Reviews Category
History Keeps Repeating Itself
1919 – Steppenwolf Theatre Company
An exciting, incredibly moving performance piece is being played out on North Halsted for audiences, both young and old. It’s 90 minutes of nonlinear storytelling, based upon Eve L. Ewing’s poetry collection relating a horrific Chicago tragedy, one of many from the Windy City’s history. Dr. Ewing, an award-winning Chicago writer and scholar has, through her powerful words and earnest emotion, detailed the facts concerning the murder of Eugene Williams. In 1919, he was an innocent young Black teenager who was just trying to cool off in Lake Michigan on a hot summer day. Adapted by prolific Chicago playwright J. Nicole Brooks, this performance piece digs back into the city’s past to demonstrate how history, sadly, keeps repeating itself.
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Time To Change Their Stripes
Tiger Style – Writers Theatre
Jennifer and Albert are both Harvard-educated Chinese-American siblings who suddenly feel that their lives are falling apart. Jennifer is a high-strung, highly-regarded doctor, who also happens to be gifted, classically-trained pianist. Albert is a nerdy pushover, a highly-paid computer software techie, who was forced to master the cello as a kid.Their problems come to a head when Reggie, Jennifer’s live-in, loser boyfriend, an air-headed surfer dude, suddenly dumps her. Then Albert looks around and realizes that his annoying slacker co-worker, nicknamed Russ the Bus, has been using him, taking credit for all his hard work and has been unjustly given a raise and a promotion of authority over Albert.
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I Have Treasured Our Life Together
The Notebook – Chicago Shakespeare Theatre
Nicholas Sparks is a name known to readers the world over. He’s written and published 22 novels, to date, many of which became New York Times bestsellers, and eleven have been turned into successful movies. They include such familiar titles as Message in a Bottle, A Walk to Remember and his latest book, The Return. The Notebook, Sparks’ first novel, was published in 1996, and was turned into a blockbuster cult film in 2004. Now this beloved sentimental story has been adapted into a gorgeous theatrical event. The musical features a book by Bekah Brunstetter, with music & lyrics by Ingrid Michaelson. It’s a beautiful new version of Sparks’ novel that is faithful to his novel and brings his name and talent to a whole new generation. And this magnificent musical drama is currently having its pre-Broadway debut, right here in Chicago.
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A Modern Twist to the Cowardy Touch
Private Lives – Raven Theatre
In what seems like a mini Noel Coward Festival in Chicago this Fall (“Hay Fever” is playing at City Lit Theater Company), Raven Theatre, Chicago’s newest Equity-affiliated company, opens its 40th season with a fresh take on what may be the playwright’s most popular play. It’s a perfect choice for a theatre company known for producing works that highlight the power of words. Noel Coward is best known for his sparkling, witty dialogue, his eccentric and memorable characters and his biting satire of the upper class elite. In achieving this, “Private Lives” is a mostly delicious confection.
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Sacrificing Art for Love
Botticelli in the Fire – First Floor Theater
The Early Italian Renaissance artist, Sandro Botticelli, painted a wide range of portraits and religious subjects, particularly dozens of paintings of the Madonna and Child. However, ironically he’s more famous for his few majestic mythological works. Botticelli’s particularly revered for his enormous canvas entitled, “The Birth of Venus.” It depicts the completely nude, newly-born Roman Goddess of Love and Beauty, arriving upon the shore while standing in a giant scallop shell. It is the story of Botticelli’s creation of this painting that inspired Jordan Tannahill to write this two-act play. The accomplished and much celebrated and awarded Millennial Canadian filmmaker, director, multidisciplinary artist and prolific playwright is also, like Botticelli, a controversial artist. In this way, Tannahill and Botticelli have something in common.
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So God Invented Mothers
Alma – American Blues Theater
It was said, by someone much wiser than myself, that because God couldn’t be everywhere he invented Mothers. And famed English author, Agatha Christie, once said that “A mother’s love for her child is like nothing else in the world. It knows no law, no pity. It dares all things and crushes down remorselessly all that stands in its path.” This quotation perfectly capsulizes playwright Benjamin Benne’s new one-act play, now enjoying its World Premiere in Chicago. The plot involves a number of contemporary issues, but at its heart Benne’s drama is a warm and heartfelt story about the mutual love between a mother and her daughter.
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The Witch is Back Again
Wicked – Broadway in Chicago
“She’s dead!” belts the ensemble in the opening moments of this spectacular hit show, which happens to be the 5th longest-running musical in Broadway history. But then the production flashes backward in time, spinning the enchanting story of how the girl with the emerald green skin grew to become the Wicked Witch of the West. This polished, professional production returns to Chicago, filled with flashy visuals and fantastic performances, haunting music and terrific choreography. This superb production is most definitely worth the trip to Oz, whether it’s your first visit or, like me, your fifth.
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Enlightenment Shining for All
Cabaret Zazou Presents Luminaire
In its world debut, a brand new production from Randolph Entertainment’s exciting Spiegeltent Zazou presentations, “Luminaire,” opens in Chicago with a fanfare of glittering, glossy opulence. A Luminaire is defined as someone wealthy in enlightenment and who shines that light brightly for all. And that’s precisely what this brilliant new production offers its audiences.
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Empathy and Honesty
St. Sebastian – Refracted Theatre Company
In a thought-provoking new work by playwright Andrew Kramer, New York’s Refracted Theatre Company bursts onto the Chicago scene as the Windy City’s newest stage company. In its mission statement, the theatre seeks, through its presentations, “to disrupt socially accepted narratives by telling the ‘other side of the story.’” It goes on to say that the plays it presents are centered upon empathy and humanity.
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It Takes a Woman
Hello Dolly – Marriott Theatre
“Isn’t the world full of wonderful things?” gushes Cornelius Hackl during his lovely, romantic ballad, “It Only Takes a Moment.” It’s this wide-eyed wonder and unbridled joie de vivre that Jerry Herman celebrates in this buoyant, bon bon of a musical. The story pays tribute to all the adventures we experience, both simple and great. It wallows in every wonderful moment that life has to offer. It’s also a tribute to the effervescence of love that makes the world go round.
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