Reviews Category
Once Again, An Angel Gets His Wings
It’s a Wonderful Life: Live in Chicago! – American Blues Theatre
After what feels like a very long break in live theatre and entertainment, the doors have flung back open and vaccinated, properly masked audiences are flocking to area stages. Now, in the midst of a festive holiday season, Chicago is offering all kinds of terrific productions for families to enjoy. Some are exciting, brand new plays; but a few productions are old favorites that we look forward to, year after year.
Read More
Beneath Every Hat We’re All the Same
Mr. Dickens’ Hat – Northlight Theatre
That unrivaled bastion of art in Skokie, the excellent Northlight Theatre has offered some exquisite holiday productions in the past. Before the pandemic shut down the theatre, they commissioned and produced two delectable, crowd-pleasing Christmas-themed comedies. Both plays were an absolute delight and featured Elizabeth Bennet, Mr. Darcy and host of Jane Austin’s best-loved characters from Pride and Prejudice.
Read More
A Walk Down Memory Lane
Holiday Inn – Drury Lane Theatre
Now that the holiday season is upon us, and theatres are cautiously reopening after the pandemic hiatus, it’s once again that time of year when festive entertainments bloom like poinsettias all over Chicagoland. Drury Lane is proudly presenting the theatrical equivalent of a soft, warm blanket or a delicious bowl of comfort food. As we try to shine a light through the Covid-19 murkiness and rekindle our old traditions and fond memories of holidays past, an evening spent snuggling into this Irving Berlin songfest offers a nostalgic trip back to a kinder, gentler time.
Read More
Cindy Lou Who Tells All
Who’s Holiday! – Theatre Wit
Director Christopher Pazdernik was the perfect choice for bringing this adults-only holiday comedy to the stage. He infuses this delicious production of Matthew Lombardo’s 2017 one-woman comedy with his continual over-the-top joie de vivre. And then, coupled with the incomparably talented Veronica Garza, how could this production go wrong? Ms Garza may be remembered as the well-deserved Jeff Award-winner for her portrayal of both skaters’ mothers in “Tony and Nancy.” This short, one-act is aimed at liberal-minded grownups who are in the mood for something a bit darker than “It’s a Wonderful Life.” For 65 minutes Cindy Lou will tell all.
Read More
A Holiday Extravaganza Filled With Heart
A Christmas Carol – Goodman Theatre
Rejoice, Chicago! Goodman’s wonderful production of “A Christmas Carol” has returned once more as a live performance. After last year’s ambitious audio production, because of the pandemic, this reimagined and perfectly updated presentation is once again live on the Albert Stage. Can anyone believe that this is the 44th production of this wonderful show that’s become an annual Chicago holiday tradition? And Dickens’ almost 180-year-old this story is, after all, what Christmas is all about. Chicagoans are so fortunate to have Mr. Scrooge back for another holiday season.
Read More
A Timely New Twist
The Snow Queen – House Theatre of Chicago
Chicago’s treasure trove of holiday theatrical offerings is a little richer this year. One play that’s not exactly new, but has a timely, contemporary new twist this time around, is making the familiar fairy tale a lesson about living in harmony with everyone around us and doing something positive to encourage the global conservation that’ll effect generations to come. This new play by Lanise Antoine Shelley is perfect for the entire family although, at 85 minutes, children under ten may become a little antsy.
Read More
Another Op’nin, Another Show
Kiss Me, Kate – Marriot Theatre
Suppose you were playing Theatre Trivia somewhere and you were asked, “What was the very first show to win the Tony Award for Best Musical? You could respond that, not only do you know the answer but, in fact, you’d just recently enjoyed a dazzling new production of it. “Kiss Me Kate,” with music and lyrics by the late, great Cole Porter, and a book by Sam and Bella Spewack, was awarded the very first Tony in 1949. The musical was Porter’s response to the popular Rodgers & Hammerstein hit, “Oklahoma,” in which the music and lyrics were integrated into the story. Up until that time, musicals were merely a collection of comedy scenes interspersed with songs and dances that had no relationship to each other. With Cole Porter’s continuation of the “Modern Musical,” an entirely new era of theatrical entertainment was born.
Read MoreAn Evening of Sidesplitting Slapstick
Love, Actually? The Unauthorized Musical Parody – Right Angle Entertainment
Just in time for the holidays, Chicago audiences have a brilliant new parody of an film that’s become kind of a cult classic, especially at this time of the year. “Love Actually” is a 2003 romantic comedy set in London in the weeks leading up to Christmas. Although the movie received mixed reviews, it was a huge box office success and has since become a cult classic. Directed by Richard Curtis, the film features an ensemble cast telling ten separate stories, most of which eventually merge by the final scene. The movie offers a great deal of humor, but some warmhearted and poignant moments, as well. It’s an entertaining way to spend a couple of hours around Christmastime.
Read More
The Slipper Almost Fits
Rodgers & Hammerstein’s Cinderella – Paramount Theater
Charles Perrault’s beloved 17th century fairy tale became a popular animated Disney film back in 1950. Then, in 1957, CBS commissioned the talented theatrical team of Rodgers and Hammerstein to create a television musical version of the story for Julie Andrews. It drew a huge audience and was remounted in 1967, this time starring Lesley Ann Warren. Thirty years later the musical was brought back to the small screen once again, with Brandy in the title role and featuring Whitney Houston as the Fairy Godmother. Because of its popularity the TV screenplay was adapted for the stage, thus providing regional, educational and community theatres the opportunity to produce this R&H musical. Various other incarnations of the musical found their way to the stage, but when it was decided that the show would make an excellent Broadway production in 2013, Tony nominee playwright Douglas Carter Beane was brought in to spruce up the script.
Read More
Let It Go
Disney’s Frozen – Broadway in Chicago
Almost every little girl who has ever seen the 2013 animated Disney film, and there are thousands of them, owns an Elsa or Anna costume and knows all the words to the movie’s powerhouse ballad, “Let It Go.” The story behind both the movie and the stage version isn’t too complicated. The plot, like “Wicked,” is moving tale of female friendship and empowerment in a world that’s largely run by men.
Read MoreRECOMMENDED SITES
