Displaying items by tag: Electra
Review: Bruise Easy at American Theater Company
American Theater Company starts the year with a world premiere by author Dan LeFranc, directed by Joanie Schultz. "Bruise Easy" is a modern day retelling of Electra, set in the seemingly vapid world of southern California.
When Tess (Kelly O'Sullivan) returns to her childhood home to find her estranged brother Alec (Matt Farabee) smoking weed on the driveway, she's mortified. In a series of somewhat unanswered questions, we're given a glimpse into a family torn apart by imperfect parents. Scenes are punctuated by a group of masked "neighborhood kids" who serve as the Greek chorus. With a short running time of 85 minutes, stand-up Tess and screw-up Alec trade barbs and acts of uncomfortable sexual tension.
LeFranc's script is troubled though. While the gimmick of the Greek chorus is at first interesting, it ends up becoming a major distraction and overall pretty useless as a storytelling device. The author tries to communicate his heavy-handed message about suburban ambitions through this technique, which instead should be more apparent in the dialogue between Tess and Alec.
"Bruise Easy" is missing a lot of crucial pieces and leaves viewers without any specific answers. LeFranc fails to develop his characters' narratives, which is a shame because O'Sullivan and Farabee are both really riveting performers to watch.
The dialogue never quite gives us what we want. What happened to their mother? Why is Tess even there? What's the deal with the house? Why can't they go in? Instead, a lot of emphasis is placed on reminding us that it's 2005. Unfortunately many of the ways we're reminded come off as forced. Putting audiences in a certain time period involves more than dated pop culture references.
LeFranc would certainly benefit from either adding more to the script or subtracting the elements that don't work, and clarifying the hazy details. There's just too much dead air here. It's apparent the author knows a lot more about these characters than he's letting on. He seems more concerned with the idea that it's a Greek tragedy set in California than he is the actual lives of the characters.
Director Joanie Schultz's vision for this show also tends to stand in the way. There's an MTV circa-1995 aesthetic that really doesn't match the tone of the script. "Bruise Easy" has an anti-establishment theme running through it, but it's not as cheeky as the interlude graphics and pop music wants it to be. There's a lot going on here, and narrowing what exactly LeFranc wants his audience to leave with will benefit this play in subsequent productions.
Through February 14th at American Theater Company. 1909 W Byron Street.
A Chicago May Must See: Time Is A Color And The Color Is Blue at Bramble Arts Loft
06 May 2025 in Theatre ReviewsIf our day-to-day lives were a collective color, it would probably be the color blue. Whether you are feeling blue,…
Steppenwolf Theatre Presents YOU WILL GET SICK - June 5 – July 13, 2025 - Chicago Premiere!
06 May 2025 in Upcoming TheatreSteppenwolf Theatre Company, the nation's premier ensemble theater company, is pleased to present Noah Diaz's whimsical, wild, unpredictable and deeply moving Chicago…
Review: Remy Bumppo's 'Art' at Theatre Wit
06 May 2025 in Theatre in ReviewA fool and their money are soon parted as the old expression goes, but what do you do when that…
BACK IN CHICAGO BY POPULAR DEMAND! TONY AND GRAMMY-WINNING BEST MUSICAL, HADESTOWN IS NOW PLAYING
06 May 2025 in Upcoming TheatreBroadway In Chicago is thrilled to announce that HADESTOWN, the winner of eight 2019 Tony Awards® including Best New Musical and the…
Definition Theatre Presents World Premiere of Black Bone by Tina Fakhrid-Deen
05 May 2025 in Upcoming TheatreDefinition Theatre is proud to present the world premiere of Black Bone, a bold new satire by Chicago playwright Tina Fakhrid-Deen…
National Hellenic Museum hosts special free event on Greek mythology with cast members from HADESTOWN this Thursday, May 8th
05 May 2025 in Upcoming TheatreThe National Hellenic Museum is thrilled to host an exclusive in-person event on Greek mythology with cast members from the national tour…
Hymn at Chicago Shakespeare Theater – A Soulful Exploration of Brotherhood
04 May 2025 in Theatre in ReviewStories that explore the emotional lives of men—especially Black men—are still far too rare on the American stage. Outside the…
Chicago Opera Theater presents world premiere of She Who Dared by Jasmine Arielle Barnes & Deborah D.E.E.P. Mouton
02 May 2025 in Upcoming TheatreChicago Opera Theater (COT), Chicago’s foremost producer of new and rarely staged operas, proudly presents the world premiere of She Who Dared by…
Outrage Made Manifest in “Bust: An Afrocurrentist Play”
30 April 2025 in Theatre in ReviewSomething extraordinary happens on a street in Huntsville, Alabama. Mr. Woods (Keith Randolph Smith), a hard-working Black man in the…
THE DEN THEATRE ANNOUNCES JUNE COMEDY SHOWS
30 April 2025 in Upcoming TheatreThe Den Theatre today announced upcoming June 2025 shows at the theatre's Wicker Park stages at 1331 N. Milwaukee Ave., including "Anatomy…
Redtwist Theatre's GARY: A Sequel to Titus Andronicus: Who mops up after the royals' butchery?
29 April 2025 in Theatre in ReviewI reviewed TITUS ANDRONICUS in mid-February, so I was eager to see the sequel! In TITUS, Shakespeare tells the story…
BrightSide Theatre announces cast and production team for season finale PIPPIN, June 13-29
29 April 2025 in Upcoming TheatreBrightSide Theatre, Naperville’s professional theatre company, has announced the cast for the final show of its 13th season – the…
Chicago Puppet Lab Showcase culminates eight-month residency with experimental live shows by emerging puppet artists, May 31-June 1 at Segundo Ruiz Belvis Cultural Center
29 April 2025 in Upcoming TheatreEight Chicago artists from diverse backgrounds and disciplines have spent the last eight months in residence at the Chicago Puppet…
Gusto Performances in ‘Spring Awakening,’ Vibrant Staging of 1906 Basis of Broadway Musical
28 April 2025 in Theatre in Review“Spring Awakenings,” now playing at Chicago’s Greenhouse Theater Center, is not the Tony-winning 2006 Broadway musical “Spring Awakening,” but an…
Rosemont's Parkway Bank Park Announces 2025 Lineup for Rockin in the Park Free Summer Concert Series
28 April 2025 in Upcoming TheatreRosemont's Parkway Bank Park entertainment district (5501 Park Place, Rosemont) will turn up the volume this summer with the return of its…
‘Kairos’ Is One of the Most Enjoyable and Provocative Shows in Chicago
27 April 2025 in Theatre in ReviewLisa Sanaye Dring’s play “Kairos,” which just opened at The Edge Off Broadway theater, is one of the most thought-provoking…
A Half-Century in Harmony: Ryan Opera Center Shines in ‘Rising Stars in Concert’
27 April 2025 in Theatre in ReviewIt was a night of celebration, reflection, and breathtaking talent at the Civic Opera House. Fifty years of song echoed…
From Graphic Epic to Stage Triumph: Berlin at Court Theatre
27 April 2025 in Theatre in ReviewCourt Theatre’s world premiere of Berlin, adapted by Mickle Maher from Jason Lutes’ monumental graphic novel, is a breathtaking achievement.…
Rivendell Theatre continues 30th Anniversary Season with GORGEOUS in a co-production with Raven Theatre May 1 - June 7, 2025
25 April 2025 in Upcoming TheatreChicago's Rivendell Theatre Ensemble continues to celebrate its 30th Anniversary season with the World Premiere co-production of Keiko Green's GORGEOUS, directed by Kirsten Fitzgerald. The co-production…
Announcing the 2025 Broadway In Chicago Summer Concert
24 April 2025 in Upcoming TheatreBroadway In Chicago is thrilled to announce that its free SUMMER CONCERT will return to Millennium Park on August 11,…
THE JOFFREY BALLET CLOSES 69TH SEASON WITH EXTENDED RUN OF CHRISTOPHER WHEELDON'S ALICE'S ADVENTURES IN WONDERLAND
24 April 2025 in Upcoming DanceThe Joffrey Ballet concludes its 69th season with two-time Tony Award®-winning choreographer Christopher Wheeldon's enchanting and family-friendly Alice's Adventures in Wonderland. Set to…
David Mamet's 'Henry Johnson' in High Powered Premiere at Victory Gardens Biograph
24 April 2025 in Theatre in Review“Henry Johnson,” David Mamet’s new play running at the vintage Biograph Theatre, is like many of his works, enigmatic and…
American Blues Theater presents the Chicago Premiere of Golden Leaf Ragtime Blues
23 April 2025 in Upcoming TheatreAmerican Blues Theater, under the continued leadership of Executive Artistic Director Gwendolyn Whiteside, presents the Chicago premiere of Artistic Affiliate Charles Smith's Golden Leaf…
TRINITY IRISH DANCE COMPANY USHERS IN A NEW ERA WITH MCA PERFORMANCES KICKING OFF ITS 35TH ANNIVERSARY SEASON
23 April 2025 in Upcoming DanceThe critically acclaimed Trinity Irish Dance Company (TIDC), a Chicago-based company whose internationally-celebrated versatility and percussive power have been hailed…
Full Casting Announced for Hell in a Handbag's QUEEN FOR A DAY - July 9 – August 3, 2025 at Bramble Arts Loft - World Premiere!
22 April 2025 in Upcoming TheatreHell in a Handbag Productions is pleased to conclude its 2024/25 Season with the world premiere of QUEEN FOR A DAY written by…
Stellar Performances in “Prayer for the French Republic”
21 April 2025 in Theatre in ReviewEarly in the first act I whispered to my companion and said “I love this!” Extremely well written by Joshua…
A WONDROUS SOUND - Orchestra and Chorus of the Chicago Lyric Opera is a wondrous compilation of the best of the best!
21 April 2025 in Theatre in ReviewThe repertoire for this fabulous program - A WONDROUS SOUND, showcasing the full force of Lyric’s amazing orchestra and chorus,…
Citadel's 'A Jukebox for the Algonquin" - The Reality of Life in a Senior Center sets the Stage for Tunes, Friendship and Rebellion!
20 April 2025 in Theatre in ReviewCitadel’s latest production, A Jukebox for the Algonquin, truly captured my heart. It’s a refreshing reminder that as we age,…
A Night to Remember Aboard Marriott Theatre’s Titanic
17 April 2025 in Theatre in ReviewAs a lifelong aficionado of the ill-fated ocean liner RMS Titanic, I’ve always gravitated toward any experience that would leave…
The Artistic Home presents CUT TO THE CHASE festival of one-act plays May 1-4 at The Den Theatre
17 April 2025 in Upcoming TheatreThe Artistic Home Studio will present the 2025 edition of its annual CUT TO THE CHASE festival of new one…
Latest Articles
-
Steppenwolf Theatre Presents YOU WILL GET SICK - June 5 – July 13, 2025 - Chicago Premiere!
Written by Buzz Center StageSteppenwolf Theatre Company, the nation's premier ensemble theater company, is pleased to present Noah Diaz's whimsical, wild, unpredictable and deeply moving Chicago premiere of You Will Get Sick, directed by Artistic Director Audrey Francis (Noises Off, POTUS–Director), playing June 5 – July 13, 2025 in Steppenwolf's Downstairs Theater, 1650… -
Definition Theatre Presents World Premiere of Black Bone by Tina Fakhrid-Deen
Written by Buzz Center StageDefinition Theatre is proud to present the world premiere of Black Bone, a bold new satire by Chicago playwright Tina Fakhrid-Deen and the first full production to emerge from the company's Amplify Series. Directed by Carla Stillwell, Black Bone will run from May 30…
-
Review: Remy Bumppo's 'Art' at Theatre Wit
Written by John AccroccoA fool and their money are soon parted as the old expression goes, but what do you do when that fool is your best friend? Yasmina Reza’s 1996 Tony Award winning play ‘Art’ explores the balance of opinion, influence and… -
BACK IN CHICAGO BY POPULAR DEMAND! TONY AND GRAMMY-WINNING BEST MUSICAL, HADESTOWN IS NOW PLAYING
Written by Buzz Center StageBroadway In Chicago is thrilled to announce that HADESTOWN, the winner of eight 2019 Tony Awards® including Best New Musical and the 2020 Grammy® Award for Best Musical Theater Album, is now playing at Broadway In Chicago’s CIBC Theatre (18 W. Monroe St.). HADESTOWN is…
Does your theatre company want to connect with Buzz Center Stage or would you like to reach out and say "hello"? Message us through facebook or shoot us an email at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..
*This disclaimer informs readers that the views, thoughts, and opinions expressed in the text belong solely to the author, and not necessarily to Buzz Center Stage. Buzz Center Stage is a non-profit, volunteer-based platform that enables, and encourages, staff members to post their own honest thoughts on a particular production.