Spotlight on Reviews

**** Recommended **** Audiences are loving Mercury Theater’s production of "Big River: The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn", a delightful retelling of Mark Twain’s 1884 novel.  William Hauptman’s musical adaptation is an old-fashioned story featuring wonderful bluegrass-style music with both music and lyrics written by Roger Miller.  I guarantee you’ll enjoy "Big River", I sure did!  4 Spotlights

**** Highly Recommended **** "The Porch on Windy Hill" is billed as “a new play with old music.”  That ‘old music’ is folk music, music that tells a story, music that’s handed down through generations.  The ‘new play’ has a familiar concept – anger, resentment and a failure to communicate caused a family split resulting in years of silence and hurt feelings.  Making music brings the two sides together.  I loved the music so much I found myself wishing "The Porch on Windy Hill" was in my neighborhood.  I’d be there in a flash!  4 BIG Spotlights

**** Recommended **** I was in a quandary as I watched "The Little Mermaid".  The performance was magnificent, the performers, especially Victoria Jaiani, were incredible.  The story is dark, sad and brooding, quite frankly making me a little uncomfortable, and I wasn’t all that fond of Lera Auerbach’s score either.  John Neumeier’s choreography was complicated and challenging, making for a beautiful ballet.  As usual, the Joffrey dancers execute the most complicated choreography with flawless technique and timing.  4 BIG Spotlights

*** Recommended *** “Grease is the word…” at least through June 4th in Oakbrook Terrace.  The kids at Rydell High are back in a colorful, exuberant and energetic production complete with plenty of teen angst and rock and roll!  Overall, I liked the show but – and this is a big but – they never actually did the Hand Jive!  They danced all over the stage, but those hand motions were only in evidence for about 10 beats.  What’s that about?  If you’re going to include the song, you’d better do the dance!  I guess that makes me a Grease purist (lol).  3 Spotlights