So many theaters do the same old same old productions. Nothing against these but they just keep reappearing. I guess they prefer to go the safe classic route with tried and trues but a repeat every 5-10 years would be sufficient. So…my hats off to neighborhood theater Skokie Theatre for having the courage to try something out of the box.
I missed opening night but after I saw the show mid-run, I wanted to write this review and encourage all to see this lively production of “Guys and Dolls”. The storyline is simple, corny and fun. It’s the classic opposites attract spin with a couple of crises thrown in to get to a happy entertaining finish.
One set, two actors and three words describe “I and You”. It was amazing! Better yet…it’s a masterpiece. And Citadel Theatre gets a big pat on the back for playing it.
***RECOMMENDED*** "Hedda Gabler" In a punchy new adaptation by Mark O'Rowe, which feels both deferential to Ibsen's original text while also being extremely modern, several company members of The Artistic Home give credible performances under Monica's Payne's solid direction. 3.5 SPOTLIGHTS
Elle Woods, played by Kayla Shipman is the icing on the cake. She knocks it out of the park. Mandy Modic, director of “Legally Blonde” pulls all the production pieces together to make one entertaining evening. Add to that the amazing Music Theater Works Orchestra and this reviewer has to give this a “Highly Recommended” rating.
Pure entertainment from the beginning to end; “Dames at Sea” combines excellently choreographed and performed tap dancing with at times hints of ballet, beautiful singing, all accented with humor. Even if you think you are not a fan of tap dancing, you will not be able to resist joining numerous spontaneous applauds. The story is based on the World War two era. How things have changed will bring a smile to your face.
So, I went to the preview (dress rehearsal) before opening night. The main character lead Melody Rowland, who plays Ruby, was sick and her understudy Maya Paletta filled in. She was terrific…high energy, good dancer and very likeable. The storyline of “Dames at Sea” has the same scenario. Narcissistic Mona, played unsympathetically, but very well, by Clara Jarvis, the star of this 1930’s style musical, gets sick. Ruby (Maya Paletta) must step in to save the day. Life does imitate art, after all. I am told that Melody is also quite amazing.
****HIGHLY RECOMMENDED Playwright August Wilson, famous for creating his "Century Cycle" of ten plays exploring and celebrating the African American experience, was quite clearly a very good listener. One can't help picturing him seated in one of his favorite diners or coffee shops located within the Hill District neighborhood of his native Pittsburgh, with his omnipresent yellow legal notepad in hand, eavesdropping on the conversations taking place around him and jotting down notes or nascent ideas for future projects. 4 SPOTLIGHTS
***RECOMMENDED The mere prospect of mounting a production of "Into the Woods" may be nearly as daunting as some of the obstacles that the fairytale characters face once they have entered the foreboding forest in Stephen Sondheim's beloved musical. You need a very strong cast to make this particular show truly sing. After all, as famously parodied in the delightfully twisted show "Forbidden Broadway" in which those cast members lamented Sondheim's endlessly tricky rhyme schemes and demanding lyrics during the "Into the Words" number, not just anyone can pull this off. When it was announced that Kokandy Productions would be concluding their 2024 season with "Into the Woods," hopes were very high as this particular company has had much success with Sondheim's work in the past. 3 SPOTLIGHTS
“Little Shop of Horrors” is a smorgasbord of genres. It is sci-fi, drama, horror, romance and comedy supported by rousing classic pop rock music.
