Reviewed by Jay Worthington Victory Gardens Theater concludes its 43rd season with Mies Julie. On a remote farm in the South African desert, we meet John, a farm laborer, and Julie, the landowner’s daughter. John and Julie grew up together under the tender care of John’s mother and Julie’s nanny, Christine. The night we meet them is the celebration of ...
The Fourth Walsh
Theatre with a side of life
Category Victory Garden
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Review “Hand to God” (Victory Gardens): Extraordinary Dark, Dark, Dark Adult Comedy
Victory Gardens presents the Chicago Premiere of HAND TO GOD. Don’t let the puppet promo picture fool you. This isn’t a play for children. It’s a dark, dark, dark adult comedy. Playwright Robert Askins conjured up a doozy with this tale. His story takes place in a church where the Christian Puppet Ministry is working on ...
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Review “Sucker Punch” (Victory Gardens Theater): A Technical Knock-Out
Reviewed by Tom Lawler Set the scene: In its sumptuous performance space in the former Biograph Theater, Victory Gardens combines top-line production values with stellar directing and performances, typically loaded with professional Actors’ Equity casts. For Sucker Punch, Victory Gardens has paired one of its most accomplished directors, Dexter Bullard (Circle Mirror Transformation), with the Midwest ...
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Review “The Testament of Mary” (Victory Gardens): WWMD?
Victory Gardens presents the Midwest Premiere of THE TESTAMENT OF MARY. I have fifteen and half years of Catholic education. I’ve read and studied the bible. I self-identify as a Christian. I’m a believer. I often consider WWJD? Yet, I’ve never considered What Would Mary Do? Playwright Colm Toibin answers that question with stories told from Mary’s ...
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Review “Rest” (Victory Gardens): Restless Contemplation-inducing
Victory Gardens presents the Midwest Premiere of REST. Playwright Samuel D. Hunter pulls us into this Midwest reality. His set up is authentically familiar; the economy is shutting down a healthcare facility. Only a few residents and staff are left. One of the gentlemen has advanced Alzheimer’s. When a blizzard hits, his disappearance causes growing concern. Set ...
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Review “Death and the Maiden” (Victory Gardens): Work in Progress
Victory Gardens presents DEATH AND THE MAIDEN. The audience walks into the theatre and immediately wants to vacation on stage. Set Designer William Boles built a breathtaking beach house against an ocean backdrop. The contemporary one room has sliding glass doors and a staircase leading to a lower level. At different points in the show, the ...
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Review “The Gospel of Lovingkindness” (Victory Gardens): Gentle and Uplifting
Victory Gardens presents the World Premiere of THE GOSPEL OF LOVINGKINDNESS. For a play about violence, this one is surprisingly gentle and uplifting. Playwright Marcus Gardley pens a tale based on real people. His play compares the trials and triumphs of two young black men. Both men have strong and loving mothers raising them. One is a ...