***RECOMMENDED*** There is always good reason to celebrate when new operas join the repertoire of major opera houses. "Ariodante" at the Lyric Opera is no exception. It is somewhat shocking that George Frideric Handel's 1735 masterwork has never been seen at Lyric in their 64 years of existence but the long-awaited premiere of this Baroque classic arrives containing some major surprises -- one of which was not planned by the production team. 3 SPOTLIGHTS
★★★★★ Very often, I am asked about the smaller theaters that are difficult to find. It has been a while since I have been to a play on Broadway ( yes, Virginia, we do have a Broadway in Chicago) but tonight I journeyed over to Pride Films & Plays Center’s Broadway Theater, located in yet another Chicago “storefront” at 4139 N. Broadway. They are doing the Chicago premiere of “Southern Comfort”, a musical based on a film documentary that tells the story of a transgender self-made community living life on their own terms in rural Georgia. With a book and lyrics by Dan Collins and music by Julianne Wick Davis, this musical is filled with Blue Grass music, and while you will not be humming as you leave the theater, you will have a good feeling as the characters find some happiness.
There are two ratings for this production. Since this is one of the “lost musicals” series, I feel that we must rate the front part of the production on the merits of the work done by Michael Weber, Artistic Director. He starts the evening with the telling of the history of the show that we are about to see. In this case, “Can-Can”, and how its writer ( book by Abe Burrows) and the composer, Cole Porter, got together to create this musical from scratch.
*** Recommended *** I’m still not sure how I feel about “Act(s) of God”, playing at Lookingglass Theatre through April 7th. It’s a very strange play – sort of futuristic, sort of dystopian, sort of religious cultish, sort of family angst-y, sort of funny, with a whole lot of ‘woo-woo’ thrown in the mix. Somehow, it just didn’t feel finished, but since it is Kareem Bandealy’s first play, I’ll cut him some slack. 3 Spotlights
*** Recommended *** Some people may find Towle Theater’s “Swing State” heavy going. Forget about the title, this musical is not about elections. It’s about two people who would probably never meet under normal circumstances. It’s about bigotry, intolerance and loss. It’s very well acted, but a lot of the content is uncomfortable to hear/see. It should get people thinking. 3 Spotlights
**** Recommended **** Drury Lane’s production of “Mamma Mia” is 2 ½ hours of pure joy! As jukebox musicals go, this is one of the best. It’s got toe-tapping, seat-dancing great music and a plot that’s just a little bit squee! You’ll be singing along to ABBA favorites like “Honey, Honey”, “Dancing Queen”, “Money, Money, Money”, “Gimme, Gimme, Gimme”, “Knowing You, Knowing Me” and more. I loved it! 4 Spotlights
**** Highly Recommended **** As an aficionado of suspense stories, both written and staged, I have to say that The National Theatre of Great Britain’s production of “An Inspector Calls” is one of the best. It kept my attention riveted on the stage for the entire hour and 45 minutes! Everything from the fog swirling about the stage to the boys playing in the road to the Birling’s glass house (perhaps as in the old adage about people in glass houses) combined to set the mood. The suspense will hold your attention, but the subtexts will keep you thinking long after you’ve gone home. 4 BIG Spotlights
**** Highly Recommended **** Theatre at the Center’s “Million Dollar Quartet” will have you dancing in your seat! On December 4, 1956, Johnny Cash (Tommy Malouf), Jerry Lee Lewis (Michael Kurowski), Carl Perkins (Zachary Stevenson) and Elvis Presley (Zach Sorrow) did a little jammin’ at Sun Records Studio in Memphis on December 4, 1956. “Million Dollar Quartet” is based on the events of that night. Rock and roll lovers, get your tickets now! This show might be the best I’ve seen. 4 BIG Spotlights
**** Highly Recommended **** The Joffrey Ballet’s “Anna Karenina” was quite simply, exquisite. That anyone could condense 864 pages of moody, broody and depressed Russians indulging in inexplicable and/or incomprehensible behavior into a 2½ hour ballet is awe-inspiring. Of course it took a pair of Russians to capture all that passion, all that angst, and a third to write the libretto. By the way, “Anna Karenina” is a co-production with the Australian Ballet. C’est magnifique! 4 BIG Spotlights
**** Recommended **** I am always in awe when I see one of Chicago Shakespeare Theatre’s “Short Shakespeare!” performances. The very idea that someone can abridge one of Shakespeare’s complicated plots into 75 minutes is mind-boggling. That said, “Short Shakespeare! Macbeth” is an intense immersion into a dark world of greed and ambition. Although geared to younger audiences, Marti Lyons’ original adaptation doesn’t lose a thing in the translation. This is dynamite! 4 Spotlights
