Reviews by Carol Moore

**** Highly Recommended   "The Music Man" is back in town!  You don’t want to miss Marriott’s fresh new production of this musical classic, it’s a gem!  Kudos to Director/Choreographer Katie Spelman, the cast is terrific and the choreography is not to be missed.  The turn-of-the-century story might seem a bit dated but the music is timeless.  4 Big Spotlights

**** Recommended   Although the Court Theatre has mounted an outstanding production, some of you – like my guest, Helen – might find "Rosencrantz and Guildenstern Are Dead" heavy going.  Indeed, I felt like I was watching Waiting for Godot, one of the most boring plays ever written!  The questions of the day - who are Rosencrantz and Guildenstern and why should we care? Tom Stoppard’s absurdist play, a riff on a line from the final scene in Shakespeare’s Hamlet, tries to answer those questions.  3 ½ Spotlights

**** Highly Recommended  When I first saw "The Choir of Man" back in 2019, I really enjoyed it, but always felt there was something missing.  Turns out it needed to be in a different kind of venue -  a more intimate one – Chicago’s Apollo Theater to be exact.  The Apollo’s stage is surrounded by the audience rather than set apart as in a more traditional theater.  Before "The Choir of Man" even begins, the audience is invited into the pub to enjoy a beverage or two. After a bit, everyone grabs a seat, the guys start singing "Welcome to the Jungle", and you know you’re in for something special!  "The Choir of Man" is one of the best shows I’ve seen in ages!  4 BIG Spotlights

**** Highly Recommended   Often when I see a play about families, I think about a Dickens quote about the best of times, and the worst of times.  Family can be the best, but it can also be the absolute worst.  So, family angst is at the center of "Purpose", a must-see world premiere at Steppenwolf.  Sometimes a family occasion – mom’s birthday, Thanksgiving, Sunday brunch – becomes a command performance.  "Purpose" is all about a command performance for a brother’s homecoming – from prison!  It’s an amazingly good play – funny, fraught, fiery – and there’s a food fight!  4 BIG Spotlights