News & Reviews Category
No Strings Attached
Pinocchio – House Theatre
Although there have been many versions and incarnations of Carlo Collodi’s 1883 children’s novel, The Adventures of Pinocchio, probably the most familiar is the groundbreaking 1940 animated version by the Walt Disney Studios. Because of this full-length cartoon, everyone’s pretty familiar with the story. They know about the lonely woodcarver named Geppetto who creates a little wooden puppet who eventually becomes a real boy. Audiences remember Jiminy Cricket, the cunning Fox and Cat, the evil puppeteer Stromboli, Lampwick, Pleasure Island and Monstro the whale. And, of course, they remember the beautiful Blue Fairy and how “When You Wish Upon a Star” made everything end happily ever after.
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A Children’s Tale of Loss and Recovery
The Miraculous Journey of Edward Tulane – Filament Theatre
Filament Theatre, the little Portage Park center for children and family entertainment and education, is known for its exciting, incredibly inventive productions of kid’s stories. But this magnificently moving adaptation of Kate DiCamillo’s 2006 children’s novel about self-discovery may be the company’s finest production in a long line of great theatre.
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A Solo Performance That Dazzles
The Absolute Brightness of Leonard Pelkey – American Blues Theater
When this unique mystery story begins, New Jersey Detective Chuck DeSantis gets word from his receptionist that a lady and her teenage daughter have been waiting to see him. When the two women burst into the gumshoe’s office, DeSantis learns from Ellen Hertle that Leonard, her 14-year-old adopted nephew, has been missing for almost 24 hours. When Ellen breaks down, Phoebe, her teenaged daughter, continues providing DeSantis with details about the boy.
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The Hat and The Cat: Can we demand free will?
The Hat: Arendt Meets Heidegger & The Man Who Woke Up – Thompson Street Opera Company
At the fore of the storefront opera scene in Chicago, Thompson Street Opera Company continues its examination of the fortes and foibles of life in real time through the lens of the works of living composers. Both artistically and academically advantageous, this credo brings a richness to the tapestry of the city’s operatic canvas about which we must brag when waxing politick and gloat after the second cocktail. The double bill Thompson presents this weekend should entice both the converted and the seeking opera enthusiast to sit up close and person in the womb of a black box theatre, immediately engaged in a conversation about the concept (or is it “construct?”) of free will.
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Comic, Come-Hither Campiness
Cruel Intentions – Broadway in Chicago
If theatergoers are looking for high art, they should probably search elsewhere. Filled with camp comedy, come-hither characters and sexy setups, this jukebox musical by Jordan Ross, Lindsey Rosin and Roger Kumble is based on Kumble’s own popular 1999 movie. In fact, the musical replicates the hit film, while also parodying it. Kumble’s screenplay was a clever, contemporary adaptation of the 1782 French novel, Les Liaisons Dangereuses, which was adapted into a play by Christopher Hampton.
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White Privilege
Admissions – Theatre Wit
In Joshua Harmon’s most recent play, by the factious author of “Bad Jews” and “ Significant Other,” we meet Sherri Mason and her family. She’s the Head of Admissions at Hillcrest, a highly-respected New England prep school. Ms. Mason’s husband Bill is the Dean of the school, and their 17-year-old son Charlie is a promising student, who attends tuition-free because his parents are in high administrative positions at Hillcrest. One of Sherri’s driving goals is to increase the percentage of minority students in her school’s population.
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Oh, What a Night!
Jersey Boys – Broadway in Chicago
Time can’t diminish the pure entertainment value and power of this magnificent musical. Repeated viewings don’t lessen the drama and emotional impact of how a young phenom named Frankie Valli, and his buddies, the Four Seasons, evolved into the most popular singing group of their era. And the music—Oh, What a Night! Every song is wonderful. Each inspires the audience to bop their heads, shake their shoulders, tap their toes, snap their fingers and even sing along. These are the tunes that evoke such fond memories of our teenage years, a more innocent time, when pop music stirred our souls and made everyone simply want to just get up and dance!
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Politics: Hilarious AND Terrifying
The Ridiculous Darkness – Sideshow Theatre Company
The history of “The Ridiculous Darkness” is RIDICULOUSLY long and tumbling. At its birth, it was a novel written and published in 1899 called “The Heart of Darkness” by Joseph Conrad. Most famously it was adapted for screen, directed by Francis Ford Coppola and retitled “Apocalypse Now.” In 2012, German writer Wolfram Lots adapted the story for radio, and since then, Lots’ adaptation has become one of the most produced German plays.
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The Sins of the Past
A Number – Writers Theatre
Set in the sparsely-decorated living room of a home that could easily be anywhere along Chicago’s North Shore, Salter is discovered sitting in his leather club chair as he meets and has a pithy conversation with his son. Perhaps, “sons” would be a more accurate term because, in successive scenes, Salter speaks with three different young men who are, genetically speaking, his progeny, as the result of cloning.
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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.
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