**** Recommended **** Dunes Summer Theatre is one of my favorite summer destinations. Combine my love for this ‘gem in the woods’ with my love of murder mysteries, and I had a perfect afternoon recently. I really enjoyed their production of “Smoke & Mirrors”, a farcical murder mystery. Although I’m pretty good at figuring out “who dunnit,” this play had a couple of plot twists even I didn’t see coming. It’s a hoot! 4 Spotlights
**** Highly Recommended **** As a long-time fan of Hubbard Street Dance, I try to see every series, and I have never been disappointed. The artistry, strength and grace that the dancers bring to the choreography is world-class, the choreographers are inventive and original, and lighting, sound and costume always complement and enhance the work. At the beginning, I always marvel that humans can achieve such feats of athleticism and discipline of their bodies and minds. But tonight's performance was truly breath-taking.
*** Recommended *** Beatnik Entertainment’s latest production, “Dearly Departed” is a 'drop-dead' funny comedy (excuse the pun there, I couldn’t resist). The story opens at the breakfast table, with Raynelle Turpin (Bonnie Johnson) reading a letter out from her born-again sister-in-law to her husband, Bud (Rip Johnson). As she finishes the letter, Bud falls off his chair, dead. As his crazy family gathers, we learn that the rituals of death are just a little bit different at the Turpin home. “Dearly Departed” had the audience laughing. 3 Spotlights
**** Highly Recommended **** I have a new entry to my personal top ten musicals, “Six”! I loved this new pop-rock concert musical starring the six wives of Henry VIII so much that I’ve downloaded the soundtrack – and bought tickets to see it again! How’s that for a recommendation? I’m telling you, I LOVE this show! 4 BIG Spotlights
★★★★★ When one attends a production at Black Ensemble Theater, one expects to hear music “the way it is meant to be heard”, and, as always, their new show, “Style and Grace”, hit the mark! There is also a new voice in the background. Kylah Frye, who we have watched on the stage at Black Ensemble over the years, has taken on a new role (or perhaps an added one) as an Associate Director with the company, and wrote and directed this piece. Turns out she is a triple threat, doing a great job.
Highly Recommended **** Most of us grew up on Boris Karloff in “Frankenstein”, a tale of a Doctor who desires to recreate man from the dead. What Lookingglass Theatre is now presenting is a whole new look at “the monster” as told by Mary Shelley. This is a version that many will be surprised by. David Caitlin has adapted this book to fit the Lookingglass mode of creating stories that are physical as well as mental. Caitlin also directs this powerful story. Lookingglass patrons know that every time you enter the “black box” venue, you will see a different configuration. This one is in the round, so to speak, with audience members sitting on all four sides and the action taking place on a platform of sorts in the center of the room.
Recommended *** During the War ( AKA as “The Big One”) most people are aware that the women had to take some of the jobs that their men did prior to being called to service. History shows that the “Rosie the Riveter” ladies kept our country and economy going. For baseball fans, we had “A League of Their Own”, but what about the theater? George Brant’s “Into the Breeches” now on the Northlight stage takes us back to 1942, here in Chicago and our Oberon Playhouse.
I had intended to review "Bloomsday" myself, but traffic got in the way. There was a Cubs game at 7:15 on opening night. Knowing that, I left Munster at 5:15 for Remy Bumppo's 7:00 pm curtain, but traffic on LSD was horrendous. I got to Theater Wit about 10 minutes late, and of course they couldn't hold the curtain. I saw the second act, which I really enjoyed, but I didn't think it was fair to write a review without seeing both. Thanks to my friend Al Bresloff, I'm able to offer a full review. Carol
**** Recommended **** “Falsettos” is an unusual musical in that it defies classification. It’s about the angst-ridden lives of six New Yorkers, but it’s not annoying – at least most of the time. It has funny bits, but it’s not a comedy. It has really sad bits, but it’s not a tragedy. The entire script is sung, but it’s not an opera or even an operetta. It’s actually a musical soap opera about “homosexuals with children”, but it’s also a beautiful musical experience sung by six outstanding voices. 4 Spotlights
*** Recommended *** I’ve had a hard time writing about Court Theatre’s production of “The Adventures of Augie March”. If you haven’t read Saul Bellow’s 1953 coming-of-age novel about a man-child – and I haven’t – you’ll probably have a hard time with this adaptation. It was difficult to keep track of the forty-some characters played by an ensemble cast of thirteen. I read somewhere that Bellow’s novel meanders through several hundred pages – this stage production meandered through three long acts, coming in at a little over three hours (and two intermissions). 3 Spotlights
