Reviews by Carol Moore

** Somewhat Recommended **  I’ve had a difficult time writing a review of “Dana H”, a performance I’d call ‘reality stage’.  It was obvious from the applause that some people in the audience really liked it but it definitely wasn’t the show for me.  The subject matter is so gruesome my friend Helen had nightmares.  2 Spotlights

**** Recommended **** Recently I took a drive to Lifeline Theatre, a small (99 seats) venue in Rogers Park to see “Whose Body?” at Lifeline Theatre. I was intrigued by the idea of a stage play featuring one of my favorite characters, Lord Peter Wimsey, written by one of my favorite authors, Dorothy L. Sayers.  Everything is spot on – the acting, the  ‘veddy, veddy’ British accents, the costumes and the set.  4 Spotlights

**** Highly Recommended **** I am not embarrassed to admit that my siblings and I are “Monty Python aficionados.  At our house, reciting passages of “Monty Python’s Flying Circus” verbatim was normal dinner conversation for my siblings and me.  When I heard Eric Idle had written a musical version of “Monty Python and the Holy Grail”, I knew I had to see it.  So, long before I started writing reviews, I saw “Spamalot” in Chicago before it went to Broadway.  I’ve seen at least five productions of the show, and it still makes me laugh.  Mercury Theater’s production of “Monty Python’s Spamalot” was hysterical!  4 Big Spotlights     

**** Recommended **** Remy Bumppo’s production of “Howard’s End”, based on E.M. Forster’s classic novel, is a beautifully staged play about life in Victorian England; and an illustration of that old adage – what goes around, comes around.  The cast is outstanding, the costumes period-perfect, and it was fascinating to watch as a simple rearrangement of the same 3 or 4 pieces of furniture and a new projection on the wall transformed the set into different drawing rooms, a tenement, a park bench and even a car.  4 Spotlights