Author: Colin Douglas
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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Friendship and Family Affection Abounds
Lyle, Lyle, Crocodile – Lifeline Theatre
What would you do if you just moved into a charming Victorian brownstone, on New York’s fashionable Upper East Side, only to discover there’s a crocodile in the bathtub of your new home? Well, after the initial shock, the Primm family decides that Lyle is a wonderful addition to their clan. He plays stickball with their young son, Josh. He helps the boy with his homework and he enjoys assisting Mrs. Primm with her household tasks.
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Myths and Legends Come to Life
Andares – Chicago Shakespeare Theatre
Three young actors, accompanied by a gifted guitarist/drummer, share many of the stories, myths and legends of the common, everyday people who live in the rural areas of Mexico. The tales these men share are told in Spanish, with English “surtitles,” captions that are continually projected and displayed above the actors. The narrative tells about three young men, their parents and grandparents, laced with the folklore and cultural beliefs of the area’s indigenous peoples. In a touching, often humorous series of adventures, the 80-minute one-act bursts with passion and energy. They tell the tales that project themes of social, cultural and human value that are so universal to every theatergoer.
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Demons Hiding Within
Proxy – Underscore Theatre
In 2014 two 12-year-old girls in rural Wisconsin lured their friend to the woods where they stabbed her repeatedly with a knife. The victim crawled to the roadside, where she was found and treated in the hospital. The two girls were arrested, tried and found not guilty, by reason of insanity. They’ve been sentenced to spend their lives receiving professional treatment in a mental institution.
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Doctor Heal Thyself
The Effect – Strawdog Theatre
Yeaji Kim’s stark, clean scenic design and precise projections perfectly create what appears to be an expensive, upscale medical clinic, in Lucy Prebble’s absorbing new drama. The winner of the Critics’ Circle Award for Best New Play is now enjoying its Chicago premiere. A modest followup to her spectacular “Enron,” presented just a few years ago by TimeLine Theatre, Prebble’s four-hand drama takes a discerning look at the intersection of love and neuroscience. It’s an engrossing, albeit slightly predictable, love story that focuses on two individuals and how medical advancements may alter their attachment.
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Horror on Haunted Hill
Grey House – A Red Orchid Theatre
This terrifying tale of terror and dread starts the way all good thrillers begin: It was a dark and stormy night. Two weary, wounded travelers seek refuge from the howling wind and raging storm that caused their car to crash. Max and her husband Henry have hit a deer in the blinding blizzard. Henry’s bleeding head wound has left him almost unconscious, while his left ankle appears to be broken. When no one responds to their frantic knocking on the cottage door, the couple hobbles inside calling for help. This is their first mistake and one from which they will never recover.
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Remember Me 4Ever and Ever
Language of Angels – Three Crows Theatre
As Autumn leaves begin turning color and pumpkins start transforming into jack-o-lanterns, Three Crows Theatre kicks off their fourth season of always entertaining, thought-provoking stories. Their opening production is a psychological ghost story, just in time for Halloween. Written by the prolific and generously awarded playwright, Naomi Iizuka, this haunting one-act is, like most of her work, non-linear. First produced in San Francisco nineteen years ago, Ms. Iizuka’s drama plays with the conventions of time and space, with its nine characters telling their stories both in the past and present. The result is a sometimes confusing, but very well-acted production that will leave audiences thinking long after the lights fade to black.
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An Almost Enthralling Ghost Story
Tippy: Stories From the River – The Impostors Theatre Company
Housed in the Flat Iron Arts Building, this fledgling theatre company is both creative and full of positive energy, a winning combination for any arts organization. They strive to “Embrace the Art of Pretend.” In accomplishing this, they’ve raised storytelling to new heights through the dramatization of all kinds of tales. Now in their second year, the company opens a new season of original, story theatre plays beginning with this interesting new drama by archivist and playwright, Kayla Belec.
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Fanfare For the Man in the Mirror
A Man of No Importance – Pride Films & Plays
Mild-mannered, middle-aged, Alfie Byrne, works as a ticket agent on a Dublin bus. It’s 1964, back when acceptance and equal rights were something only dreamed about by members of the gay community. But Alfie harbors a secret love for Robbie Fay, the handsome, young bus driver with whom he works side-by-side every day. Unable to share his buried emotions with anyone else, Alfie secretly communes with the spirit of Oscar Wilde, his literary idol and imaginary confidante.
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