The Neo-Futurists present TANGLES & PLAQUES. Neo-Futurists often take something hard to swallow and wrap it in candy coating. They give serious messages a whimsical makeover. Creator and performer Kirsten Riiber does just that in her new show. Artist by night and activity director at a nursing home by day, Riiber combines her passions in a ...
The Fourth Walsh
Theatre with a side of life
Category The Fourth Walsh
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Review “The Invisible Hand” (Steep Theatre): Puts us in the room and lets the walls close in!
Steep Theatre presents THE INVISIBLE HAND. An American banker kidnapped in Pakistan might be reported on CNN. It, at least, would likely be an article under international happenings in a newspaper. Details about the captivity, personal negotiations for survival, the pain, the panic, the tedium would be glossed over for the short factual blurb. The real ...
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Review “Evening at The Talk House” (A Red Orchid Theatre): When theatre goes dark… forever!
A Red Orchid presents the Chicago premiere of EVENING AT THE TALK HOUSE. In typical A Red Orchid fashion, their current offering is thought-provoking, wacky entertainment. Playwright Wallace Shawn has penned an apocalyptic tale. The twist is his future could be a mere ten years away. Wallace carves out a reality where theatre is no longer ...
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Review “The Crucible” (Steppenwolf Theatre): Uncomfortably Reflects a Modern Day Insensibility
Steppenwolf Theatre for Young Adults presents THE CRUCIBLE. Playwright Arthur Miller's ode to the 1692 Salem witch trials has eery hints to contemporary issues. Although Miller debuted his play in 1953, loud whispers to 2017 madness are present. The story boils down to using religion to justify killing non-christians. In this case, it's a group of ...
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Review “A View from the Bridge”: One Man’s Obsession!
Goodman Theatre presents A VIEW FROM THE BRIDGE. Playwright Arthur Miller sets his love triangles on the 1950s Brooklyn docks. Eddie (played by the outstanding Ian Bedford) is overly-protective of his niece Catherine (played by Catherine Combs). When she starts dating Rodolpho (played by Daniel Abeles), Eddie is livid. His wife Beatrice (played by Andrus Nichols) ...
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Review “Orphée et Eurydice” (Lyric Opera): Dynamic Marriage
The Lyric Opera of Chicago presents Orphée et Eurydice . The Lyric, in collaboration with The Joffrey Ballet, opens its 2017/2018 season with a visual and audio stunner. The 3 powerhouse principals , accompanied by 60 chorus and 47 orchestra members, fill the theatre with the soulful melodies of love lost and found and remembered. And the 43 ...
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Review “The Rembrandt” (Steppenwolf Theatre): Imitation of Art and Life
Steppenwolf Theatre presents the Chicago premiere of THE REMBRANDT. A Rembrandt painting is the focal point of Playwright Jessica Dickey's tale. It's the portrait of Aristotle with his hand on a bust of Homer's head. Dickey attempts to connect life to art and art to life over centuries. She draws parallels between the admirers of the ...
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How I spent my summer…
My insensitive use of a word changed my summer plans. When people reacted to my horrible mistake by denouncing me publicly as a racist, I felt shocked, hurt, angry and defensive. My first impulse was to fight back. I wanted to prove I wasn’t a racist. I wanted to rattle off all the aspects in ...
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A letter of contrition…
It’s been 6 days since my horrible mistake regarding the use of an offensive word in a theatre review. If you aren’t aware of my blunder, this letter isn’t for you. If you know exactly what I’m talking about, please take a moment to read this. I’ve spent a lot of time in contemplation of my ...