Spotlight on Reviews

*** Recommended  Steppenwolf’s production of Ngozi Anyanwu’s play, "Leroy and Lucy," left me adrift.  Since it’s billed as a play with music, I thought I’d hear way more Delta Blues than I did.  I thought I knew where it was going – the ‘sell your soul to the devil’ trope – but then it took a strange turn and I wasn’t sure what to think. I liked the staging but I couldn’t bring myself to care about the characters.  2 ½ Spotlights

**** Highly Recommended  The Joffrey Ballet’s performance of "Atonement" was absolutely magnificent!  Words just don’t do it justice!  I thought Cathy Marston’s "Jane Eyre" was the ultimate in translating beloved stories into passionate dance experiences, but I was wrong. I was there when the Joffrey dancers brought Ian McEwan’s novel to life. The Joffrey dancers are the best – talented dancers, athletes and actors What an incredible experience!  4 BIG Spotlights

**** Recommended  Remy Bumppo’s production of "Dear Elizabeth" is a unique and charming little play. It’s unique because the characters were real people, renowned American poets, Elzabeth Bishop (Leah Karper) and Robert “Cal” Lowell (Christopher Sheard).  Apparently, playwright Sarah Ruhl ran across their letters and decided the content would make a play.  Kudos to Director Christina Casano for this fascinating glimpse into the lives of two literary giants.  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