Spotlight on Reviews

Although I didn't get a chance to see the Court Theatre's remount of their 2011 hit, "An Iliad," I thought I'd share my review of the 2013 remount.

The remount of the Court Theatre’s 2011 hit, “An Iliad”, is still amazing!  Timothy Edward Kane’s performance as the Poet, a man who tells and retells the story of the Trojan War, is a ‘tour de force’.  If you missed it last time – and even if you saw it then - make sure you see An Iliad this go round, it’s a 4 Spotlight play.

**** Recommended  "42 Balloons," the new musical at Chicago Shakespeare Theatre is a terrific summer musical. The story is crazy but true – and straight out of the 80s, so it has some pathos too. The ensemble – an 8-person Greek chorus - is young, attractive and perky. The music is catchy, bright and kind of nonsensical – who sings about 42 balloons and a lawn chair? Loved the 80s choreography.  The set and staging rates somewhere between cool and awesome!  This was a fun show to watch.  4 Spotlights

**** Highly Recommended  For once, a play totally lives up to its name. "Iraq, but Funny" is a screwball comedy that had the opening night audience in stitches.  I didn’t know what to expect, but this show was so funny I missed lines because people were laughing. Playwright Atra Asdou ties the stories of five generations of Assyrian women into the history of the area by using the British guy as narrator and comic relief to tie it all together brilliantly. 4 BIG Spotlights

**** Highly Recommended  Who knew that Janet Davies could act?  That genial ‘woman about town’ from ABC news is starring in "Misery," the first production of the season at Dunes Arts Summer Theater, and she’s killing it! Davies owns the part of Annie, the crazy stalker fan run amok. I really don’t like creepy thrillers - I didn’t read "Misery" and I didn’t see the movie – so I wasn’t looking forward to seeing this play. I have to say it caught me and never let go. Everything about this production is first-rate.  Don’t miss it.  4 Spotlights