Haven Theatre presents the Chicago Premiere of HOW WE GOT ON. Playwright Idris Goodwin sets his coming-of-age story in the 80s. The hip hop movement has just started. In the suburbs, three midwestern teenagers struggle to find their artistic voice. As they develop their craft, they must confront limited technology, family dysfunction, and jealous rivalries. Goodwin ...
The Fourth Walsh
Theatre with a side of life
Category The Fourth Walsh
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Review “Das Rheingold” (Lyric Opera): Shiny, Solid Gold Treasure!
The Lyric Opera of Chicago presents DAS RHEINGOLD. The Lyric simultaneously launches its 2016-2017 season and their new production of The Ring Cycle. DAS RHEINGOLD is the first of the four Wagner operas to be presented at the Lyric. Director David Pountney introduces a solid gold Ring. Wagner’s imaginative adventure of gods, dwarves and giants explodes ...
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Review “The Room” (A Red Orchid Theatre): Pinter’s Puzzler
A Red Orchid Theatre presents THE ROOM. Playwright Harold Pinter puts us in a small room. He dumps out pieces of a colorful and warped puzzle. The challenge is to fit them together within the absurd constraints of this room. Is the space a sanctuary or a prison for Rose (played with distinction by Kirsten Fitzgerald)? ...
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Review “The Happiest Place on Earth”(Sideshow Theatre): Dawkins’ Disney Playful and Poignant
The Greenhouse Theatre Center, in conjunction with Sideshow Theatre,presents the World Premiere of THE HAPPIEST PLACE ON EARTH. I am a longtime fan of Playwright Philip Dawkins. Until Friday night, I had never seen Dawkins perform. In his one man show, Dawkins cleverly weaves together his family’s and Disney’s origin stories. In a classroom-like setting, he ...
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Review “Hand to God” (Victory Gardens): Extraordinary Dark, Dark, Dark Adult Comedy
Victory Gardens presents the Chicago Premiere of HAND TO GOD. Don’t let the puppet promo picture fool you. This isn’t a play for children. It’s a dark, dark, dark adult comedy. Playwright Robert Askins conjured up a doozy with this tale. His story takes place in a church where the Christian Puppet Ministry is working on ...
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Review “A Comedical Tragedy for Mr. Punch” (The House Theatre of Chicago): Now That’s How You Do It!
Reviewed by Tom Lawler Set the scene: The House Theater, no stranger to darkening up storybook classics (i.e., The Terrible Tragedy of Peter Pan, The Great and Terrible Wizard of Oz), now deconstructs a tale that’s already pretty grim – the violent and outrageous “Punch and Judy” puppet shows that reached their peak in the 1700s ...
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Review “Scarcity” (Redtwist Theatre): Authentically Disconcerting
Redtwist Theatre presents the Chicago premiere of SCARCITY. This family. Wow! Dysfunctional is inadequate to describe the layers of relational woe in this family. Playwright Lucy Thurber disconcertingly illustrates the effects of alcoholism at home. Dad is an out-of-work drunk. Mom is a functional alcoholic with a string of mediocre jobs. The teenager has a ...
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“Wonderful Town” (Goodman Theatre): Homespun Goodness
Goodman Theatre presents WONDERFUL TOWN. This IS your grandma’s musical. It has old-fashion charm, zany life hurdles and a guaranteed happy ending. The wholesome adventure brings two sisters from a small town in Ohio to big, flashy New York City. Ruth (played by Bri Sudia) wants to be a writer. Eileen (played by Lauren Molina) wants ...