The Importance of Being Kind

Mean Girls

Currently, there are two beautifully produced musicals playing in the Chicagoland area that remind theatergoers of the importance of being kind to everyone around us. One is the beautiful COME FROM AWAY, now playing at the Marriott Theater in Lincolnshire; the other is Paramount’s season opener, the current captivating and colorful production of MEAN GIRLS. At present, despite what most Conservatives claim, that Christian attitude is often lacking in our country. Now, more than ever, we need to remember and practice the Golden Rule and treat others the way we would like to be treated. “Mean may be easier than nice, but at what cost?” asks Devon Hayakawa, the talented director of Paramount’s dazzling production of MEAN GIRLS. And this is the theme of at least two musicals worth visiting this Fall.

Welcome to the Rock!

Come From Away

This is going to sound really weird, but I want to sign up to kiss the cod, so I can become an Islander! I assure you this won’t seem like a strange activity after you’ve seen this extraordinary, exhilarating and life-affirming musical, now playing at the Marriott Theatre in Lincolnshire. First of all, this musical is not, as many have labeled it, about the tragedy of 9/11. That horrendous event of 25 years ago serves to inspire the plot of the show. But the musical isn’t about the terrorist attack. COME FROM AWAY is a positive, uplifting, brilliantly written and professionally performed musical with a great score that’s set up by the appalling events of that day. COME FROM AWAY is a moving, cathartic experience about the triumph of humanity over hatred. It’s an exhilarating, joyful, often funny and sometimes heartbreaking story that celebrates the good that lives within each of us. It shows what happens when people put aside their fears, prejudices and hostility to embrace all that it means to be human. Welcome to the Rock!

A Flaming Good Time

Joan Crawford Goes to Hell

In continued celebration of their 25th year of creative and hilarious parodies and productions, a company that often features drag performances and LGBT+ storylines in their plays and musicals, Chicago is being treated to a revival a fan favorite from 1999. Jeff Award-winner David Cerda, the founding member and Artistic Director of Hell in a Handbag Productions, wrote and stars in JOAN CRAWFORD GOES TO HELL, a funny, festive and far-out comedy that offers theatergoers an absolute flaming good time.

Art Isn’t Easy

Sunday in the Park With George

“Art isn’t easy.” This simple statement of the obvious is the lyric from Stephen Sondheim/James Lapine’s multi award-winning score that best crystalizes the essence of their 1985 Pulitzer Prize-winning musical. For the theatergoer unfamiliar with this magnificent musical, the show fictionalizes the life of French artist, Georges Seurat. It was inspired by the artist’s towering, Neo-Impressionistic masterpiece, A Sunday Afternoon on the Island of La Grande Jatte, which, by the way, hangs in the Chicago Art Institute. Indeed, the unique musical focuses primarily on Seurat’s greatest creation. The painting is a prime example of his theory of art, which he called pointillism. In this style of painting, Seurat speckled the canvas with dots of pure color to form an image, relying on the eye of the viewer to optically blend the colors from a distance. The show also examines the painter’s isolated life and his singleminded dedication to his art, as well as its effect on those around him.

Oh Boy!

Buddy: The Buddy Holly Story

Being on tour is never easy for the performers. After traveling through the brutal Midwestern winter weather by tour bus, a vehicle plagued with faulty heating, 1950’s singing sensation Buddy Holly decided to charter a small, four-seater airplane for the stars of the tour. Following their sold-out performance of the Winter Dance Tour, in Clear Lake, Iowa, their next destination was to be Moorhead, Minnesota. But they never made it there. The small plane crashed in a cornfield, tragically killing the pilot, along with pop singers J.P. “The Big Bopper” Richardson, Ritchie Valens and Buddy Holly. The date was February 3, 1959 is remembered today as “The day the music died.”

For younger audiences, and especially those theatergoers not quite so young, audiences who enjoy a good jukebox musical, BUDDY: THE BUDDY HOLLY STORY may be the perfect show. The story traces the roots of an important and beloved American guitarist, singer and songwriter, as well as a true pioneer of rock ’n’ roll. Staged and guided with sparkle, spirit and plenty of soul by Matthew D. Carney, Drury Lane’s multitalented, newly appointed, artistic director, this musical is an excellent indication of good things to come.

The production is a slick, stylish, yet sincerely heartfelt depiction of the American Dream, complete with a wholesome love interest. Maria Elena Santiago, Buddy Holly’s girlfriend and eventual wife, is sweetly played by Samantha Sayah. The show dramatizes the meteoric musical rise to fame of a young Texas high school kid, from his early beginnings in country/western music, to become one of the early kings of pop and rock. The show is overflowing with more than 25 familiar country, rock-a-billy and rock ‘n’ roll classics. In addition to enjoying all the wonderful music, theatergoers will learn a little about the beginnings of rock music and the recording industry, not to mention the true story of young Buddy Holly during the last two years of his short life.

This two-act musical was written by Alan James. The show opened in London’s West End back in 1989, where it ran for over twelve years. Then the musical went on tour in the UK, eventually transferring to Broadway. The New York production also resulted in a number of National US Tours and regional productions, as well. In addition to being lovingly directed by Matthew D. Carney, this second production of the show at Drury Lane has been cleverly choreographed by Kenneth E. Ingram, with topnotch musical direction by Chuck Mead. Rachel Boylan’s authentic period costumes bring back memories of the Fabulous ’50s and Lauren M. Nichol’s fluid and colorful scenic design, nicely lighted by Lee Fiskness, seamlessly takes theatergoers from Lubbock, Texas to Nashville, Tennessee, to The Apollo Theatre in Harlem, New York and finally to the Surf Ballroom in Clearlake, Iowa for Buddy Holly’s final concert.

This musical journey will especially evoke fond memories for the baby boomers in the audience. Hearing these oldies-but-goodies sung and played as they were written will bring back a kinder, gentler era. But the musical will also introduce audiences to a few of Holly’s contemporaries. Most notable are the Crickets, Holly’s talented backup singer/instrumentalists. They include bass player Grant Alexander Brown, percussionist Alek Boggio and the group’s pianist is, again, played by lovely Samantha Sayah. The Apollo Theatre Emcee and singers are energetically portrayed by the terrifically talented Eric A. Lewis and Marta Bady, who bring down the house with a rousing rendition of “Shout!” Russell Mernagh delights in a number of smaller roles, but really shines with his spot on impersonation of The Big Bopper singing “Chantilly Lace.” And Elliot Coe Esquivel makes a vibrating virtuoso, filled with Latino energy, as Ritchie Valens, leading the audience in a toe-tapping, “La Bamba.”

But this show deservedly belongs to gifted Joey Chelius, as Buddy Holly. He doesn’t look exactly like Holly, except for the young musician’s signature glasses, but he sure sounds like the iconic singer. Joey’s portrayal is charismatic, charming and confident. The character begins the musical as a sweet, amiable and innocent newcomer; but as we watch Buddy Holly gradually develop into a musical star, we soon see a shrewd businessman, with the savvy to handle music managers, disc jockeys and recording studio technicians. And did I mention that Mr. Chelius can really sing! Not only that, but the young actor impressively accompanies himself on the guitar, as well. In fact all of the music in this joyful show is provided live on stage by the cast, but you’d swear you were seeing and hearing vintage films of these famous rock ‘n’ roll headliners.

It’s absolutely guaranteed that audiences will leave the Drury Lane Theatre humming some of their old favorites from this musical, like “Peggy Sue,” “That’ll Be the Day,” “Why Do Fools Fall in Love,” “Maybe Baby,” “Everyday” and “Johnny B. Goode.” But if you don’t suddenly feel like slipping into your poodle skirt, or slicking your hair back and donning your blue suede shoes, and then singing and dancing up a storm, “Oh Boy!” You just might want to have someone check your pulse.

Highly Recommended

Reviewed by Colin Douglas

Present August 19-October 18 by Drury Lane Theatre, 100 Drury Lane, Oakbrook Terrace, IL.

Tickets are available in person at the Drury Lane box office, by calling 630-530-0111 or by going to www.DruryLaneTheatre.com.

Additional information about this and other area shows may be found at www.theatreinchicago.com.

Photos by Kyle Flubacker

Smells Like Teen Spirit

Adolescent Salvation

Theatergoers will enter the venue by walking through a closet filled with clothing from over the years. Then the audience walks into Natasha’s bedroom, a shy, lonely 15-year-old teenager. The space is dominated by a bed, but it’s also chock-full of other furniture and an accumulation of personal affects. The setting seems to say, “This place smells like teen spirit,” to quote the popular song by American rock band, Nirvana. The room nicely prepares the audience for a drama that, like Cobain’s lyrics, sports more than a few contradictory ideas. Tim Venable’s powerful play focuses on some young characters whose secrets are revealed reluctantly and sometimes incoherently. But, that’s often true with teenagers.  

The Grease Parody

Vape!

One of the most popular of all the American musical classics is Jim Jacobs’ and Warren Casey’s much-enjoyed, much-produced, tuneful and nostalgic satire of Chicago high school life during the 1950’s. And unless you’ve been living under a rock you know that the musical was adapted in 1978 into the highest grossing movie musical of all time. It starred Aussie actress and pop star, Olivia Newton-John, and “Saturday Night Fever” favorite actor/singer/dancer, John Travolta. So, in addition to becoming an international staple for both amateur and professional theatre groups alike, the film has gone down in history as an international favorite flick.

What It Means to Be Human

Sisters

Much like this Theatre’s recent production of  LEOPOLDSTADT, Writers’ production of SISTERS is also an epic drama. Both plays span several decades, but Matthew Libby’s 90-minute one-act focuses on only two characters, whereas Tom Stoppard’s drama featured an extended family. However, like LEOPOLDSTADT, SISTERS also explores what it means to be human and the power and limitations of memory. 

Worthy of a Standing Ovation

West Side Story

Music Theater Works’ production of an American musical classic may be their finest show to date. Director Sasha Gerritson (CAROUSEL, WHITE CHRISTMAS, BRIGADOON at MTW) has beautifully staged and guided WEST SIDE STORY. The production features a truly talented cast of absolutely astounding singers with powerful acting skills and unbelievable dancing prowess. This production definitely gives the audience their money’s worth. Fans who know this show by heart and have seen it dozens of times (or even appeared in it, like yours truly), definitely won’t be disappointed. And for those lucky patrons who are discovering this American classic for the first time, such as the woman sitting next to me, Music Theater Works’ latest production is, without a doubt, well worthy of the standing ovation it receives.

Powerful and Thought-Provoking

Anatomy of a Suicide

I must confess that I wasn’t prepared to like this play, let alone love it. But I was amazed. In this superb production, the many characters, as well as the play’s powerful and thought-provoking messages these actors convey, will seep into the theatergoer’s very bones. The horrible ramifications of trauma and suicide within one family will haunt each audience member and live in their memory for days to come.