Monthly Archives: February 2025
Any Dream Will Do
Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat
Wow! If you think you know this delicious, delightful, family friendly musical, you’re in for a wonderful surprise. I am continually impressed with Amber Mak’s creative genius. With each show, Amber always surprises theatergoers with her remarkably fresh, new and imaginative interpretation. This gifted Director/Choreographer never fails to find an exciting and novel way to present a familiar musical that we think we already know. Which brings me to Amber Mak’s unique vision for Andrew Lloyd Webber’s popular, family friendly musical comedy.
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Crazy Town
A Lie of the Mind
In 1985 when Sam Shepard’s drama was first staged Off-Broadway, audiences saw it as part of the American Mythology. It was considered the closing chapter of the playwright’s “Family Saga,” which includes CURSE OF THE STARVING CLASS, BURIED CHILD, TRUE WEST and FOOL FOR LOVE. These intriguing, shorter and unarguably kinky plays by Sam Shepard are still being produced many years later, because they still have something to say to contemporary audiences. But A LIE OF THE MIND, which runs short of three hours, now feels simply like a lengthy journey to Crazy Town.
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I Sing the Body Electric
I and You
Of all the students in his class, Anthony decided to choose Caroline to be his study partner. Together they’re supposed to work together to create some kind of multimedia project based upon Leaves of Grass, by American poet Walt Whitman. So Anthony unexpectedly arrives at Caroline’s house with his backpack of research and a dogeared copy of the literary classic. The high school student has read up on Whitman’s life and finds his lengthy series of poems inspiring, universal and something that speaks to him. He’s sure that Caroline will also understand poems like “I Sing the Body Electric” and feel the same way about the poet, although Anthony’s never actually met her. You see, Caroline has been out of school for a long time because she’s very ill.
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Bob Marley’s Three Little Birds
One Love, One Heart
Bob Marley was one of Jamaica’s most talented and famous singer/songwriters. Of his many much loved songs, “Three Little Birds” is his most popular hit. It’s a cheery and optimistic reggae tune that’s familiar to almost everyone. The song is about three tiny feathered fowl who sit on the vocalist’s windowsill, singing brightly to lift his spirits. The song is often mistakenly thought to be titled “Don’t worry about a thing” or “Every little thing is gonna be alright,” because that refrain is heard so often.
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As Sweet As Pie
Waitress
One of the jewels of the 2016 Broadway season, this beautifully uplifting and cathartic musical is as sweet as pie. It’s adapted from the popular 2007 film that starred Keri Russell. What makes this show especially enjoyable is the resplendent, often poetic lyrics and music by Sara Bareilles. Her score is unusually beautiful and haunting, sometimes even humorous. The songs frequently touch hidden emotions that have been buried deep inside. The late Adrienne Shelly’s film screenplay has been faithfully adapted for the stage by Jessie Nelson and makes each character especially unique and memorable.
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As Timely As Today
One Party Consent
You know how when you attend a show—any show, these days—it has become obligatory to give the cast a standing ovation? It’s annoying because every theatergoer is forced to rise and applaud when, perhaps, there were aspects of the production that you didn’t feel merited such a stellar response. But I’m here to tell you that every single element of First Floor Theater’s latest production deserves this kind of praise. Omer Abbas Salem’s brilliant ONE PARTY CONSENT is, not only electrifying, but as and timely as today.
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A Drop Dead Comedy
Clue: Live on Stage!
“I tell you, the murder was committed by Miss Scarlet (or Mrs. Peacock, Mrs. White, Colonel Mustard, Professor Plum or Mr. Green); and it took place in the Ballroom (or the Conservatory, the Kitchen, the Hall, the Billiard Room, the Dining Room, the Library, the Lounge or the Study); and the weapon used was the candlestick (or the lead pipe, the revolver, the rope, the dagger or the wrench).”
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Looking Back in Angst
Betrayal
What exactly is Betrayal? The dictionary defines it as violating the trust or confidence of someone. American psychologist John Gottman describes it as “a noxious invader” that undermines stable romances and lies at the heart of every failing relationship. As seen in Harold Pinter’s semi-autobiographical one-act, in which the Nobel Prize-winning playwright is looking back at his own life in angst, sees betrayal to include sexual infidelity, commitment, deception, lying, selfishness and breaking promises.
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Tilting at Windmills
Circus Quixote
Lookingglass, one of Chicago’s finest and, probably, the most inventive and creative theatre company in the Windy City, has finally returned. After a pause in operations in 2023 to reorganize and create a new business model, the company is thankfully back and better than ever. The venue also sports a sparkling new look inside the Water Tower Pumping Station. The Theatre now features a spacious, newly reimagined lobby that offers plenty of seating and a variety of coffee and potent potables for purchase. But, best of all, Lookingglass Theatre Company is continuing to produce exciting, inventive and stimulating entertainment. And for its premiere production, the company reopens with CIRCUS QUIXOTE, a show in the style of one of their most popular shows of the past years, LOOKINGGLASS ALICE.
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An Autobiographical Drama
The Cave
Sadieh Rafai’s autobiographical drama is laced with humor and plenty of moments from real life. The thing that makes this play so unique is that Rafai depicts a family story about told through the eyes of a young Palestinian-American teenaged girl. Dema, played with extraordinary depth and understanding by Aaliyah Montana, has a lot to cope with, not the least of which is simply surviving puberty.
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