The Lyric Opera of Chicago presents a new-to-Chicago production of LA CLEMENZA DI TITO. Mozart composed a robust Roman drama. The premise has the emperor, Tito, ready to take a bride. Vitellia believes she is the rightful empress. She coerces Sesto, her love-sick suitor, to instigate a revolt. Meanwhile, Tito picks Sesto’s sister, Servilia, as his betrothed. ...
The Fourth Walsh
Theatre with a side of life
Category The Fourth Walsh
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“Seminar” (Haven Theatre): Male Focused Writing
Haven Theatre presents the Chicago Premiere of SEMINAR. How do writers learn to write? Playwright Theresa Rebeck explores her profession in this tale of 4 wannabe novelists. Rebeck’s characters share their writings and desires during their weekly group. Their work and lives are scrutinized and berated by an unconventional instructor. Rebeck uses witty wordplay in this story ...
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Review “The How and The Why” (Timeline Theatre): Fierce Female Foursome
TimeLine Theatre presents THE HOW AND THE WHY. Playwright Sara Treem masterfully intertwines the female reproductive system around a meeting of the minds. Two evolutionary biologists meet for the first time. They each have questions that only the other one knows the answers to. Treem lets the story unfold naturally. The professional banter turns personal as the ...
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Review “Leveling Up” (Steppenwolf): Too Real
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 ...
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“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 ...
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“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 ...
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“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 ...
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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 ...
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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 ...
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“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 ...