Author: Colin Douglas
A Trivial Comedy for Serious People
The Importance of Being Earnest
June is busting out all over. In celebration of Gay Pride Month there’s so much fun and so many colorful activities bursting out all over Chicago. Not to take a back seat to the festivities, Strawdog Theatre is flying their own Freak Flag with a fresh and frolicking new production of Oscar Wilde’s final play, THE IMPORTANCE OF BEING EARNEST. Wilde subtitled his witty work, “a trivial comedy for serious people.”
Read More
Get Down!
Six, The Musical
Have you ever wondered what it would be like to resurrect some of the biggest names in history—or “herstory,” as these women like to refer to themselves, and bring them back to the 21st century for an evening or revelation? Imagine that you could invite the six wives of England’s King Henry VIII for a melodic and powerhouse party at Chicago’s Nederlander Theatre. A performance where each queen would be given a platform to tell her own story in song and dance? Opening with the familiar mantra, “Divorced, Beheaded, Died; Divorced, Beheaded, Survived,” the highly celebrated, crowd-pleasing musical, that made its North American premiere at Chicago Shakespeare Theatre, has returned to the Windy City.
Read More
Language as Identity
English
Think about it: our language is not only how we communicate with others, it’s also our identity. We connect through English, sharing ideas and information. We embrace and use our language to experience the world. But a language can be as much of a barrier between people, who aren’t fluent in it, as it is a pipeline for understanding others with similar skills.
Read More
Death Becomes Her
Forever Young
Looks seem to be everything in our culture. Trying to appear forever young is a preoccupation with everyone these days, at least in this country. Creams, salves and other products guaranteeing youthful faces and hands, hair dye and trendy coifs that turn back time, varicose veins removed so legs look younger and weight loss pills, shots and exercise programs that promise a new, slimmer body are in high demand. And, if those methods aren’t fast enough for you, there’s always botox injections or simply going under the knife.
Read More
An Historical Fantasia
Lavender Men
Beginning with the obligatory pre-curtain speech, a wickedly entertaining and sassy gay spirit named Taffeta welcomes the audience to a one-act Historical Fantasia. It’s partly a factual American chronicle enhanced by a great amount of imaginative creativity. This surreal play is a romantic rainbow reverie that’s based on longtime rumors about the private life of revered 16th President, Abraham Lincoln. It’s as riveting as any completely factual historical drama, but presented with a pronounced gay slant and a modern sensibility.
Read More
Survival in the Dust Bowl
Black Sunday
A subject of so many excellent works of art, survival during the Great Depression and, especially, during the Dust Bowl, has been examined from many perspectives. From John Steinbeck’s The Grapes of Wrath, to the musical poetry of Woody Guthrie, to Dorothea Lange’s stark b&w photography, such as her moving “Migrant Mother,” the sorrow and tragedies of the early 1930’s has been potently portrayed. Today, TimeLine Theatre’s 2023-24 season concludes with another work of art, a World Premiere by Chicago playwright, Dolores Diaz.
Read More
Survival Underground
Turret
Two men are living—make that surviving—in a deep, underground bunker. Apparently Green and Rabbit are the sole survivors of “the war that we lost,” but now there’s some sort of unknown danger lurking outside in this post-apocalyptic world. Both men are dressed for combat so our initial impression is that they’re members of the military. Eventually we learn the truth: Green is the father of (or at the very least, a father figure for) Rabbit. The younger man has lived his entire life in this reinforced, subterranean shelter, and Green has taken on the role of his commanding officer, parent and companion. Survival underground is nothing if not bleak, depressing and without much hope for the future. It’s also bewildering and perplexing for the audience.
Read More
Walking in Someone Else’s Shoes
Last Stop on Market Street
Change isn’t easy for anyone, particularly children. Leaving the familiar comforts of a home that a kid takes for granted, and then being dropped off at an entirely different environment populated by new people and filled with unexpected situations, can be somewhat traumatic. So when a little boy named CJ has to travel to an unfamiliar inner city neighborhood, and spend a week with his grandmother, the child is in for some surprises. Nana is a real force of nature, a vivacious, gleeful woman who always sees the positive side of life. However, this optimistic lady has her work cut out for her with CJ.
Read More
An Absolute Adult Delight
Poor People! The Parody Musical
Do I have a treat for you, especially if you’re an adult, liberal-minded Musical Theatre aficionado! Hell in a Handbag Productions, David Cerda’s wildly creative theatre company, is currently continuing its 22nd season. The company’s comprised of an ensemble of multitalented artists who are always challenging audiences and pushing the envelope. Well, consider the envelope pushed to the max. Often the company lampoons their favorite vintage films, classic television shows and even popular cult genres. But this sassy, salty new production parodies many of Broadway’s most treasured, time-honored musicals. Seemingly motivated by television’s “Schmigadoon!” HIAH’s tuneful satire is, quite simply, an absolute adult delight, and theatergoers will never look at these prototypical Broadway musicals the same.
Read More
A Comedy Within a Satire
The Thanksgiving Play
Four well-meaning people come together in the multipurpose room of an elementary school for a singular purpose: to create a politically correct play for children that tells the story of the First Thanksgiving. The earnest assembly acknowledges that trying to correct the mythology most Americans think of as the first harvest celebration won’t be easy. In the process, they also hope to focus the youngsters’ attention on Native American Heritage Month. The problem is that this quartet of eager theatre folks, who are just trying to do the right thing, are all White. No one has any real connection to the oppression that was experienced by Native Americans, both then and now.
Read MoreRECOMMENDED SITES
