Sunday, 24 February 2019 22:23
Moments of Excellence, But Act(s) of God Brushes With Cosmic Disaster
Written by Bill Esler
Lookingglass Theatre, known for its excellent production values and its incomparable space at the Water Tower pumping station, brings us an intriguing new work, Act(s) of God. Billed as an existential dark comedy, but really much more of a farce, it is a “guess who’s coming to dinner” tale of…
Published in
Theatre in Review
Sunday, 24 February 2019 06:21
In Battle for our Musical Souls, The Total Bent Triumphs
Written by Bill Esler
The Total Bent is a musical show so delightful I wish I could shrink it down, put it in a shoebox and show it to all my friends. But you can (and should) go see it full scale at Den Theatre, where it runs through March 10. Ostensibly the story…
Published in
Theatre in Review
Wednesday, 20 February 2019 01:10
Marriott's Seussical a magical musical
Kendall Royzen and CJ Burroughs
The skies full of snow,The weekend seemed dire.Oh, where would we go?To Lincolnshire! On the Marriott stageTo see Seussical,Straight from the pageTo a musical! All your favorites are there,Horton and a Who or two,Gertrude and Mayzie,We even go to Kalamazoo! Oh, the thinks you can thinkWhen you think about Seuss.And…
Published in
Theatre in Review
Monday, 18 February 2019 18:46
"La Traviata" The One Who Strayed Beautiful Voices in an Ugly Production
Written by William and Margaret Swain
Guiseppe Verdi’s beloved, romantic heartbreaker, La Traviata was beautifully sung Saturday evening at the Lyric Opera of Chicago. The second offering this season by the great Italian composer, it is the last opera from the famed blockbuster trio of Verdi’s middle period which include Rigoletto, Il Trovatore. Unfortunately, it did…
Published in
Theatre in Review
Monday, 18 February 2019 23:53
Powerful Production of Requiem for a Heavyweight, Rod Serling’s Searing 1956 Teleplay
Written by Bill Esler
Before he was Twilight Zone’s scriptwriter and frontman, Rod Serling broke through with the 1956 teleplay of Requiem for a Heavyweight, a powerful noire telling of a boxer on his way down. This work was originally broadcast live in black and white, and starred Jack Palance, Keenan Wynn, and Kim…
Published in
Theatre in Review
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Saturday, 16 February 2019 17:47
Out of This World Funny - Dead Man's Cell Phone
Written by Bill Esler
Dead Man’s Cell Phone- its title a built in spoiler alert - opens with an unbeatable scene: In a nearly deserted café, the young woman Jean (Cydney Moody) dining alone is disturbed by the repeatedly ringing cellphone at the next table. The young man sitting there with his back to…
Published in
Theatre in Review
Thursday, 14 February 2019 19:27
Wow! 'Southern Gothic' an immersive theatre experience not to forget
Written by Ken Payne
What was meant to be a run somewhere in the neighborhood of four to eight weeks, became a resident show for Windy City Playhouse, so popular in fact, a new home was created nearly a year later to hold the run indefinitely. The new venue, Windy City Playhouse South (2229…
Published in
Theatre in Review
Wednesday, 13 February 2019 12:04
Review: 'A Doll's House Part 2' at Steppenwolf Theatre
Written by John Accrocco
“I’m a better version of myself, when I’m by myself,” says Nora in Lucas Hnath’s sequel to Ibsen’s ‘A Doll’s House’. The play takes place some fifteen years after her departure at the end of the original play. Steppenwolf is one of the first regional theaters to revive the 2017…
Published in
Theatre in Review
Tuesday, 12 February 2019 17:48
Review: 'How I Learned to Drive' at Raven Theatre
Written by John Accrocco
If there’s ever been a time for Paula Vogel’s 1997 Pulitzer Prize winner ‘How I Learned to Drive’ it’s now. In the wake of the #metoo movement, a play about a young woman being taken advantage of by her older uncle seems extremely relevant. Under the direction of Raven Theatre…
Published in
Theatre in Review
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Saturday, 09 February 2019 18:55
Dominique Morisseau’s Pipeline Delivers Rockin’ Performances at Victory Gardens
Written by Bill Esler
Six spectacular actors bring deeply moving performances under director Cheryl Lynn Bruce in Dominique Morisseau’s Pipeline. The capacity crowd who braved six-degree weather to show up at the Biograph Theatre on Lincoln Ave. were richly rewarded by this exceptional production. But you kind of have to go when a Morisseau…
Published in
Theatre in Review
Wednesday, 06 February 2019 01:59
Four Women: Nina Simone Leaves Us All with the Backlash Blues
Written by CJ Burroughs
My gateway to Nina Simone fandom came when I was a kid, watching some crummy 90's action movie that was somehow soundtracked by Ms. Simone’s music. Her take on George Harrison’s “Here Comes the Sun” was both recognizable to young me as a Beatles tune, but it was also strange,…
Published in
Theatre in Review
Tuesday, 05 February 2019 17:30
Review: 'Elektra' at Lyric Opera of Chicago
Written by John Accrocco
Elektra must have been a Scorpio. Strauss’ intense one-act opera ‘Elektra’ is a classic tale of revenge set to some of the most thrilling music ever composed. Originally directed by Sir David McVicar at the Lyric in 2012, Remy Bummpo artistic director Nick Sandys helms the revival this season. Clocking…
Published in
Theatre in Review
Sunday, 03 February 2019 23:56
How to Catch Creation? See this play and make a step in that direction
Written by Bill Esler
The dynamic clashes of three couples living parallel lives fuels Christina Anderson’s delightful new play, How to Catch Creation. With dialog that is fresh, arresting, and completely natural, Anderson captures and holds our attention throughout the 90-minute show. We quickly become invested in the characters, want to know how things…
Published in
Theatre in Review
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