**** Recommended**** Court Theatre’s production of “Oedipus Rex” is powerful, gripping and ultimately poignant. I’m sure everyone is familiar with the word ‘Oedipus” but I wonder how many have actually read it. Written by Sophocles, it was first performed in about 429 BC as part of a trilogy. I must say, this most tragic of all the Greek tragedies, left me with tears in my eyes. 4 Spotlights
***** Highly Recommended ***** I’m a Jane Austin fan. I’ve read and reread all of her books, wry commentaries on the courtship rituals of the English gentry. The Bennett family, described so well in “Pride and Prejudice”, is dear to me. I loved Northlight Theatre’s 2016 production of “Miss Bennett: Christmas at Pemberley”, so I was happy to see that Lauren Gunderson and Margot Melcon had written a companion play set ’downstairs’ at Pemberley. “The Wickhams: Christmas at Pemberley” is fresh and witty, fitting perfectly into Jane Austin’s world. I loved it. 4 BIG Holiday Spotlights.
*** Recommended *** Usually, liking a play or not liking a play is pretty spontaneous – happening while I’m watching. In rare cases, however, it’ll grow on me. “The Niceties”, the new production at Writers Theatre is one of those plays. Although it’s interesting and very well-acted, I didn’t think I liked it. In fact, the more I thought about it, the more I didn’t like it. The situation is fraught and neither character is at all sympathetic. I’m recommending “The Niceties” because audiences should judge for themselves. 3 Spotlights
**** Highly Recommended **** After seeing Lookingglass Theatre’s production of “The Steadfast Tin Soldier” for the second time, I can say this holiday pantomime is special every time you see it. If you’re looking for a holiday outing for your family, this should be the show. Featuring five uber-talented artists, amazing puppets, talented musicians, fantastical costumes and more, “The Steadfast Tin Soldier” is completely charming. Mary Zimmerman’s interpretation of the Hans Christian Anderson story is done entirely in pantomime. I loved it! 4 BIG Holiday Spotlights
**** Recommended **** Turnabout, as they say, is fair play. Leonard Bernstein used the plot of Shakespeare’s “Romeo and Juliet” for his musical, “West Side Story”. In setting their new production on an urban basketball court, Chicago Shakespeare borrowed the “West Side Story” feel for “Romeo and Juliet”, Shakespeare’s drama about teen angst, murder and mayhem. This production is young, fresh and interesting. 4 Spotlights
**** Recommended **** The Second City continues to do what they do best, making people laugh, and laugh, and laugh some more, with their 108th Mainstage Revue, “Do You Believe in Madness?” The Second City formula – a revue filled with snarky commentary on the news of the day, silly sketches, music, improv, audience participation, even a little slapstick comedy – has been very successful over the years. In honor of a milestone birthday – The Second City turns sixty (60) on December 16th – they’ve put together the funniest revue I’ve seen in several years! 4 Spotlights
**** Highly Recommended **** “Oliver!” is another of my favorite musicals. I’ve seen the show so many times I can almost recite the dialogue, not to mention the lyrics of most of the songs, but so what! The score is one great song after another starting with “Food, Glorious Food”. Some other favorites - “I'd Do Anything (for your)”, “Where is Love?”, “Consider Yourself (one of the family)”, “Who Will Buy”, and “As Long As He Needs Me”. The Marriott production is just plain terrific! Take your family, your kids/grandkids, they’ll love it! 4 BIG Spotlights
**** Recommended **** You’ve been invited to a ball in the kingdom of Other, you and all the single girls. The prince is going to pick a bride! Is this another Cinderella story, you might ask? The answer would be no. This is “The Other Cinderella”, Jackie Taylor’s magical musical version of the fairy tale. Black Ensemble Theatre has staged “The Other Cinderella” many times, but I’d never seen it. It’s hard to believe it was written 43 years ago, it’s so fresh and funny. It had me laughing and/or dancing in my seat the whole show! 4 Spotlights
*** Recommended *** “Kentucky” is a quirky little play about a very dysfunctional family. “Kentucky” is an odd, eccentric play. It’s funny until it’s not. It has music, but it’s not a musical. It’s a poignant story about going home, with a moral (if there is a moral) – no matter what you think you know, you can’t know – or decide - what’s best for someone else. 3 Spotlights
**** Recommended **** I really enjoyed “An Evening with C.S. Lewis”, more than I thought I would. A few years back I saw “C.S. Lewis Onstage: The Most Reluctant Convert” starring Max Mason, and was bored stiff. Oh, no, another C.S. Lewis I thought. I’m happy to say David Payne’s C.S. Lewis was entirely different, more personal. His anecdotes were funny and quite delightful, his poems – or as he called them, little ditties – displayed a wry sense of humor. 3 ½ Spotlights
