Monthly Archives: March 2023
Truth is a lie; Lies Are Truth
Describe the Night
Fascinating, intriguing, gripping and often funny—these adjectives all appropriately describe Rajiv Joseph’s mesmerizing new drama, now playing in-the-round at Steppenwolf’s Ensemble Theater. The story is an intricately layered labyrinth of characters, locales and historical periods. Some of the people are real, while others are purely fictitious. The story, that bounces around through time and place, is sometimes humorous, frequently gripping and truly mind-boggling. Rajiv Joseph (the Pulitzer Prize-winning playwright of “Bengal Tiger at the Baghdad Zoo”) spins a story that illuminates the ethical enigma that is modern Russia.
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Life Lessons and Puppet Pornography
Avenue Q
This upbeat, lovable musical opens with an infectious, toe-tapping “Avenue Q Theme,” which kind of serves as a prologue. Then an optimistic 23-year-old named Princeton, newly graduated from college, wanders through the audience. He rhetorically asks the musical question, “What Do You Do With a BA in English?” Princeton’s already lined up his first job but he needs an affordable place to live in New York City. With limited funds, bills piling up and student loans to pay, Princeton has journeyed through Alphabet City, down to the less-expensive part of Greenwich Village. Princeton’s life lessons are about to begin on Avenue Q.
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You Won’t Be An Orphan For Long
Annie
Following three years of a pandemic shutdown in theatres all across American, Broadway in Chicago welcomes back this true family classic. Looking around the packed opening night audience, I had the distinct feeling that for many children and even some adults, this was their first time seeing “Annie.” Some of them may have listened to the Original Broadway Cast Album, or probably watched one of several film or television adaptations of the show. But there’s nothing quite like experiencing the most optimistic, rags-to-riches story performed live in an opulent theatre, like the Cadillac Palace.
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Fan the Fire
Reasons: A Tribute to Earth, Wind & Fire
It’s early Spring and a time for rejoicing! Black Ensemble Theater is back once again, after Covid stifled the continuous production of their heavenly, highly entertaining musicals. One type of show that Jackie Taylor’s wonderful company is particularly known for and does best are biographical musical revues, like this one. Created and directed by multitalented Producing Manager Director Daryl D. Brooks, BET is currently presenting this entertaining and enlightening true story about one of the best-known African-American rock groups to have its start in Chicago. “Reasons: A Tribute to Earth, Wind & Fire” is a flashy, fireworks of a production that’s filled with love and a legacy of popular songs that’ll take audiences back the more gentle time of their youth.
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No Such Thing As Hell?
The Christians
Today, do most people believe they’ll go to heaven as their reward for being good? Are they frightened of being sent to hell if they’ve been bad during their lives? What happens when the minister of an enormous and financially solvent megachurch suddenly declares in his Sunday message that there’s no such thing as hell? This is a controversial play comprised of all kinds of questions, but there are no answers are offered.
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Six Characters in Search of Happiness
You’re a Good Man, Charlie Brown
If there’s one sure thing in this world, it’s that the Marriott Lincolnshire Theatre really knows how to cast, direct and produce excellent, energetic and exciting productions for young audiences. While this isn’t the first time the Theatre has presented this 60-minute version of Clark Gesner’s delightfully infectious musical, it’s got to be one of their very best.
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Piddle, Twiddle, and Resolve
1776
Putting a new spin on an old classic is an admirable challenge for a director. This 2022 Broadway revival production, helmed by co-directors Jeffrey L. Page and Diane Paulus, with Page credited for the choreography, certainly gives this musical a fresh, contemporary look and sound. While basically staying true to the original, the production offers all kinds of novel changes and additions. The show opens with the entire cast slipping off their streetwear and into black buckle shoes (which line the front of the stage), rolling up the legs of their black trousers and white knee socks and finally adding Emilio Sosa’s colorful frock coats. But this is just the beginning of the two directors’ many modern touches, not the least of which is its inclusive casting.
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