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 ...
The Fourth Walsh
Theatre with a side of life
Category The Fourth Walsh
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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 ...
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Review “Strangers, Babies” (Steep Theatre): One Riveting Story
Steep Theatre presents the Midwest Premiere of Strangers, Babies. Once again, Steep goes darker than imaginable. In its newest production, Steep introduces Chicago to Playwright Linda McLean. This time, instead of an English play riddled with angst, McLean pens a Scottish play riddled with angst. The breakout is Steep’s classic structure: five scenes, two actors in each, one ...
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“Luna Gale” (Goodman Theatre): Stellar!
Goodman Theatre presents the World Premiere of LUNA GALE. As a licensed social worker in the State of Indiana, I marveled at how perfectly Playwright Rebecca Gilman’s story reflected ‘the system.’ Gilman pens a complex tale about a baby placed in foster care. The best interest of the child is at the heart of the show. But ...
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“Mr. Shaw Goes to Hollywood” (MadKap Productions): Stage Meets Film
Once upon a time, celebrated Playwright George Bernard Shaw visited Hollywood. GBS and his wife Charlotte wanted to see how movies were made. They toured and lunched at MGM studios. Amidst the glamour of the world of moviestars, they saw the tarnished side of filmmaking. The Shaws saw actors canoodling and boozing. They experienced studio heads and ...
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Review “The Mother” (Oracle Theatre): Truax Heart-Pounding Triumph
I never published my top ten theatre picks for 2013. If I had, "The Mother" would have been #1. It was an innovative, impressive, intimate theatrical experience. And guess what? It's back! The entire ensemble (sans the wonderful Sarah Pretz) returns for an encore production. In a week of 24 show openings, I chose to ...
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Review “Rasheeda Speaking” (Rivendell Theatre): Powerful
Rivendell Theatre presents the World Premiere of Rasheeda Speaking. Playwright Joel Drake Johnson’s story prompts a “No, she didn’t” response followed closely by a hand over the mouth. His conversations provoke a definite uncomfortable reaction. Stereotypes are teased out. Some of the dialogue is candy-coated politically correct. And other times, the offensive barb is just hurled. Johnson provides ...
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EXTENDED Thru 4/6 “Hedda Gabler” (Writer’s Theatre): Fry-ed to Perfection
On Thursday, I saw Hedda Gabler for the last time – Kate Fry’s (Hedda) sublime performance has ruined me for any future Hedda Gabler productions. Playwright Henrik Ibsen, translated by Nicholas Rudall, penned a tale of a complex woman. The classic centers around the newly-married Hedda. Living in the late 1800s, Hedda is discontent with the social mores of the era. The convention ...