Steppenwolf for Young Adults presents the world premiere adaptation of MONSTER. A teenager wrestles with his conscience about his participation in a crime. Daniel Kyri (Steve) is engaging as the young man. Kyri narrates the tale as if he's writing a screenplay. He describes the incidents with mechanical logistics using words like 'exterior,' 'close-up,' and 'camera pans.' The ...
The Fourth Walsh
Theatre with a side of life
Category Steppenwolf Theatre
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Review “Straight White Men” (Steppenwolf Theatre): Oh, Brothers!
Steppenwolf Theatre presents the Chicago premiere production of STRAIGHT WHITE MEN. Playwright and director Young Jean Lee takes us home for the holidays. A widower (played by Alan Wilder) hosts his three adult sons Madison Dirks (Jake), Ryan Hallahan (Drew) and Brian Slaten (Matt) for Christmas. The anticipated traditions like matching pajamas, Chinese take-out and movie night ...
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Review “The Christians” (Steppenwolf Theatre): Authentic Church Experience
Steppenwolf Theatre presents THE CHRISTIANS. I attended the Church of Steppenwolf this weekend. I was greeted with the choir singing their souls out. They were praising the Lord with joyous voices, rhythmic clapping and broad smiles. This was a united congregation assembled for spiritual guidance. The pastor, his wife and church leadership arrived into this Sunday-induced ...
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Review “The Fundamentals” (Steppenwolf Theatre): Enjoyable Yet Basic
Steppenwolf Theatre presents THE FUNDAMENTALS. The show starts out with a slick video montage. This commercial by Projection Designer Stephan Mazurek promotes a luxury hotel. We are instantly sold on this elegant retreat from real life. Then, the branding spot finishes. The wall screen lifts and the reality is revealed. Ta-Da, the beauty and the ...
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Review “Between Riverside and Crazy” (Steppenwolf Theatre): Dynamics Intrigue!
Steppenwolf Theatre presents the Chicago premiere of BETWEEN RIVERSIDE AND CRAZY. Playwright Stephen Adly Guirgis won the 2015 Pulitzer Prize for this dark dramedy. Guirgis pens the tale of an ex-cop father (played by the commanding Eamonn Walker) and his ex-con son (played by the understated James Vincent Meredith) co-existing in one of the last great ...
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Review “Constellations” (Steppenwolf Theatre): So Many Possibilities
Steppenwolf Theatre presents the Chicago premiere production of CONSTELLATIONS. Playwright Nick Payne has written a play about the many relational possibilities between a physicist and a beekeeper. Jessie Fisher (Marianne) and Jon Michael Hill (Roland) meet at a party…multiple times. Payne explores key and inconsequential moments of two people over years. He examines each moment by ...
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My Top Ten Unforgettable 2015 Plays
It is my great fortune to live in a town that is bursting with so much theatrical talent. About seven years ago, I stumbled into reviewing the Chicago theatre scene. Every show enhances my understanding of theatre and life. I enjoy most every production for some aspect. The stinkers have been a single digit percentage ...
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Review “Domesticated” (Steppenwolf Theatre): Norris Untamed!
We have a civilized agreement, and a reasonable one, that says we can’t behave the way some of our animal cousins do. I think this idea - that everything men instinctively want, on a primitive level, is basically bad and everything women want, basically good - is how we’ve constructed morality, based on gender. We see women as a ...