**** Highly Recommended Chicago Shakespeare’s summer show, Corduroy, directed by Amber Mak, is the perfect show to introduce the small set to live theater. It’s as cute as it can be. It’s colorful, funny, physical, interactive – and it has Corduroy! My six-year-old grandniece, Maeve, loved it. 4 BIG Spotlights
As the show begins, Clown 1 (Kat Harvey) and Clown 2 (Ryan Huemmer) read the story of Corduroy. Then the story moves to the toy department of a major department store, where they arrange the toys, placing a small bear with a missing button on his green overalls in the middle of a counter.
It’s just before closing time when Lisa (Demetra Dee) walked into the toy department. Lisa took one look at that small bear and fell in love, even naming him Corduroy. Lisa’s Mother (Celeste M. Cooper) was finished with her shopping and ready to go home. Even when Lisa begged her Mother to buy Corduroy she said no.
When the store closed, the Night Guard (Danielle Davis) checked the toy department and everything was in place. As soon as the Guard left, Corduroy (Jean Claudio) came to life, bouncing off the counter. When he notices he’s missing a button, he says “Button?” and goes looking for it – all over the store.
The only word Corduroy ever says is Button, but he still manages to interact with the kids in the audience. Jean Claudio is brilliant at physical comedy and tumbling, but he managed some daring stunts too. At one point he turned up in the balcony, climbed over the railing, stood on the ledge, and to the gasps in the audience, dropped to the floor below.
As Corduroy hunted for his button, he turned up all over the store, hotly pursued by the Night Guard. Danielle Davis demonstrated her comedy chops as she chases Corduroy, getting more & more flustered and disheveled – even ‘burning the seat of her pants’ when she leaned on a hot stove. She even met 'Mr. Electricity'!
In addition to their clowning abilities, Kat Harvey and Ryan Huemmer, are both amazing acrobats/gymnasts. They provided all the scene changes and seques with clowning or gymnastic stunts. At one point, they walked along the railing right in front of Maeve, to her delight!
Corduroy runs through July 14th in the Jentes Family Courtyard Theater at Chicago Shakespeare Theatre on Navy Pier, Chicago. Parking in CST’s designated area in the Navy Pier Garage is available at a 40% discount with validation from CST.
Running time is one hour, no intermission. Performances are Tuesdays & Wednesdays at 11:00 am; Thursdays through Sundays at 11:00 am & 2:00 pm. Tickets: children 12 & under $26, adults $42. FYI (312) 595-5600 or www.chicagoshakes.com
