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
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
Wednesday, 30 January 2019 17:06
Evil Dead II: Live on Stage Like You've Never Seen It!
Written by Bill Esler
Droll, knowing, and surprisingly good, Evil Dead: The Musical, transforms the campy self-aware horror-comedy movie franchise into something wickedly fun. Even those who haven’t seen the Evil Dead movie series in awhile – or ever – will enjoy this show. It's laced with irony, just like the original, and doubling as a…
Published in
Theatre in Review
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Monday, 28 January 2019 20:43
No Small Task - 'The Magic Parlour' starring Dennis Watkins hits major milestone
Written by Ken Payne
January 25th is now Palmer House, A Hilton Hotel and Magic Parlour Day in Chicago as so declared by Mayor Rahm Emanuel in a statement last week. The day is named so for good reason. An idea that took shape in 2011 has now become one of Chicago’s great attractions…
Published in
Theatre in Review
Sunday, 27 January 2019 10:07
Baby, you can't go wrong - 'Million Dollar Quartet' at Marriott Theatre
Written by Kimberly Katz
Just imagine if you could be a fly on the wall during that infamous night when four legendary stars of rock and roll - Elvis Presley, Carl Perkins, Johnny Cash and Jerry Lee Lewis got together for one epic night at Sun Studios. That historic meeting had the young stars…
Published in
Theatre in Review
Sunday, 27 January 2019 23:55
Scientist Rosalind Franklin Finally Gets Credit for DNA Research Role in Photograph 51
Written by Bill Esler
Walking in as curtain time neared for Photograph 51, the towering set took my breath away: a backdrop nearly three-stories tall, built of a latticework of delicately framed, vertical windowpanes with spiral staircases swirling down at each end, to meet a floor of foot-square hexagonal tiles. Heavy quarter-sawn oak laboratory…
Published in
Theatre in Review
Monday, 21 January 2019 17:56
Review: 'The Realistic Joneses' at Theater Wit
Written by John Accrocco
Sometimes we see couples in restaurants and think how on earth did they ever end up together? Sadly, the couple in question might be feeling the same way. Is it the idea of settling or just assumed gender roles that lead so many married couples to this place? Will Eno’s…
Published in
Theatre in Review
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