Spotlight on Reviews

**** 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

**** Recommended  I loved watching the company of Trinity Irish Dance 35 performing in the intimate Edlis Neeson Auditorium at the Museum of Contemporary Art.  The dancers are strong, athletic and precise while executing some of the most difficult dance steps you’ll ever see and it was a lot easier to watch their footwork in the smaller space. By the way, they are nothing like the Irish dancers you see everywhere around St. Pat’s Day.  What they do is more like an Irish drill team than Riverdance.  In fact, it’s a hybrid of Irish step and American tap.  An Irish band onstage makes the performance even more unique.  4 BIG Spotlights