Author: Colin Douglas
A Holiday Extravaganza With Heart
A Christmas Carol – Goodman Theatre
Can anyone believe that this is the 42nd production of a wonderful show that’s become a Goodman Theatre holiday tradition? And this story is, after all, what Christmas is all about. Chicagoans are so fortunate to have Mr. Scrooge back for another holiday season. This production is the Grandaddy of all holiday stories, and what every other presentation of “A Christmas Carol” aspires to be. And, as always, it is sensational! It’s eloquent, heartwarming and a feast for the eye, ear and soul. The themes from Charles Dickens’ novella, and the lesson he imparts, aren’t diluted by raucous musical numbers, cartoonish elfin characters or dancing turkey boys. This is the ultimate production of a beloved story, and it would certainly have made the Victorian author proud.
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An Angel Gets His Wings
It’s a Wonderful Life: Live in Chicago! – American Blues Theatre
What’s undoubtedly the most popular, best-loved holiday movie of all time? Well, here’s a hint: The name George Bailey has become synonymous with Christmas since Frank Capra’s holiday classic first began airing on television during the 1980’s. Based upon “The Greatest Gift,” a short story privately published in 1945 by Philip Van Doren Stern, this captivating tale of a man who sacrifices all of his own dreams to help his family and friends has now become a timeless classic. Most audiences will be familiar with the 1946 b&w film, which is just about as perfect as anyone can expect, but American Blue Theater’s version takes this classic one step further, especially in this polished, eighteenth anniversary remounting.
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A Tale as Old as Time
Disney’s Beauty and the Beast – Paramount Theatre
Alex, I’ll take Disney on Stage for $200.The answer is, “This was the very first Disney animated feature film to transfer to the stage.”The correct question is, “What is ‘Beauty and the Beast’?”
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Practically Perfect in Every Way
Mary Poppins – Drury Lane
Since the first National Tour played in Chicago, the Windy City has enjoyed a number of productions of Disney and Cameron Mackintosh’s “Mary Poppins.” Each one has been unique, exceptional and magical in its own way. Now Drury Lane Theatre is presenting another one-of-a-kind production of this theatrical “Spoonful of Sugar,” a show that’s become a classic suitable for the entire family and an absolute treat that’s “Practically Perfect” in every way.
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How Great Thou Art
Always… Patsy Cline – Firebrand Theatre
It’s hard to believe that this is the third season for Firebrand Theatre, the self-professed “first musical theatre company committed to employing and empowering women, by expanding opportunities on and off the stage.” In this company’s admirable mission to reimagine the classics, while also producing unknown or forgotten jewels of the theatre, Firebrand is also commissioning exciting, new works to premiere in Chicago.
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A South African Musical Myth
Lindiwe – Steppenwolf Theatre
Ever since Paul Simon’s much loved and greatly lauded “Graceland,” a record album, released in 1986, the South African musical group, Ladysmith Black Mambazo has been enjoyed by thousands of fans. Their velvety harmonics, gentle rhythmic choreography and a cappella performances are, ironically, both stimulating and soothing to the ear. The group has recorded over seventy albums and has earned five Grammy Awards. Called “South Africa’s Ambassadors to the World” by Nelson Mandela, this wonderful group of nine singers have a gorgeous sound that’s unmistakable.
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A Rediscovered Dramatic Gem
Rutherford and Son – TimeLine Theatre
Male chauvinism isn’t a new attitude. It has, unfortunately, been around everywhere for centuries. And still, despite a great deal of resistance and all manner of women’s movements and protestations, it’s still with us. Examples of male dominance are prevalent in the literary world, especially when it was revealed that, in the past, most female authors were forced to write under a male pseudonym in order to have their works published. Even when a woman managed to publish her writing under her own name, it was often dismissed and not taken seriously.
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Upstairs/Downstairs
The Wickhams: Christmas at Pemberley – Northlight Theatre
Some may call this delightful, new holiday period play, co-written by Lauren Gunderson and Margot Melcon, a sequel to their popular “Miss Bennet: Christmas at Pemberley,” a wonderful, lighthearted holiday comic-drama that premiered at Northlight Theatre during their 2016-17 season. But it’s not really. It’s more of a companion piece, much in the same vein as Alan Ayckbourn’s trilogy, “The Norman Conquests.” Both depict the same main characters over the course of a couple of days, with each play set in a different part of the house. Like Ayckbourn’s trio of plays, Gunderson and Melcon’s two installments about the Bennets, inspired by Jane Austen’s romantic Regency Era classic, take place during the very same Christmas holiday.
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A Modern Twist on a Holiday Classic
The Nutcracker – The House Theatre
Ten years have passed since The House Theatre of Chicago first presented their original, contemporary version of E. T. A. Hoffman’s classic story, “The Nutcracker and the Mouse King.” Whenever theatergoers hear that iconic title, forever associated with Christmas, they envision fairies and a toy that comes to life to bravely battle a Mouse King to rescue a little girl named Clara. They imagine a dazzling spectacle, a lavishly-produced ballet, featuring dozens of lithe, magnificently skilled dancers. They picture lush, imaginative costumes and a story set in a magical fantasyland of snowflakes and flowers.
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Conversation and Combat
The Niceties – Writers Theatre
As the lights rise on an office at an upscale, Ivy League university, we discover junior college student Zoe Reed, a smart, articulate African-American student, in the middle of a conversation with her history instructor, Professor Janine Bosko. The appointment appears to be going affably enough, as Ms. Bosko takes a fine comb to her student’s research paper. She humorously points out that Zoe has left a comma out of a sentence, but then continues to pick apart and denigrate most of her student’s work. The kindly conversation gradually turns combative, as an abundance of less than politically correct phrases innocently tumble from Janine’s mouth. Soon a war of words and ideas breaks out between student and teacher, further fueled by the fact that Ms. Bosko is an entitled, Caucasian Baby Boomer and Ms. Reed is a proud, African-American Millennial.
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