Spotlight on Reviews

**** 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

*** Recommended *** A jukebox musical is a story written to feature hit songs of a popular music group or genre.  More often than not, these musicals turn out to be light, frothy musical romps.  "Jagged Little Pill", which features the music of Alanis Morissette’s album of the same name, definitely breaks that mold.  It’s dark, depressing and sad, but it did have a real impact.   I thought Act I was somewhat over-choreographed and the music was so loud I had a hard time understanding the words in many of the songs.  3 Spotlights