Love is Easy But Relationships Require Work

Afterglow – Pride Films & Plays

The climax is just the beginning. That was the tagline used for the original New York Off-Broadway production, a show that piqued the theatergoer’s interest two years ago and promised a provocative, unusual story. This is a play that begins where others might end, exploring the physical and emotional connection between three young men. David Zak’s Chicago premiere of S. Asher Gelman’s bold, contemporary drama offers audiences the same exploration, while putting his own stamp on this production.

Another Disney Princess

Based upon both the 1997 animated film, as well as the 1956 live-action film, which earned Ingrid Bergman an Academy Award, playwright Terrence McNally write the book for this charming musical that, when reduced to its basics, is a story about another Disney princess. With a lush score by Stephen Flaherty and Lynn Ahrens, this musical version, which plays fast and loose with Russian history, opened on Broadway two years ago, but Chicago is finally enjoying this National Tour after five months on the road. It’s a glossy production well worth the wait.

Not For the Squeamish

Yen – Raven Theatre

In Anna Jordan’s prize-winning play about a dysfunctional family, Raven Theatre presents a drama that’s difficult to watch, yet, in the end, mesmerizing to experience. As the story slowly unfolds, and we come to know and understand these four characters, the audience finds a certain tenderness buried inside, along with the strength of brotherly love and a final moment of redemption.

Struggling to Survive

Landladies – Northlight Theatre

Marti is an resourceful woman who decided to leave her job as a nurse’s aide to develop her power as a strong businesswoman. She purchases a couple run-down apartment buildings, in sketchy neighborhoods and becomes an enterprising landlady. In Sharyn Rothstein’s world premiere, commissioned by Northlight Theatre, the story opens as Marti is about to seal the deal in renting an apartment to Christine, a young, single mother, struggling to survive.

The Beginning of the End

The Doctor’s Dilemma – ShawChicago

In May of 1994, Robert Scogin, a lifelong devotee of the works of George Bernard Shaw, had the great idea to produce and star in the playwright’s 1906 black comedy, as a pilot production for a prospective new theatrical comedy. The gifted Mr. Scogin knew exactly what he was doing and understood that there was an audience out there waiting to see and hear Shaw’s works brought to glorious life. Well, it turns out that the comedy would be the illustrious beginning of a company called ShawChicago. Therefore, it’s only fitting that, as expenses have grown and audience attendance has dwindled, “The Doctor’s Dilemma,” sadly, will be the company’s final production.

What Could Be Better

Bright Star – Boho Theatre

Set in the Blue Ridge Mountains of North Carolina, both during the 1920’s and in the mid-1940’s, this emotionally charged musical was somewhat based upon a true story. Although the show isn’t historically accurate, it was inspired by a rural legend called “The Iron Mountain Baby.” Steve Martin and Edie Brickell, who collaborated on the book, music and lyrics for this new musical, used the story as their springboard, asking themselves, “What if…?” The resulting musical is filled with everything that audiences love:  beautiful music; an engaging story; tragedy, suffering and remorse; an emotional roller coaster; redemption and a happy ending.

Three Women in the Darkness

Lured: the Curse of the Swans – The Right Brain Project

When the houselights dim and the audience settles in to enjoy the performance of a play, all they’re seeing is just the tip of the iceberg. Most patrons are only treated to the end product of a lot of work. They’re unaware of all that’s happened prior to this moment. The amount of time, talent and funding that goes into producing a play is much greater than most theatergoers can fully comprehend. What they’re seeing is a labor of love.

An Almond Joy That’s Deliciously Nutty

Melancholy Play – Organic Theatre

Filled with so much joy and style, Organic Theater’s production of Sara Ruhl’s first major play is being given a new staging at the Greenhouse Theater Center. Under the astute direction of Laura Sturm, this play with music overflows in a wash of emotion, melodrama and whimsy. This contemporary, surreal farce originally premiered in 2002 at Evanston’s Piven Theatre, and was revived there again in 2015, but rewritten, this time, as a chamber musical. 

It Ain’t Over Until the Fat Lady Swims

Poseidon: An Upside Down Musical – Hell in a Handbag

“There’s got to be a morning after,” shipboard entertainer Nonnie Perry tries to sing, although she’s a little off-key and kinda breathy. Parodying Carol Lynley, from the original 1972 disaster film, one of Chicago’s greatest comic treasures, Stevie Love, gives a bravura performance as the blond, shipboard singer with the deer-in-the-headlights eyes. Actually, she comes off like a buzzed artist who’s a few donuts short of a dozen. Stevie is just one of several excellent actors in this show, whose performance in this satire evokes almost nonstop laughter throughout the two-and-a-half hours of outrageous comedy, song and dance.

Tension in the Rust Belt

Sweat – Goodman Theatre

Lynn Nottage deservedly won the 2017 Pulitizer Prize for Drama for this mesmerizing and revealing drama about race, economy and humanity. The background for the writing of the play is almost as fascinating as Ms. Nottage’s drama, itself. In 2011, the playwright began interviewing residents of Reading, Pennsylvania, which the US Census Bureau had declared as one of the poorest cities in America. Through this extraordinary drama we see the faces and hear the voices of the real people who suffer from the de-industrialization of America.