Author: Colin Douglas
A Button and a Buddy
Corduroy – Emerald City Theatre
A cuddly little teddy bear, dressed in green corduroy overalls, sits on the shelf in the toy department of Freeman’s Department Store. More than anything, Corduroy wants a friend. He believes that the reason he’s been passed over by shoppers is because he looks shop-worn and his bib tops are missing a button. One afternoon, just before closing time, a sweet little girl named Lisa spies Corduroy on the shelf and falls in love with him. She tries to convince her mother that, more than anything in the world, she wants to buy him. But Mother explains that money’s tight right now; however maybe, if Lisa would take on more of the household chores, she could raise her daughter’s allowance.
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Well Worth the Climb
We Are Proud to Present a Presentation About the Herero of Namibia, Formerly Known as South West Africa, From the German Sudwestafrika, Between the Years 1884-1915 – Steppenwolf Theatre
Steppenwolf’s Theatre for Young Audiences is “dedicated to creating work that is both provocative and drives us to think harder and deeper about who we are and the choices we make.” If this theater company has ever been successful at achieving this lofty, admirable goal, it’s in this current production. Jackie Sibblies Drury’s play is a look at how the creative process works in theatre. And, while the comic drama postures as a rehearsal for an upcoming, scholarly lecture about the first known genocide in the early 20th century, the play gradually evolves into an uncomfortable, shockingly realistic depiction of racism in America.
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A Whimsical Look at Anarchy
The Man Who Was Thursday – Lifeline Theatre
On a beautiful, sunny afternoon in the London suburb of Saffron Park, a poet named Lucian Gregory is discovered delivering an impassioned reading of one of his works to the gathered public. Among the crowd is Gabriel Syme, a gentleman who attempts to debate with Gregory that revolt is not the true meaning of poetry. Syme insists that, as opposed to revolution, the law is the real essence. Gabriel ends up accompanying Lucian to his underground anarchist meeting where Gregory hopes to be elected to their governing body.
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A Dream is a Wish Your Heart Makes
Mike Pence Sex Dream – First Floor Theatre
Following the 2016 election, two young men do their best to live their newly-wedded lives happily while coping with the frighteningly disastrous effects of the Trump presidency and administration. Ben is an excellent, compassionate elementary school teacher who cares for their students, but who also passionately wishes be a role model and make a difference. Ben, as a gay American, wants to show the school, and the world, that the Constitution has given them the unalienable right to be themselves. Thus, if Ben wants to wear a dress, there’s no reason for them to be challenged or ridiculed.
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And the Walls Came Tumbling Down
Act(s) of God – Lookingglass Theatre Company
A brand new original play, written by one of Chicago’s finest, most respected actors, and a Lookingglass Theatre company member, is a cause for celebration and demands an appreciative audience. Kareem Bandealy’s brilliant work as an actor has been seen by many and lauded by critics and audiences in productions all over Chicago. In his first attempt as playwright, Mr. Bandealy has embarked upon a new educational journey. His learning curve has expanded as he’s soaked up what it means to be on the other side of a production. This fledgling playwright has discovered, probably not unexpectedly that, in turning his script over to a director, a cast and a team of creative artists, it’s almost like sending your child off on his first day of kindergarten. But it’s the natural next step in the growth and nurturing of his young work, now in the hands of the theatre community.
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Super Trouper
Mamma Mia! – Drury Lane
Artistic Director, William Osetek has staged a fresh and exciting new production of the 1999 smash hit musical, a show that became a cult classic for Baby Boomers twenty years ago, and is one of Broadway’s original juke box musicals. Taking almost two dozen hit tunes from the ABBA songbook, Drury Lane’s stage version makes audiences forget Chicago’s cold, snowy winter, as well as a rather disappointing 2008 film version. Here, live and on stage, is a great opportunity to enjoy a polished, professional production of how that musical is suppose to look and sound. And this production is not only pitch perfect but, decked out in shiny spandex, platform heels and a ton of glitter and glitz, it’s a feast for the eyes, as well.
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Ordinary People
Twilight Bowl – Goodman Theatre
Rebecca Gilman is a Chicago-based playwright who keeps close to her small town roots. She doesn’t write about lofty characters using elevated language. Her plays reflect the struggle of ordinary people who are trying to live the lives they want. Through such notable plays as “Luna Gale,” “Boy Gets Girl” and “Spinning Into Butter,” Ms. Gilman paints portraits of real folks, showing how, instead of being true to their own goals and aspirations, find themselves trying to meet everyone else’s expectations in life. This is the focus of her latest play, now enjoying its world premiere in Chicago.
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Mystery Most Foul
An Inspector Calls – Chicago Shakespeare Theatre
Following an elegant family dinner at Arthur and Sybil Birling’s comfortable home in northern England, the arrival of a mysterious man is announced. He claims to be police Inspector Goole who inexplicably shares with them the sad news that Eva Smith, a young working-class woman, has tragically committed suicide. No one at the family gathering, including young Gerald Croft, who has just officially proposed to Arthur’s daughter Sheila, nor Arthur’s son Eric, recognize the young woman’s name. It then begs the question: why is the inspector involving this family in the unfortunate incident?
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The Music of Words
Ma Rainey’s Black Bottom – Writer’s Theatre
During the 1920’s, the blues, sung by topnotch black performers, became so popular that it crossed over into mainstream America. The recording industry helped bring African American music from Harlem into the homes of white families all over the nation. Singers like Bessie Smith and Ma Rainey became household names and, although there would be many more years of fighting for Civil Rights, the African American integration movement was, thankfully, about to begin.
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Black Lives Matter
Pipeline – Victory Gardens Theatre
In 90 short, uninterrupted minutes, playwright Dominique Morisseau lays out how the direct route from school to prison has become the American norm for young, black men. That is, if they’re not being gunned down by some trigger-happy police officer. This is the hopeless existence depicted by the playwright of such important dramas as “Sunset Baby,” “Skeleton Crew” and the upcoming musical, “Ain’t Too Proud—the Life and Times of the Temptations.” In director Cheryl Lynn Bruce’s new production, a topic the playwright explored in a solo documentary, “Notes From the Field,” is starkly played out upon Andrew Boyce’s sparse, flexible scenic design. It’s a theatrical environment that wisely offers more focus upon the characters than the setting.
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