A Prophetic Musical Production

Dr. Horrible’s Sing-Along Blog – Black Button Eyes Productions

Back in a more innocent time, about thirteen years ago, Covid-19 hadn’t reared its ugly head. We weren’t yet imprisoned in our homes for safety’s sake or masked for protection from a pandemic when we had to go out. After theatres shut their doors in March of 2020, live productions ceased to be. Only plays, musicals and concerts that could be streamed online were safe for presentation. Entertainment and enlightenment for an arts-hungry public was limited, but still possible. 

Coming Into the Light

Songs for a New World – Theo Ubique

Most theatres share a commonality, now that we’re finally coming out of the pandemic and presenting live shows. We are seeing more modest, smaller cast productions, typically a musical revue or a one-person show of some kind, that creates an immediate feeling of intimacy between the audience and the performers. At Theo Ubique Cabaret Theatre, this style of show is their specialty, as one can tell from the company’s name. Also, no one in Chicagoland produces a more polished show than Artistic Director Fred Anzevino. This visionary Director and multi-Jeff Award winner is once again collaborating with his gifted, award-winning Musical Director and pianist, Jeremy Ramey. And once again the duo have brought magic to their audiences. Joining these two gentlemen, Theo Ubique newcomer Jamal Howard brings his own talent as Associate Director and Choreographer, to help guide this polished, professional production toward perfection. The result is a 90-minute show, with intermission, that sparkles with a welcoming glow as, after almost two years, we can finally return to live performances.

It’s All In The Timing

The Elixir of Love – Lyric Opera of Chicago

Lyric Opera follows a season opener which can speak directly to our times with a bel canto comedy that sends us on a vacation to 1950s Italy. You won’t need your passport, you don’t have to keep abreast of the latest travel restrictions, and as far as clothing goes, a lot of us could raid the trunks in the attic and make use of the colorful and saucy fashions worn during that comparatively breezy time by our parents and grandparents. (Some of us could just reach in the back of our own closets and pull out clothing the style of which we were certain would come back eventually.) Despite a score that bubbles with charm, Donizetti’s, The Elixir of Love suffers from unfair expectation. If we consider it a steppingstone away from the opera buffa toward Donizetti’s more serious work (which paved the way for Verdi), here we find less pants-splitting, more completely human characters, and music that is less pyrotechnical but more honest to the larger purpose. 

Music As Memory

American Mariachi – Goodman Theatre

As is often the case, this warm and wonderful play by Jose Cruz Gonzalez has its roots in his own, true life experiences. Mariachi music was the soundtrack of this playwright’s life. After discovering that Mariachi was taught in the music department of Cal State, where Gonzalez was an instructor, he began to take lessons. This lively art form is a huge part of the Mexican culture and is heard played at every important moment in one’s life: baptisms, birthdays, quinceaneras, marriage ceremonies and even funerals. It’s been generally thought of as a male-dominated musical form, with the history and skill being handed down, from father to son. But that was all soon to change.

The Full Monty wants to bear it all but sometimes struggles to give up the goods

The Full Monty – Skylight Music Theatre

Funny and oftentimes cheeky, the musical blends a narrative about class, gender, sexuality, and sex with songs about maleness, feminism, suicide, and…Michael Jordan? And for the most part, it works. With a solid cast led by Dan DeLuca and competent direction from director-choreographer James Gray, The Full Monty only occasionally falls victim to the relative lightweight fluff and flagging pacing of Terrance McNally’s book. Songs from David Yazbek, while similarly lightweight are at least fun enough to keep toes tapping, even if they don’t stick with you for very long after. 

A Heavenly Musical

Forever Plaid – Drury Lane Theatre

Can you remember the last time you heard “Three Coins in a Fountain,” accompanied by an accordion, or the proud, Highland anthem, “Scotland the Brave,” or wallowed in the nostalgia of “Moments to Remember”? Well, unless you’ve found a radio station that plays the hit tunes from the 1950’s, it’s probably been a very long time, if ever! In Stuart Ross’ sweet tribute to the close-harmony male vocal groups of the Eisenhower years, we’re treated to a jukebox musical revue with a clever plot. For younger patrons, this Heavenly musical is a creative introduction to the hit songs of a more innocent, bygone era; but it’s a sweet trip down memory lane for every Baby Boomer in the audience.

The Songs of Kander and Ebb

The World Goes ‘Round – Marriott Lincolnshire Theatre

Lovely Allison Blackwell slowly walks onto the Marriott stage and immediately her eyes tear up. Most of the audience can empathize with her emotional response, as she surveys her surroundings. Christopher Rhoton’s imaginative scenic design presents a space that resembles an abandoned theatre, possibly the Marriott itself, as it might’ve looked the day the lights were turned off almost two years ago. That’s when the pandemic shut down every Chicagoland venue. A dusty act curtain lay across the stage; an old piano, some assorted chandeliers and few props and costumes are strewn here and there; and the ghost light, a promise of good things to come, shines brightly, frightening away bad spirits and welcoming the joyous energy of a new show.

Telling Women’s Tales

Petticoats & Sliderules/The Infinite Energy of Ada Lovelace – Third Eye Ensemble

Third Eye Ensemble comes back to the live stage with two fresh tales of women who, thankfully, refused many of the societal strictures of their times to further both science and humanity. Composer Elizabeth Rudolph’s “conversation” titled Petticoats & Sliderules creates a dialogue based on a 2003 interview in the archives of the Society of Women Engineers and the writings of a 1923 suffragette. Kamala Sankaram’s opera, The Infinite Energy of Ada Lovelace, traces the history of Countess Ada Lovelace, the daughter of Lord Byron, who fights to use her lifeforce and scientific talents for a more sweeping goal than her Victorian times dictate. This double bill was offered to audiences that could offer proof of COVID vaccination, a negative COVID-19 PCR test taken within 72 hours of the performance start time, or a negative COVID-19 antigen test taken without 6 hours of the performance start time. The audience was cautioned to remain masked during their entire time in the theatre. 

Ben Folds at Ravinia

After nearly two years away, we were anxious to see our first Ravinia show. Ben Folds with the Ravinia Festival Orchestra and conductor Francisco Nova was the perfect choice!

Backed by a full orchestra the entire evening, Folds displayed his impressive skills as both an entertainer and musician, blending his prodigious pop-rock sensibilities with plenty of classical flavor. Few musicians would entertain this kind of genre crossover- only a musical virtuoso like Folds could pull it off.

The evening included moments of audience participation and Folds did his typical, though no less impressive impromptu on-stage song writing shtick, all the while curating an evening full of memorable moving music. Folds is a funny, quirky kind of performer who’s boundless knowledge of his craft radiates an endearing excitement You can’t help but get caught up in it and start singing along.

And Ravinia one of the greatest venues bringing together music, friends and memorable times. We have certainly missed you and are happy to say “Welcome Back.” Thanks for the memories we have had and the ones we will make for years to come.

Reviewed by Murray Karbin