ShawChicago presents SAINT JOAN. There are no villains in the piece. Crime, like disease, is not interesting: it is something to be done away with by general consent, and that is all about it. It is what men do at their best, with good intentions, and what normal men and women find that they must and ...
The Fourth Walsh
Theatre with a side of life
Category The Fourth Walsh
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Sons of the Prophet (American Theater Company): A playwright with a lot on his mind
Reviewed by Tom Lawler Making its Chicago debut on the heels of a celebrated off-Broadway run that netted several theater honors including the 2012 Drama Critics Circle award, Stephen Karam’s Sons of the Prophet feels most successful in the craftsmanship of its details rather than in its overall construction. Karam is well-served by director PJ Paparelli’s organic, yet sleekly-staged ...
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“Crime and Punishment” (Mary Arrchie): Concise yet Epic!
Mary Arrchie Theatre presents CRIME AND PUNISHMENT. An intellectual tests his theories on humanity. He surmises crime for a higher purpose is justified. He believes some people can commit heinous acts without repercussion. When he is interrogated by a police inspector, his world starts to unravel. When he is haunted by his dreams, his life implodes. ...
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Review “Ain’t Misbehavin'” (Porchlight Music Theatre): Perfectly Jazzed
Porchlight Music Theatre presents the Tony Award-winning Thomas “Fats” Waller musical revue, AIN’T MISBEHAVIN’. Fats Waller was a pianist, organist, composer, singer, bandleader and comedic entertainer. His progressive work pioneered the era for modern jazz. He only lived to be 39 but he lived. His legacy is a robust songbook reflecting the emotions and experiences of African ...
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Review “Plainsong” (Signal Ensemble Theatre): A Story to Savor
The winter continues to plummet us in cold and snow. An attainable escape is within the pages of a good book. And an even better respite is experiencing a good story without reading a word. Signal Ensemble Theatre presents the Chicago Premiere of PLAINSONG. Playwright Eric Schmiedl impressively adapted Kent Haruf’s novel for stage. The heartwarming tale is ...
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Review “The Golden Dragon” (Sideshow Theatre): Schimmelpfenning’s Chop Suey
Sideshow Theatre presents THE GOLDEN DRAGON. In 2012, Sideshow produced their Jeff Award-winning Idomeneus. That innovative, critically-acclaimed play was written by Roland Schimmelpfenning. In The Golden Dragon, Sideshow produces another of Schimmelpfenning’s work. This one is centered in a restaurant. The five member ensemble, Matt Fletcher, David Lawrence Hamilton,Daria Harper, Deanna Myers and Noah Sullivan, are ...
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Review “The Tennessee Williams Project” (The-Hypocrites): 3 States of Tennessee
The Hypocrites present THE TENNESSEE WILLIAMS PROJECT. Director Matt Hawkins has arranged an evening with Tennessee Williams’ lesser know works. Three of Williams’ one act plays are performed: “And Tell Sad Stories of the Deaths of Queens,” “The Remarkable Rooming-House of Mme. Le Monde,” and “The Big Game.” The selections are familiar yet unfamiliar. They reflect the ...
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Review “Rose and the Rime” (House Theatre): Frozen Enchantment
The House Theatre of Chicago presents ROSE AND THE RIME. A story is about a village cursed with a never-ending winter. This play seems perfectly relatable for Chicago audiences, especially this year. Originally developed at Hope College in 2008 ROSE AND THE RIME won the honor of playing the Kennedy Center as Best Original Work in the KCACTF festival. ...
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Review “Gideon’s Knot” (Profiles Theatre): Unreal
Profiles Theatre presents "Gideon’s Knot" Reviewed By Sara Eisenbaum The problem with being a viewer is that you need to be open-minded at all costs. Unfortunately, I recognize a bias in myself that when something is meant to imitate a real life situation and in my opinion it doesn’t, I automatically tune out. “Gideon’s Knot” fell prey ...