**** Reommended I didn’t expect to like "Inanimate" as much as I did, but it pulled me in and wouldn’t let go! This quirky little comedy has interesting and somewhat eccentric characters who live in a small town with a thriving Walmart and empty storefronts in a dying downtown. "Inanimate" explores something called objectum sexuality (a sexual attraction to inanimate objects), with wit and grace. 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 Mercury Theater’s production of "Jersey Boys" absolutely rocks! The first Chicago produced version of the show is a rock and roll masterpiece! "Jersey Boys" is the ultimate jukebox musical and the mostly true story of four young men from New Jersey who became rock and roll royalty. Mercury’s smaller space brings the audience closer to the stage giving the production a more intimate feel. I’ve seen Frankie Valli and the Four Seasons in concert several times. The music in this show was spot on! 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
**** Recommended "Love Song" is a quirky little rom-com which I really enjoyed. My friend, Helen, wasn’t so sure. Remy Bumppo’s production about love in all its complexities can be seen at Theater Wit through April 21st. I love smaller theater spaces like Theater Wit’s because I can actually see the actors faces, catch the twinkle in an eye or a twitch of a cheek. There are just four actors in "Love Song", which was directed by Marti Lyons, and they were all spot on! 4 Spotlights
**** Highly Recommended It’s cold outside, but who cares? Warm up at Aurora’s Copley Theatre with the smoldering heat generated by the cast of A Streetcar Named Desire! Although this Tennessee Williams classic premiered in 1947, its themes are very relevant today. This production is absolutely sizzling – and – of course, there’s always that famous yell! 4 BIG Spotlights
**** Highly Recommended I loved "The Matchbox Magic Flute!" Although I’m not an opera fan, I am a Mary Zimmerman fan, so I knew this show would be an experience I didn’t want to miss. Obviously, I had very high expectations! I’m happy to say that "The Matchbox Magic Flute" definitely surpassed those expectations! Mozart’s music, the voices, the costumes, the ambiance – everything was just about perfect. 4 Spotlights
**** Highly Recommended Chicago Shakespeare Theatre’s production of "Short Shakespeare! Romeo and Juliet", which is set in the 80s, was charming, engaging and oh, so sad. I’m not embarrassed to say that at the end I had tears in my eyes. With Shakespeare’s drama about teen angst, murder and mayhem still required reading in most high schools, I was happy to see groups of young people as well as families in the audience. I was even more happy to see those young people stand up and cheer at the end of the play! 4 Spotlights
**** Recommended "Mrs. Doubtfire", a new musical comedy playing at the Nederlander, is a funny, poignant, thoroughly enjoyable theatrical experience. The story is corny but the outstanding cast embraced it, making it their own. It’s unusual for the actor who originates a role on Broadway to go on tour, but luckily for all of us, the amazing Rob McClure decided to do just that. I must admit, I had a hard time imagining "Mrs. Doubtfire" as a musical, so my expectations were low, but this cast made a believer out of me! 4 Spotlights
**** Highly Recommended The Paramount Theatre production of "Billy Elliot: The Musical", stark, dark, industrial, is magnificent. Superb acting, larger than life production numbers, incredible dancing – both ballet and tap – demand your attention, and yet, in the middle of all that spectacle, there are all these small quietly emotional scenes, too. The miners are men’s men, the strikers and the police have violent clashes, the little girls giggle, but the emotions are honest and open. Gritty, sometimes violent, often profane, but in the end triumphant, "Billy Elliot" gets 4 BIG Spotlights.
