Author: Colin Douglas
A Life of Comforting Traditions and Rituals
Birthday Candles
Dramatic literature is full of plays and musicals whose theme is life affirming. We’re advised to stop and smell the roses, to always appreciate that earth is too wonderful for anybody to realize and to realize that life is a banquet but most people are starving to death. In playwright Noah Haidle’s beautifully poetic new play, which opened on Broadway last year and starred Debra Messing, we follow the life of a woman named Ernestine. She lives in Michigan but longs for travel and adventure. In Northlight’s radiant production this character is in the hands of one of Chicago’s most gifted and popular actresses, Kate Fry. It’s a performance, indeed an entire production, that should definitely not be missed. It’s that exquisite.
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Don’t Feed the Plant!
Little Shop of Horrors
I naively thought that there wasn’t anyone, certainly any theatergoer in the area, who hadn’t seen this unusual, uniquely enjoyable play. However, as I listened to comments from my fellow audience members around me, I found I was wrong. Having seen this curious comic rock horror musical so many times that I know all the lines and lyrics, I found myself envying those who were experiencing this weirdly wonderful show for the first time, here at the Paramount Theatre.
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How Can Humans Do Better?
Cat’s Cradle
There aren’t enough expletives of praise in the English language to express the magnificence of this incredible, two-hour production of Kurt Vonnegut’s 1963 classic. The famed American writer, known for a large canon of stories (Welcome to the Monkey House), plays (Happy Birthday, Wanda June) and wryly satirical novels (including Slaughterhouse-Five and Breakfast of Champions), wove elements of science fiction and fantasy into his stories to highlight the horrors and ironies of living in the 20th century. All of his books, like Cat’s Cradle, are marked by a a fatalistic viewpoint while still embracing humanistic beliefs. In this play Vonnegut seems to be continually asking, “How can humans do better?”
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The Music of Johnny Cash
Ring of Fire
We have all experienced our own highs and lows throughout life. It’s safe to say that no one has sailed through the years without their share of sorrow and hardship, hopefully balanced by more joyful opportunities and happier times. The Man in Black, better known to his many fans as American Country-Western singer Johnny Cash, documented the ups and downs of life through his soulful music.
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The Four-Color Trilogy, Part Two
The Innocence of Seduction
Once, in the 21st century, there lived an ultra conservative, but arrogantly stupid man who possessed a modicum of power in the state he governed. However, this man longed for even more authority and strict control over his people—in fact, all his country’s people. He tried to become its leader. In attempting to win over the other unimaginative right-wingers, this narrow-minded man began a campaign to limit what could be taught in schools. But even worse than that, he began banning all the children’s books that didn’t meet his personal criteria and moral standards. Not only were hundreds of books removed from school curricula and libraries, they were often even burned.
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Everything’s Coming Up Rose
Gypsy
Arthur Laurents’ glorious Musical Fable is certainly one of the most entertaining and frequently produced shows in theatre history. While a fictionalized biography of famed stripper, Gypsy Rose Lee, this show is also a heartbreaking story about a mother fiercely determined to have her children achieve stardom, at any cost. It’s a bittersweet journey that travels from Vaudeville to Burlesque, filled with love, sacrifice, and the need to be noticed and accepted. Featuring a hit score by the great Jule Styne with lyrics by the inimitable Stephen Sondheim, this theatrical classic is both a thrilling treat and a timeless treasure.
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Trial and Error
Gay Card
Logan recently graduated from his Florida high school and is about to begin college. He recently came out as gay and, because being gay in 2023 is considered “awesome,” Logan is certain that he’s on the brink of experiencing four mind-blowing years of popularity. However, the young man mistakenly believes that his sexuality defines his identity. He thinks that being gay is truly who he is. Logan also knows that college is the time for trial and error and he’s eager and ready to try a lot of things, maybe make a few mistakes but ultimately become awesome, trendy and well-liked by everyone.
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A World Premier to Die For
Murder ReWrote
One of Chicago’s most multitalented young creatives, Ed Rutherford is likely known to many theatergoers as the Producing Artistic Director of eerie Black Button Eyes Productions. With a definite fascination for murder, mysteries and all things supernatural, Mr. Rutherford has penned many fascinating and often horrifying melodramas and musicals, including the Jeff nominated “Mary Rose” and the ghoulish “Nightmares & Nightcaps.” As a prolific director, Ed has guided such wonderfully frightening productions as “Coraline,” “Shockheaded Peter,” “Evil Dead, the Musical,” Dr. Horrible’s Sing-Along Blog,” and many others. Working together with the cleverly camp Hell in a Handbag Productions, Ed Rutherford has collaborated with Jeff Citation winner and prolific composer and lyricist, George Howe, to create this wild and witty parody of one of television’s most popular and long-running series.
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Where Did We Go Right?
The Producers
For 22 years this hilarious musical has been entertaining theatre audiences all around the world. Mel Brooks’ adaptation of his own classic 1967 comic film of the same name was advertised as featuring something to offend everyone. And the claim remains true, especially for more conservative theatergoer. It’s an unusual selling point, but then Mel Brooks’ brand of humor has always been based upon the unorthodox, often shocking his audience while making them laugh. One need only look at his other comic film classics, such as “Young Frankenstein” and “Blazing Saddles.”
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Thriller
MJ, the Musical
After years of delay, complications and Covid-caused theatre shutdowns, this long-awaited musical is finally making its splashy debut in Chicago. And, as indicated by the well-deserved standing ovations opening night, the show’s 2023 arrival was, indeed, well worth the wait! This infectious jukebox musical is an eye-popping, high-octane tribute to Michael Jackson, dubbed The King of Pop. He’s undeniably one of the greatest entertainers of all time, and this respectful testimonial to Jackson’s talent, generosity and commitment to perfection illuminates every one of his best qualities.
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