Oracle Theatre presents the world premiere adaptation, CIRCLE-MACHINE. REVIEWERS DISCLAIMER: I, unfortunately, had an obscure vantage point. The show is set up as partial thrust staging. The bulk seats are on either side of the stage. Then there is an odd elevated row along the middle wall in-between. The six seats are recessed and against a ...
The Fourth Walsh
Theatre with a side of life
Category The Fourth Walsh
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Review “Red Bud” (Signal Ensemble Theatre): Playful to Toxic in 70 Minutes!
Signal Ensemble Theatre presents the U.S. Premiere of RED BUD. Playwright Brett Neveu captures perfectly what’s good and awful with annual male rituals. In his ode to the Midwest, Neveu has his guys gather for Red Bud, a championship motorcross race. The show starts off slowly as camp is set up. Each of the men arrives ...
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EXTENDED Thru Mar 22 “Mr. Burns, A Post-Electric Play” (Theater Wit): Oozing Ingenuity
Theater Wit presents the Midwest Debut of MR. BURNS, A POST-ELECTRIC PLAY. Although I’ve always enjoyed The Simpsons, I’ve only seen a few dozen episodes over their 15 +year run. I appreciate the show’s clever writing. And I’m impressed by its staying power as a comedy icon. So, I guess I shouldn’t be surprised it survives ...
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Review “The Adventures of Tapman” (Tapman Productions): A Superhero to Love
Tapman Productions presents THE ADVENTURES OF TAPMAN, the first show in their inaugural season. Tap dancing gets a comic makeover in this superhero saga. Inspired by his childhood love of comic books, Artistic Director Tristan Bruns has conceived his tap dancing showcase as a crime fighting adventure. Bruns plays Tapman, a dancer dedicated to stopping the ...
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Review “Twilight: Los Angeles, 1992” (The Other Theatre): Provocative Montage
The Other Theatre Company makes its Chicago debut by presenting TWILIGHT: LOS ANGELES, 1992 to launch its inaugural season. In 1992, four police officers were acquitted from brutally beating Rodney King. Los Angeles responded by inciting 6 days of rioting. Playwright Anna Deavere Smith captures the history and the humanity of the catastrophe. Smith interviewed various ...
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Review “Rapture, Blister, Burn” (Goodman Theatre): Smart Chick-Flick Play
Goodman Theatre presents the Chicago premiere of RAPTURE, BLISTER, BURN. Catherine, a feminist scholar, returns to her hometown and wonders ‘what if?‘ What if her mom dies? What if Catherine never finds love again? What if she hadn’t gone to London without Don? What if her college roommate hadn’t married Catherine’s boyfriend? What if Don and ...
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Review “The Hopey Changey Thing” and “Sorry” (Timeline Theatre): I LOVE these Apples!
TimeLine Theatre presents The Apple Family Plays; THAT HOPEY CHANGEY THING and SORRY. Playwright Richard Nelson has penned a series of 4 plays about the Apple Family. Each play centers around the family’s personal connections to an event of national significance. Timeline has chosen to do #1 and #3 in Nelson’s saga. Both of these plays ...
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Review “Tosca” (Lyric Opera): For the love of Puccini
Lyric Opera of Chicago presents TOSCA. The Lyric is presenting this Puccini favorite in an extended run featuring two different casts. I reviewed the principals for the January 24th- February 5th performances. TOSCA is being mounted with a new production co-produced by the Lyric and Houston Grand Opera. Scenic and Costume Designer Bunny Christie introduces each ...
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EXTENDED Thru Mar 14 Review “The Life and Sort of Death of Eric Argyle” (Steep Theatre): Clever Whimsy
Steep Theatre presents the Midwest Premiere of THE LIFE AND SORT OF DEATH OF ERIC ARGYLE. In their current Irish charmer, Steep invites us to fall down the rabbit hole. But instead of Alice, we’re following Eric into this wonderland focused on time and quirky characters. Playwright Russ Dungan pens an examination of a life. Dungan ...