Jackalope Theatre Company presents the World Premiere of LUNACY! (A Cryptohistorical Comedy). lunacy |ˈlo͞onəsē| noun (pl. lunacies) the state of being a lunatic; insanity • extreme folly or eccentricity The title says it all. Jackalope’s world premiere is pure lunacy! Playwright Andrew Burden Swanson imagines the moon landing conspiracy as a 1969 reality. Since President ...
The Fourth Walsh
Theatre with a side of life
Category The Fourth Walsh
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Review “Belfast Girls” (Artemisia Theatre): Scrappy and Optimistic Survivors
Artemisia Theatre presents the American Premiere of BELFAST GIRLS. Playwright Jaki McCarrick pens a tale of five young women fleeing the Irish Famine on a ship bound for Australia. Promises of rich husbands and endless food beckon these gals to leave their beloved homeland for an unknown country. McCarrick’s play dramatizes the real life women ...
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Review “The Devilish Children (and the Civilizing Process)”: Diese Kinders Aren’t So Tender
Madelaine Schmitt. Reviewed by Tom Lawler Here’s one way to stand out in Chicago’s crowded theater scene: do something that no else does. For Dream Theater Company, it’s a single-minded focus on creating original, risky work that often blurs the lines between performers and audience. In their words, they want to create works that “linger with ...
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Review “Quiz Show” (Strawdog Theatre): A Live Theatrical ‘Sixth Sense’
Strawdog Theatre presents the U.S. Premiere of QUIZ SHOW. As a reviewer, I like to go into a show with little to no information. Because I want to have the same experience as the average audience member, I usually read the press release after the play. I went into QUIZ SHOW with two preconceptions. I knew ...
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Review “The Little Foxes” (Goodman Theatre): Lush and Wicked
Goodman Theatre presents THE LITTLE FOXES. Upon arrival, the audience is whisked back in time to turn-of-the-century 1900s elegance. Scenic Designer Todd Rosenthal has constructed an oversized Victorian dollhouse complete with ornate gaslights and an elaborate staircase. Towering windows look out onto the grounds. The grandiose appearance is scaled for authenticity. And before we leave, we’ll ...
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Review “MACSITH” (E.D.G.E. Theatre): Ambitious and Chaotic
E.D.G.E Theatre presents the return of MACSITH. I haven’t thought of “Macbeth” and “Star Wars” together... ever. The parallels between a story anchored in history and one in a futuristic galaxy far, far away aren’t obvious. On closer inspection, Macbeth was a man influenced by the dark side. Turns out they are both tales of man’s ...
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Review “The Drowning Girls” (Signal Ensemble Theatre): Theatrical Collaboration at its Finest!
Signal Ensemble Theatre presents the Chicago Premiere of THE DROWNING GIRLS. There is nothing amusing about domestic violence. And when the abuse ends in a murder, it can only generate overwhelming sadness for the victim. The true story of three newlywed brides being killed is horrific to imagine. Despair is the inevitable takeaway from a play ...
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Review “The White Road” (Irish Theatre of Chicago): Narrow and Frozen
The Irish Theatre of Chicago, formerly known as Seanachai Theatre Company, presents the World Premiere of THE WHITE ROAD. Playwright Karen Tarjan kicks off this historic expedition with personality. Ernest Shackleton (played by Paul Dunckel) is interviewing for adventurers to cross Antarctica with him. Dunckel plays to the explorer’s eccentric nature. He whimsically asks the prospective ...