Reviews Category
An 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.
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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.
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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.
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Happiness
You’re a Good Man, Charlie Brown – Citadel Theatre
Most theatres are reopening, just in time for the holidays. Many of them are either revisiting the shows that were in production when the shutdown came, or they’re presenting a Christmas or Hanukkah favorite. But Citadel has gone a different route and it’s a wise and wonderful choice. This delightful family musical portrays a typical day in the life of Charlie Brown. The show also features Snoopy, Lucy, Schroeder, Linus and Sally. It’s an inspired alternative holiday offering in a perfect, absolutely pleasurable production.
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A Show That Makes You Think and Feel
Paradise Square – Broadway in Chicago
Chicago has long been the perfect city to try out Broadway bound productions, and this new, historical musical is the latest to test the waters. “Paradise Square” is named for an actual 19th century saloon in Five Points, the former slum area of New York City, where this sweeping musical is set. The is a big show, filled with a large cast of extraordinarily talented triple-threats. It boasts some of the finest acting, phenomenal singing and most unbelievable dancers of in any show in recent memory. It’s a massive musical that’s ripe for its Broadway debut. The musical just needs a few tweaks and minor adjustments to tighten up the story and make it perfect.
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A Study in Terror and Alienation
Bug – Steppenwolf Theatre
As the pandemic gradually releases its stranglehold on Chicago, allowing live theatre to return for audiences who are fully vaccinated and masked, audiences are being treated to a remount of Steppenwolf’s last brilliant production before the shutdown. In early 2020, Anna D. Shapiro called this play “a study in terror and alienation.” She had no idea then how prophetic her description was at that time. Tracy Letts’ searing drama is another case of Art imitating life. Now, almost two years later, we find ourselves sloshing through a crazy world of constant lying, disputes with scientific fact, riotous assaults on the Capitol, bizarre QAnon conspiracy theories and a political party that’s sold its soul to every hate-filled, Right-wing group in America. It’s a frightening scenario that keeps some of us up late at night, provoking distrust of almost everything and everyone. Tracy Letts couldn’t have had a clearer crystal ball when he wrote this play.
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Living Life to the Fullest
Hundred Days – Kokandy Productions
Kokandy Productions is the latest company to make its welcome return to the live Chicago theatre scene. Their goal, under Derek Van Barham’s Artistic Directorship, is “to leverage the heightened reality of musical theater to tell complex and challenging stories…” In this objective, the company has hit its target. Their first production is an autobiographical concert-style song cycle presentation about a young couple determined to live life to the fullest.
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A No-Holds-Barred Production
Her Honor, Jane Byrne – Lookingglass Theatre
November is truly a time for giving thanks. Lookingglass Theatre has reopened again and with a bang. Their sensational remounted production, which had originally opened just before the pandemic shut shut down every Chicago theatre, features many of the original cast, setting and technical support as in 2020. “Her Honor, Jane Byrne” is skillfully written and perfectly directed by Lookingglass Ensemble Member, J. Nicole Brooks, but it’s definitely not your typical holiday fare. This is a rough, unflinching look at the strong determination and myriad of controversies attributed to one of Chicago’s greatest heroes.
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Under the Masks
God of Carnage – AstonRep Theatre
Michael and Veronica, a pair of parents, are hosting another pair of parents, Alan and Annette, in their home to discuss a fight their two 11-year-old sons had resulting in one boy hitting the other with a stick and knocking out two teeth. It begins as four enlightened, urbane parents all coming together to showcase how mature they can be. It turns quickly into a four-way brawl that would put their children to shame.
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Spread the Love Around
Sister Act – Mercury Theatre
“Sister Act” conjures up images of whimsy, wimples and Whoopi Goldberg and Dame Maggie Smith. They starred in one of the funniest and most financially successful musical films of 1992. In our current era of screen-to-stage transferals, audiences may either be skeptical of one more theatrical musical based on a popular movie, or they’ll be panting with the anticipation of seeing their favorite comedy, live on stage. And while this glorious new presentation, now playing at Chicago’s beloved Mercury Theater, doesn’t offer Whoopi Goldberg’s star power, the production still sparkles up to the heavens. Deloris Van Cartier, the 70’s club singer who goes into hiding after witnessing a murder, is in the very capable hands of a heavenly gifted young actress with a vast resume to prove her prowess.
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