourself -- to opera in a most winsome and captivating way. The Matchbox Magic Flute is playing through March 24 at the Goodman Theatre.

I thoroughly enjoyed this modern and timely play on both the issues of Hollywood stars whose lives are constantly scrutinized by complete strangers and how easily it is for any person now to be fed false information online in ways that can affect their lives either positively or negatively regardless of the intentions of the sender. Highway Patrol is being performed at Goodman Theatre’s Albert Stage and is funny, haunting, and engaging through and through. 

Dana Delaney, who plays herself, is best known for her roles in the TV series China Beach and the hit film Tombstone, and she looks and sounds fantastic. I have always liked her plucky, no-nonsense energy as an actress, and in this true-life story of her work life and internet/social media interactions the audience gets a very accurate glimpse of how lonely a life in the arts can be and also how badly many actors are treated by the industry at the expense of their physical and mental health.

I don't want to give away any spoilers because half the fun of this show is the whodunnit twists and turns her life took back in 2012 that continued for several years, sometimes dominating her private life at all hours... 24/7. The story begins when the actress decides to interact directly with one fan on social media, Cam. Thomas Murphy Molony is a very talented young actor who makes you feel deeply for Cam, a young Twitter fan who is suffering from a chronic and terminal illness, a recipient of two heart transplants who is innocently and adoringly in love with Delaney. While Cam enjoys his conversations with Delaney, his grandmother often provides updates regarding the boy’s health and upcoming procedures to keep her in the loop. Dot-Marie Jones, who takes on the role of Cam’s caretaker, Nan, is a very gifted character actress best known for her work on Glee and Desperate Housewives. Jones really displays her versatile acting range playing such a multifaceted character and does so beautifully with depth and complexity. 

Peter Gallagher’s highly recognizable voice is also strategically used in this production as he plays the true-life friend and confidant of Delaney’s that he has been throughout most of her career. The recognizability of his voice in this show gives real weight to the fact that a human voice is like a fingerprint and gives much more honest information and clarity as to whom we are communicating over the voices we imagine in our minds when reading our own DM's or emails.

Director Mike Donahue does a great job staging the show into two compelling acts and theatre goers should arrive early to see Dana Delaney in character on stage prior to the start of the play. Having Delaney onstage beforehand is a very interesting choice and sets the tone of the play, acknowledging that most people, fans or not, are fascinated by seeing stars in person that they have "known" for decades.

I enjoyed Dane Laffrey’s set design and Yee Eun Nam’s projection designs so much! The colorful and quick changing sets along with large high-definition projections not only help the audience follow along with the digital clues based on the digital archives of actor Dana Delaney (with text curation from playwright Jen Silverman), but they also combine to form beautiful and realistic backdrops depicting the glamorous luxury, palm trees, sunshine, and sometimes loneliness of Delaney’s Los Angeles home and also her work life on set. 

The most fascinating thing I took away from this very enjoyable piece of theatre was not about the necessity of verifying and protecting oneself from the many digital communications we all send and receive every day. What struck me rather was the idea presented to the audience that sometimes we as isolated humans living in this new frontier of instantaneous digital communication, including celebrities who appear to "have it all", can possibly grow to miss fictional love messages and reassurances of digital communication even after discovering their true source. 

Dana Delaney is absolutely outstanding in this production, as is the entire cast. I highly recommend this funny, touching, yet haunting, modern play. 

Highway Patrol is being performed at Goodman Theatre though February 18^th. For tickets and/or more information visit www.goodmantheatre.org.

“Put someone inside of a box and cut them in half, people think it’s magic. They think it’s a special box. But, tear up a dollar and restore it right under their nose, or look into their mind and read their thoughts, or make something magical happen in their very own hands…. That is an experience they will never forget. – Ed Watkins

The Magic Parlour presented by Goodman Theatre & Petterino’s Restaurant is an absolute tour de force of mind-bending entertainment that left the audience in awe and wonderment. From start to finish, the performance was a seamless blend of astonishing sleight of hand, uncanny mentalism and captivating showmanship.

The showman of this production is Dennis Watkins, a third-generation magician, actor and entertainer. His critically- acclaimed show The Magic Parlour is currently running in the opulent lower-level of the iconic Petterino’s Restaurant on the corner of Dearborn and Randolph.

Dennis Watkins mastery of card manipulation was nothing short of extraordinary. With lightning-fast dexterity and precision, he effortlessly controlled the deck, making cards appear and disappear in ways defying logic. Every move was executed flawlessly, leaving even the most skeptical (me) observers scratching their heads in amazement.

What truly set this performance apart, however, was the incorporation of mentalism. Watkins demonstrated an uncanny ability to read minds, predict choices and even influence the thoughts of volunteers from the audience. The mind-boggling feats left the crowd gasping in disbelief. As a volunteer, I tried my best to stump Magician/Mentalist Dennis Watkins to no avail. He guessed with precision, I might add, and it blew my mind.

The production values were also noteworthy. The lighting and sound design were expertly calibrated to enhance the overall experience, ensuring every subtle move and gesture was visible in this intimate venue.

The cocktail menu is a delightful highlight, showcasing specially curated drinks tailored for the occasion. Additionally, a complimentary drink (which includes options like beer, wine cocktails or soft drinks) is included in the price of the ticket, adding an extra touch of hospitality to the experience.

With a VIP admission, after the show you will be escorted to a private space where you will sit with Chicago’s top magician, Dennis Watkins, for another half hour of magic and a question-and-answer session. He doesn’t give out his secrets, but the up-close magic will have you asking lots of questions.

Whether you’re a die-hard magic fan or a casual observer, this show is guaranteed to leave you spellbound and eager for more. Don’t miss the opportunity to witness this exceptional magician in action – it’s an experience you won’t soon forget.

Where: 50 W. Randolph Chicago, Illinois 60601
Info: www.themagicparlourchicago.com
Tickets $85.00 - VIP - $115.00

GRACE -- “Let me try to explain something to you. The Nacirema Society is not a social service group nor a political organization. Our challenge and our joy is to celebrate the best of us, not by giving scholarships and financial assistance, but by recognizing the fact that there are some of us who don’t need it [a beat}. Who has never needed it." - From the script, "The Nacerima Society..."

Commissioned by The Alabama Shakespeare Festival in 2009, “The Nacirema Society Requests the Honor of Your Presence at a Celebration of their First One Hundred Years” comes to The Goodman Theatre thanks to the association its Artistic Director, Susan V. Booth, has with playwright Pearl Cleage. Chicago theatergoers cannot be happier. “The Nacirema Society Requests….” is a laugh out loud spectacle.

As some may have noticed “Nacirema” is simply “American” spelled backwards. Cleage borrowed the term from a satirical essay by Horace Miner, an anthropologist. Miner believes what one culture does and believes to be normal, others may see as unusual. Cleage feels African Americans have been forced to adopt values and norms of white society to survive and this process of assimilation has come at a cost.

Montgomery, Alabama, 1964 conjures up feelings of dread for African Americans. The play is set 10 years after the Montgomery bus boycott, and there are freedom rides into the deep South, challenging segregation. African Americans, under the tutelage of Dr. M.L. King Jr., are gearing up for a march from Selma to Montgomery to demand voting rights. But to Grace Dunbar, doyenne of the exclusive Nacirema Society, nothing is more important than its upcoming 100-year celebration ball. That set-up, in and of itself, begs one to laugh.

From the moment we meet Grace Dubose Dunbar, portrayed brilliantly by the exceptional E. Faye Butler, we know we must mind our manners. She is a high strung, outspoken, aristocrat. For a glimpse into her personality, one need only to remember Dunbar rhymes with bourgeois. She’s in the midst of preparing her granddaughter, Gracie, brought to life wonderfully by Demetra Dee, for the debutante ball organized by the Nacirema Society.

Assisting Grace is her dearest friend and fellow society member, Catherine Adams Green, played with an air of affluence by the talented Ora Jones. Catherine, being sure her grandson, the dashing Eric Gerard as Bobby Green, will propose to Gracie, has planted a story of their engagement to the local society papers. Gracie and Bobby have absolutely no intention of marrying, but out of respect for their grandmothers, they play along with the charade, at least until after the ball. Marie Dunbar, Grace’s Daughter-in-law and Gracie’s mother is aware of Gracie’s intentions and fully supports her. She is played by Sharriese Hamilton with strength and honesty.

Janet Logan, a reporter, played with steely resolve by Jaye Ladymore, will be covering the Debutante Ball for the New York Times. She will be the houseguest of Grace Dunbar, creating an extra layer of anxiety for Madame Grace to get everything just right. As if having a reporter from a major newspaper breathing down her neck weren’t enough, the daughter of the Dunbar’s late former maid, Alpha Campbell Jackson, a devious portrayal by Tyla Abercrumbie, is in town with her daughter Lillie Campbell Jackson, a lovely turn by Felicia Oduh to settle a family affair. Everyone gets more than they bargained for.

In a non-verbal role Shariba W. Rivers nearly steals the show as Jessie Roberts, the maid of Grace Dunbar, proving once again, there are no small roles.

The dual set for this production can only be described as a conspicuous display wealth. Arnel Sancianco, set designer, did a visually amazing job of creating a 1960’s upper middle-class home. There is a great room with a crystal chandelier hanging in the center. The furnishings are noticeably french, with several seating areas. There is a set of stairs leading to a library that is just as opulent as the rest of the home. The home of the late Lillie Campbell is just as impressive in its scope, a 1960’s working class kitchen with colored refrigerator and matching cabinets. Costume design by Samantha Jones was gorgeous. I can tell she likes working in this era. The jewel toned dresses were fabulous.

Cleage's is work is known for its sharp wit, and insightful commentary. “The Nacirema Society” shows her ability to combine humor with social critique. It is a thought-provoking look at the dynamics of a specific segment of African American society all wrapped up in a romantic comedy. Lili-Anne Brown did a fantastic job directing this situational comedy, she keeps the ball and the tension in the air, and despite the running time, makes us forget about the worries in the world, exactly what a comedy should do.

“The Nacirema Society” runs through October 15 at the Goodman Theatre in Chicago.

There is a Pearl Cleage festival in Chicago. Most of the events are free. You can get details at https://www.goodmantheatre.org/event/pearl-cleage-fest/