Displaying items by tag: Final Production
Mary-Arrchie's American Buffalo A Fitting Sendoff
After thirty years of bringing Chicagoans some of the city’s finest theatre, Mary-Arrchie will be closing their doors after its current and final production, American Buffalo. In this sharply written piece by David Mamet, Mary-Arrchie co-founder and jack of all trades Richard Cotovsky is joined by Stephen Walker and Rudy Galvan, creating a strong cast fully capable of pulling off such a dynamically written script. And that’s exactly what they do.
Taking place in a rundown resale shop, owner Don (Cotovsky) along with his young hired help and “go-fer” Bobby (Galvan) have hatched a scheme to burglarize a nearby residence in the hopes of stealing a valuable coin collection. But when Don’s longtime pal Teach (Stephen Walker) gets wind of the “thing” he pushes to replace the kid with himself, a man of more experience. Everything happens in a single day as the three small time crook wannabees run through a gamut of emotions with each other in trying to get on the same page. Teach is pushy and talks the big talk but clearly has little experience while Don is more laid back and subdued, often influenced by Teach’s strong presence and facade of confidence. Slow-witted Bobby just wants in for some quick bankroll – or maybe just wants to be a part of something. As the plan progresses it snowballs back and forth until its inevitable unraveling – and the journey is nothing short of hilarious.
When entering the theatre, we are met with what appears to be an authentic resale shop. “Don’s Resale Shop” is printed backwards on the large picture window so as to face correctly for those to read on the outside. Worn shelves are filled with dented gas cans, ratty knickknacks, old toys and assorted vintage items. Power chords hang from the wall with other random merchandise for sale behind a battered counter that supports an antique cash register. Quickly immersed in the set’s genuineness, one really gets the feeling they are inside a dingy thrift store that could be located on any given Chicago street.
Richly directed by Carlo Lorenzo Garcia, Mary-Arrchie’s American Buffalo offers incredibly talented performances, generally a given with this veteran theatre company. Delivering Mamet’s cutting and quick-fire dialogue with the true essence of how it was intended, Walker knock’s the role of Teach out of the park. Whether generating laughs with the simplest use of body language, convincingly overusing repetitive hood lingo or completely erupting like Mount Saint Helen, Walker rolls up his sleeves and puts forth a gutsy, no-holds barred performance that should long be remembered. All the while, Walker successfully displays his character’s vulnerability beneath the blanket of false self-assurance, making Teach believable, creating someone with whom we can really emphasize. Within moments of Walker’s first appearance where he loses his cool and takes out his frustrations out on a beat up refrigerator over something pretty insignificant, it is apparent we are about to take a pretty bumpy ride.
Cotovsky, the seasoned pro that he is, also provides an outstanding performance going toe-to-toe with Walker on many heated, sometimes humorously nonsensical and profoundly funny dialogue exchanges. The two pair together like butter on toast, getting a nice occasional boost from Galvan who contributes many of his own well-timed lines. Like a freight train taking off, the production gets stronger and stronger as it progresses. The more we get to know the characters the more we can’t help but take a liking to each of them, regardless of the fact that they are small-time crooks bent on pulling off a caper that comically unstitches more and more the closer the job gets.
Mary-Arrchie is going out on a high note with this must-see presentation of American Buffalo. The prestigious Chicago theatre company will certainly be missed and we can only hope to continue to see its talented players in future productions around the city. Jeff Award winner, Chicago theatre staple and all-around talent Richard Cotovsky was recently given the honor of having an Honorary Way dedicated in his name that can be seen at the theatre’s intersection of Sheridan and Broadway. An honor well deserved.
American Buffalo is playing at Angel Island (735 W. Sheridan) through March 6th. Honest, funny and thoroughly absorbing, it is with strong recommendation that I urge theatre lovers to catch this final production from this talented company in their apropos farewell. For tickets and/or more show information visit www.maryarrchie.com or call 773-871-0442.
Goodman’s Iceboy! Is a Full‑Tilt Blast of Comic Mayhem
30 June 2026 in Theatre in ReviewGoodman Theatre’s Iceboy! arrives as a gleefully off the rails musical that blends Broadway glamour, Neanderthal chaos, and theatrical myth…
All The World's a Stage and Chicago Merely The Best Player: 'As You Like It' in Chicago Parks this summer
30 June 2026 in Theatre in ReviewIs there anything more alluring than a summer night in Chicago? The lakefront beaches, the meandering pathways, the festivals and…
Opera Festival of Chicago Delivers an Assured, Full‑Hearted La Bohème
28 June 2026 in Theatre in ReviewOpera Festival of Chicago continues its season with two mainstage productions - La Bohème and Adriana Lecouvreur - each featuring…
A Quietly Ravishing Night: Marriott’s A Little Night Music
26 June 2026 in Theatre in ReviewMarriott Theatre’s in‑the‑round intimacy turns A Little Night Music - which premiered on Broadway in 1973 and later became a 1977…
GDC's Full 64th Season: "untamed passion:" Features New Works, New Voices and More
26 June 2026 in Upcoming DanceGiordano Dance Chicago (GDC), America's original jazz dance company, has announced its 2026-2027 "untamed passion" season. Highlights of the season include a November…
The Art of Awe: Water for Elephants Balances Spectacle and Soul
25 June 2026 in Theatre in ReviewThe musical Water for Elephants, presented by Broadway In Chicago and based on Sara Gruen’s 2006 novel, is the rare touring…
Overshadowed Theatrical Productions Announces 2026-2027 Season: “Ordinary People, Extraordinary Moments”
23 June 2026 in Upcoming TheatreOvershadowed Theatrical Productions announced their 2026-2027 season entitled “Ordinary People, Extraordinary Moments,” which includes five main stage productions and special…
Kokandy Productions presents SUNDAY IN THE PARK WITH GEORGE at Chopin Theatre August 13 – November 1, 2026
23 June 2026 in Upcoming TheatreKokandy Productions is pleased to announce full casting for its revival of Stephen Sondheim's stunning masterpiece Sunday in the Park with George, playing August 13 –…
Goodman Theatre’s Summer: Musicals, Park Performances & New Voices
23 June 2026 in Upcoming TheatreGoodman's Centennial 25/26 Season concludes on a high note, with programming for all ages, interests and neighborhoods. The theater announces…
Astonrep Approaches Uncle Vanya’s Appeal from a Novel New Angle
21 June 2026 in Theatre in ReviewAnton Chekhov, a Russian playwright who was also a doctor, can claim a level of regard few writers achieve and…
Couch Penny Ensemble’s An Oak Tree: A Raw, Unrehearsed Descent Into Grief
21 June 2026 in Theatre in ReviewCouch Penny Ensemble, in association with Theatre Arcana, presents the ambitious and experimental An Oak Tree, a raw, unconventional approach…
A People: A Sweeping, Soul‑Stirring Journey That Celebrates Jewish Identity
21 June 2026 in Theatre in ReviewAn extraordinary eight-person ensemble fuels the sweeping storytelling of A People - a production presented collaboratively by Arts Judaica and…
Lookingglass' Untitled Vampire Play has bite
19 June 2026 in Theatre in ReviewLookingglass Theatre Company continues its tradition of staging visually inventive and thought-provoking world premieres with its latest production, Untitled Vampire…
Tom Stoppard’s epic finale Leopoldstadt is an instant classic at Writers Theatre
19 June 2026 in Theatre in ReviewWhat would you do if you found out your heritage wasn’t what you thought it was? In Tom Stoppard’s case,…
Champions of Magic Captures the Thrill of Live Performance
18 June 2026 in Theatre in ReviewOne of the things I have always thought that concerts and other live events had over theatre is the energy…
Nunsense, Not Quite Immaculate - But Blessed With a Strong Cast
18 June 2026 in Theatre in ReviewFollowing its recent winter production of Sister Act, Drury Lane Theatre returns to the convent with Nunsense, a light-hearted musical…
League of Chicago Theatres welcomes Summer with the return of "Thank You 5," Juneteenth and Pride Month
17 June 2026 in Theatre BuzzThe League of Chicago Theatres announces the return of the "Thank You 5" summer promotion, running from June 18-July 3, 2026. "Thank You 5"…
Cedric the Entertainer brings laughter, life lessons to Aurora’s Paramount Theatre, one-night-only, Saturday, August 8
17 June 2026 in Upcoming TheatreYou know him from “The Neighborhood,” “The Last O.G.,” “The Proud Family” and much more. Don’t miss your chance to…
Northlight Theatre to celebrate its new home in Evanston with a Grand Opening Gala "Celebrating our Past, Building our Future" Saturday, August 15, 2026
16 June 2026 in Theatre BuzzNorthlight Theatre's Board of Directors proudly presents Northlight Theatre's Grand Opening Gala, "Celebrating our Past, Building our Future," marking the culmination of the company's 50th Anniversary…
A Red Orchid Theatre Announces Remount of Hit Production BIRDS OF NORTH AMERICA September 10 – October 4, 2026
16 June 2026 in Upcoming TheatreA Red Orchid Theatre is thrilled to announce a remount of its critically-acclaimed, father-daughter drama Birds of North America, returning for a limited…
Raven Theatre's *OCTET* Makes Downtown Debut at The Goodman
16 June 2026 in Upcoming TheatreFollowing an acclaimed extended run at Raven Theatre, Dave Malloy's "unique, ravishing and resplendent" (Chicago Theatre Review) a cappella musical Octet transfers to…
Funny, Incisive 'Southern Rapture' Skewers All Parties in 'Angels in America' Fracas
15 June 2026 in Theatre in Review“Southern Rapture” quickly elicits loud guffaws from the audience, a heartening circumstancve, as it means playwright Eric Coble’s script is…
Stephen Sondheim's A Little Night Music - Marriott Theatre - Through August 9th
15 June 2026 in Now PlayingMarriott Theatre, Chicagoland's longest-running musical theatre, presents A Little Night Music, a Tony Award-winning musical from Stephen Sondheim and Hugh Wheeler that explores…
Where Identity Slides: Steppenwolf’s Mesmerizing Catch as Catch Can
15 June 2026 in Theatre in ReviewMia Chung’s Catch as Catch Can, which premiered with Page 73 in New York in 2018, arrives at Steppenwolf Theatre…
PlayMakers Laboratory Celebrates That's Weird, Grandma's 25th Birthday August 23 – September 6, 2026
14 June 2026 in Upcoming TheatreJoin the fun this summer as PlayMakers Laboratory (PML) celebrates a major milestone at That's Weird, Grandma's 25th Birthday, marking a quarter century of the…
Bargatze’s Big Dumb Eyes Tour Lands in Rosemont With Subtle Force
13 June 2026 in Theatre in ReviewNate Bargatze’s Big Dumb Eyes tour made its stop at the Allstate Arena in Rosemont with the steady, understated presence…
BrightSide’s intimate staging of The Producers shines with Broadway-sized power
13 June 2026 in Theatre in ReviewBrightSide Theatre’s The Producers storms into Meiley Swallow Hall with the kind of swagger only Mel Brooks can inspire: brash,…
Factory Theater’s Two Out of Three Falls is a Theatrical Event
13 June 2026 in Theatre in ReviewThose familiar with the Factory Theater space might feel themselves do a double take upon entering the theater for Two…
Fleetwood-Jourdain Theatre presents IN THE CONTINUUM, playing July 25 - August 9
12 June 2026 in Upcoming TheatreTim Rhoze, Fleetwood-Jourdain's Producing Artistic Director, today announced the cast and production team for the company's upcoming production of IN THE…
Magic Pairs with Artistic Expressions of Empathy in EAM’s Summer Art Exhibitions
11 June 2026 in BCS SpotlightElmhurst Art Museum’s two new exhibitions feature a pair of artists with Midwestern roots whose outlooks and perceptions of the…
Latest Articles
-
Goodman’s Iceboy! Is a Full‑Tilt Blast of Comic Mayhem
Written by Ken PayneGoodman Theatre’s Iceboy! arrives as a gleefully off the rails musical that blends Broadway glamour, Neanderthal chaos, and theatrical myth making into one of the most delightfully strange premises to hit Chicago in years. It’s a satire, a love letter… -
All The World's a Stage and Chicago Merely The Best Player: 'As You Like It' in Chicago Parks this summer
Written by Kendall RoyzenIs there anything more alluring than a summer night in Chicago? The lakefront beaches, the meandering pathways, the festivals and street foods, the hidden gardens where free art productions are staged, whatever you like, you can find it in the… -
Opera Festival of Chicago Delivers an Assured, Full‑Hearted La Bohème
Written by Kimberly KatzOpera Festival of Chicago continues its season with two mainstage productions - La Bohème and Adriana Lecouvreur - each featuring the Opera Festival of Chicago Orchestra and Chorus and performed at the George Van Dusen Theatre at the North Shore… -
A Quietly Ravishing Night: Marriott’s A Little Night Music
Written by Kimberly KatzMarriott Theatre’s in‑the‑round intimacy turns A Little Night Music - which premiered on Broadway in 1973 and later became a 1977 film - into a quietly seductive swirl of glances, secrets, and second chances, the kind of production where the waltz…
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.