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.
“Noises Off” is a hilarious farce of British wit and slap stick humor. A well done production set turns as if it is a “lazy susan” between the three acts provides the audience a view of the goings on shenanigans during a play production. You can only pray this is not typical of most plays.
This reviewer was mesmorized as all the musicians not only supplied great orchestration but, acted and sang amazingly. This unusual musical prodcution is the brainchild of Preston Max Allen. He worked on it for ten years, adding, deleting, and tweaking until he felt comfortable. Preston created the story, music and lyrics. If the unique production does not impress you, the musical numbers will.
Sandy Rustin, the playwright, just pulled off a first in neighborhood Chicago theater. She was instrumental in bringing her 2023 sexual farce stage play directly from Broadway to neighborhood Citadel Theatre in Lake Forest. Ms. Rustin grew up in Glenview and went to Northwestern University. She was influenced by Noel Coward’s “Private Lives” and Bernard Slade’s “Same Time Next Year” but creates her own unique story in “The Cottage”. It is recommended by this reviewer.
“Bob, could you review the opening night of “South Pacific” at The Skokie Theatre?
“I’ve seen it 1000 times (I never exaggerate) from NYC to Chicago and you want me to see it again?”
So, on September 6, I went to see the opening of “South Pacific” for the 1001th time, and I am glad that I did. I am, again, reminded why this show is in its 77th year, has received 10 Tonys and is one of only two musicals to receive a “Pulitzer Prize”.
What makes a musical the best ever? According to “Time Magazine”, it is powerful memorable songs, great acting, great voices, dancing, and a great story of characters, complicated ones, This production of "Carousel", by Music Theater Works, has ALMOST all of those.
