Author: Colin Douglas
A Dickens of a Great Production
Oliver – Marriott Theatre
Filling the Marriott Lincolnshire stage with the largest cast ever assembled at that venue, more than 35 talented triple-threats, from children to adults, entertain, amaze and bring down the house with an entertaining musical classic and a lesson about love. Nick Bowling’s much-welcome production of Lionel Bart’s adaptation of Charles Dickens’ classic, Oliver Twist, is dark, often tragic but also filled with surprising moments of comedy and glorious music. Mr. Bowling, who’s one of Chicago’s premiere directors, has fashioned a true family-friendly production for the holidays that has so much more to offer than just a large cast.
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A Contemporary Take
Romeo and Juliet – Chicago Shakespeare Theatre
In a cleverly orchestrated, lightning-paced production of the Bard’s most popular love story, Chicago Shakespeare Theatre not only sometimes involves the audience in its production but it has updated the play, setting it in the near future during the upcoming hot Summer of 2020. The look and sound of this production is a more contemporary take on the familiar tragedy about two feuding families. In this version, the death of the two star-crossed lovers, whose untimely demise ultimately reconciles their kin, looks more like “West Side Story” than an Elizabethan drama, albeit without the gorgeous songs and jazzy, finger-snapping dances.
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An Overstuffed Suitcase of Memories
Packing – About Face Theatre
Each of us have lived lives that are filled with significant situations, emotional events and meaningful memories. If we all possessed an eloquent gift for writing, as well as a talent for emotionally honest storytelling, any one of us could probably condense our childhood, adolescence and early adult years into a 90 minute narrative, like this. But few would be as captivating at sharing his life story as Scott Bradley. Performing alone on a simple, white square platform, which sometimes serves as a blank canvas for Stephen Mazurek’s colorful and evocative projection artwork, Mr. Bradley opens his heart and bares his soul in this incredibly moving solo performance of disco and survival.
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A New Christmas Pantomime
The Steadfast Solider – Lookingglass Theatre
Returning for a second holiday season at Lookingglass Theatre, Mary Zimmerman’s gorgeous adaptation of Hans Christian Andersen’s classic story of love and valor warms the heart and nourishes the soul. From the moment we enter the theatre, we’re put in the holiday mood. The act curtain has been transformed into a gigantic Advent calendar. While the four powdered-wigged musicians begin playing below in the show’s petite pit orchestra, the cast enters the stage one-by-one. Clothed in delicious, brightly colored, exquisitely detailed costumes, designed and created by Ana Kuzmanic, each character opens one of the 25 tiny doors and reacts to the images behind them. The final door reveals the titular character and the pantomime begins. By the conclusion of the play the audience will understand the significance of each image.
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Magic, Music and Misery
Hoodoo Love – Raven Theatre
In a cluster of shacks nestled within a cul-de-sac near Beale Street, a pretty, young, African-American woman named Toulou dreams of becoming a celebrated blues singer. Katori Hall’s poignant drama, set in Memphis during the Great Depression, is filled with magic, music and misery. The ominous fog and mist roils out from between the hovels, drenching Toulou’s life in deception, despair and death. This two-act play, which debuted in 2007 at New York’s Cherry Lane Theatre, is the kind of drama that will leave audiences both spellbound and shaken by its conclusion.
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A Modern Take On An Old Fairy Tale
The Other Cinderella – Black Ensemble Theatre
Born in the projects, an ill-treated young woman, nicknamed Cinderella by her selfish, cantankerous Stepmama and her two nasty, spoiled stepsisters, is part of the much-loved fairy tale that’s been a part of every culture since time began. This is Jackie Taylor’s contemporary version of the familiar fable, set in the contemporary, fictional African-American “Kingdom of Other,” which happens to be the title of the rousing, original pop/rock tune that both opens and closes this musical. The show is filled with lots of other catchy songs, written by the multitalented Ms. Tayler and Michael Ward, with additional contributions from Herman Wheatley, J. Wilson and A. Tucker.
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Women’s Right to Vote
The Suffrage Plays – Artemisia Theatre
Throughout history, theatre has served many purposes. The obvious benefit is to provide entertainment; but oftentimes a play will educate and a theatrical production may enlighten its audience. Such is Artemisia Theatre’s program of three one-act plays being presented under the collective title, “The Suffrage Plays.” These realist comedies, influenced by the works of of Henrik Ibsen, were written and presented between 1907 and 1914. They revealed the real issues behind the suffrage movement, including the double standards that women faced on a daily basis.
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The Ghetto Scholar Explains It All For You
Latin History for Morons – Broadway in Chicago
In an almost two-hour, nonstop performance, the seemingly tireless ball of fire known as John Leguizamo, transforms himself into an instructor of American History—the REAL American History, as he puts it. In his one-man show, Leguizamo examines 3,000 years of Latino history in an attempt to educate us, along with his bullied, 8th grade son. Throughout his presentation, the actor/author informs, questions, challenges and sometimes humorously berates the audience, all the while taking us through centuries of virtually unknown or forgotten facts about scores of famous people and events. It’s a highly exciting and extremely entertaining educational experience that reminds theatergoers of the scope of this actor’s unlimited talent.
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One Man’s Fight for the First Amendment
I’m Not a Comedian…I’m Lenny Bruce – Theatre 68
Talented playwright and actor Ronnie Marmo brings to Chicago his heartfelt tribute to the man he calls The Godfather of Comedy. The 90-minute one-act, once again directed here by Tony and Jeff Award-winner, Joe Mantegna, has already enjoyed a successful run Off-Broadway. Marmo’s loving, respectful portrait of this controversial standup comic, famous for his obscenity-laced routines during the 1950’s and 1960’s, both provokes laughter while it stirs the emotions. The reason is that Lenny Bruce always brought the real passion and pain of his personal life into his stage act.
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Their Fingers Do the Talking
You Are Happy – Red Theatre
Bridget is an attractive single woman who, by her own admission, truly enjoys her independence. But she’s not entirely alone, because she’s taken on the responsibility of managing the well-being and happiness of her younger brother, Jeremy. Walking down the aisles of her local supermarket, Bridget notices that most of the customers are couples, everyone shopping in pairs and complementing each other with their wants and needs. When Bridget returns home to her apartment she, once again, finds her brother Jeremy trying to commit suicide. The lonely young man is determined to either slit his wrists with her razor or hang himself in her closet. Tired of having to keep managing her brother’s psyche, Bridget decides to try to find him find some happiness with the perfect romantic match.
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