Steppenwolf for Young Adults series presents the Chicago premiere of LEVELING UP. Playwright Deborah Zoe Laufer tackles video game addiction. Laufer pens a cautionary tale of the real danger of virtual reality. Her twentysomething roommates spend the majority of their time competing in pretend worlds. They effectively avoid dealing with adulthood as they focus on getting to ...
The Fourth Walsh
Theatre with a side of life
Category The Fourth Walsh
-
-
“Miss Marx” (Strawdog Theatre): Extraordinary Tribute
Strawdog Theatre presents the World Premiere of Philip Dawkins’ MISS MARX: OR THE INVOLUNTARY SIDE EFFECT OF LIVING. Eleanor is a socialist, an actress and an intellectual. She is a modern woman. She speaks seven different languages. And has even been contracted to translate, among other things, Gustave Flaubert's Madame Bovary and the plays of Henrik Ibsen. She is the daughter ...
-
“Rusalka” (Lyric Opera): Enchanting Spectacle
Lyric Opera presents RUSALKA. The water nymph Rusalka falls for the prince of her dreams. She decides to coerce the local witch into making her human. Jezebaba will conjure up the spell with a few conditions. First, Rusalka must give up her power of speech. Second, if Rusalka fails in her love quest, she and the prince ...
-
“Golden Boy” (Griffin Theatre): Bittersweet
Griffin Theatre presents Revival of GOLDEN BOY. Upon theatre arrival, the massive backdrop commands attention. Set Designer Dan Stratton has created a mosaic of stained glass rectangles. During the show, the colorful walls slide back and forth creating different locales. Lighting Designer Rebecca Barrett silhouettes pivotal moments behind these screens. Director Jonathan Berry orchestrates this boxing play ...
-
EXTENDED “A Tale of Two Cities” (Lifeline Theatre): I laughed, I cried, I loved
Lifetime Theatre presents the world premiere adaptation of A TALE OF TWO CITIES. Playwright Christopher M. Walsh (no relation) adapted Charles Dickens story of the French Revolution. A former aristocrat flees Paris to find a new life and love in London. When his honor forces him to return to Paris to defend an innocent man, he is ...
-
Review “Into the Woods”: A Kid’s Perspective
Disclaimer: My intention is to always see a show within the first five performances. I have a couple reasons for this strategy. One, if I like it, I can help promote people seeing it. Two, I don’t want my experience to be tainted by those reviewers who come before me. It’s my practice not to read ...
-
“Buzzer” (Goodman Theatre): 2 Against 1 Dynamic
Goodman Theatre presents the Chicago premiere of BUZZER. What rightfully belongs to me because of my race, gender, education, or class? Playwright Tracey Scott Wilson asks this question again and again. Wilson pokes at personal embers to see what sparks flame. Her trio is a mesmerizing science experiment of complication. Two are white, one is black. Two ...
-
“Russian Transport” (Steppenwolf Theatre): Darker than Dark
Steppenwolf Theatre presents the Chicago premiere ofRUSSIAN TRANSPORT. Playwright Erika Sheffer tells a family story from the inside out. The audience is immediately at home as a mom forces her daughter to vacate her bedroom for company. The teenager protests. The mom ignores her. The scenario is familiar. The dialogue is authentic. Their obvious routine ...
-
“Gypsy” (Chicago Shakespeare Theater): Oh, Momma!
Chicago Shakespeare Theater presents GYPSY. Until last night, I had never seen any production of GYPSY. I had heard snippets of the musical sung by the grand dames of Broadway, including; Ethel Merman, Bernadette Peters, and Patti LuPone. Still, I had no expectations for this iconic musical. GYPSY premiered in 1959. It is a showbiz reflection on the death of ...
-
“The Playboy of the Western World” (Raven Theatre): Tis a Charmer
Raven Theatre presentsTHE PLAYBOY OF THE WESTERN WORLD. The 1907 premiere of this play incited what became known as the ‘Playboy Riots.’ Ireland did not respond well to Playwright J.M. Synge’s work. First, his hero, Christy Mahon, is a lad claiming to have killed his father. Christy, as a fugitive, finds refuge and admiration in a ...