The House Theatre of Chicago presents DORIAN. This is 2/3 of a review. The House has produced its current production in promenade. There are limited seats available at the base of the thrust-style stage. The rest of the audience stands, leans and moves throughout the show. The ambitious idea lends itself to a nightclub venue. That’s ...
Review “The President” (Oracle Theatre): A Tight, Madcap Romp
Oracle Theatre presents THE PRESIDENT. John Arthur Lewis (Norrison) takes charge in this high energy farce. Lewis plays a corporate mogul tasked with transforming a taxi driver into an ambassador in an hour. Onstage for the entire duration, Lewis fires out his lines and decisions like a semi-automatic machine gun. And his ongoing delivery is deadpan perfection ...
“The Way West” (Steppenwolf Theatre): To whom it may concern
Dear Steppenwolf, I’ve never written a review like this in my life... but seriously WTF? THE WAY WEST has no relevant significance in the west or contemporary times. The idea of a family grappling with economic hardship is so 2009. And even though the economy still sucks in every direction, our surprise over loose spending by our neighbors ...
“God’s Work” (Albany Park Theatre Project): Unforgettable Imagery
Goodman Theatre presents Albany Park Theatre Project’s GOD’S WORK. An abusive father imprisons his eighteen children in the basement. He beats them for minor infractions based on his fundamentalist beliefs. After being caged for nine years, a young girl begins to heal. Her resilience is showcased as she touches the lives of others. Although this true ...
Sailing on the friendship
Saturday was a friend-fest. I had virtual coffee with my Annapolis sidekick, a bellini brunch with my playdate and dinner with my favorite Albany Park couple. And James even made an evening cameo appearance. The day was a marathon of conversations about everything and nothing. I laughed a lot. Friendships are an ongoing surprise in my ...
This broad’s shoulders
I did restorative yoga last night. I describe it as a combination of yoga and massage. For two hours, we use props to gently stretch our body and rid the toxins. Our instructor Cindy is also versed in reiki energy. As we bend and breathe into different poses, she tweaks our stance for optimal benefit. Ganesha offers ...
Review “The Great God Pan (Next Theatre): Memorable Truths
Next Theatre presents the Midwest Premiere of THE GREAT GOD PAN. Taking your seat at Next Theatre is like becoming the fly on the wall at any local coffee haunt. Set Designer Courtney O’Neill and Props Designer Eileen Rozycki create an authentic scene: pastries, chalk board, mismatched furniture and an actual barista. O’Neill adds blurred depth using ...
Spring has sprung: Petals and Pedals!
Morning temps in the 40s. Evening temps in the 50s and 60s. I started Divvying this week. Over the last two years, my bike life has been challenging. First, my bike of fifteen years was totaled when a van hit me in an intersection. I sustained mild to major hysteria and lingering rotator cuff issues. That ...
Is it a choice or not?
As required by our Federal grant, National Runaway Safeline (NRS) has an annual presentation on being a drug free workplace. Since I’ve been at NRS for a decade in July, I’ve sat through around 10 of them. The best presentation was delivered by a recovering addict. Yesterday was a close second in the thought-provoking category. ...
A Peace of the Noise
“As soon as you find your mind spinning in a squirrel cage of its own making, stop and listen to the music of the room. When you are frazzled after spending an entire day on your computer, step outside, open your awareness out into the darkness, and listen to the music of the evening.” - deeper ...