American Blues Theater presents he World Premiere of AMERICAN MYTH. Mick Weber (Doug) opens and closes this play with soliloquies about John Adams. Initially, the effervescent Weber describes Adams at the signing of the Declaration of Independence. Weber vividly recounts the sights, the sounds, the smells on July 4th, 1776. He places the audience in the actual ...
Review “Ithaka” (Infusion Theatre): Redemption Play meets War Movie
Infusion Theatre presents the Midwest Premiere of ITHAKA. Playwright Andrea Stolowitz pens a tale of Marine Captain Elaine Edwards (played by Meredith Rae Lyons). Edwards returns home from a tour in Afghanistan. Her reentry to civilization isn’t going smooth. She can’t sleep. Her cat has run away. And her helpless husband offers no solace. The sudden appearance ...
Review “Cock” (Profiles Theatre): Lasting Impact
By Sara Eisenbaum It wasn’t surprising to learn that there was controversy surrounding this play, especially when I realized that I was on the phone with my mother spelling the title c-o-c-k. After leafing through the director’s note there was a statement that confirmed I wasn’t alone as American audiences blushed their way through the title ...
This week’s challenge is complimentary to my nature
I finished my second week of mindful eating (drinking). I approached meals with a thoughfulness. I ‘set the table’ and arranged my food. And I cut down on my wine consumption. In my mind, I was achieving this goal. I was approaching eating and drinking with a thoughtfulness. I was targeting healthier choices and slowing down. I ...
“Dessa Rose” (Bailiwick Chicago): Evocative Musical of Timeless Truth
Bailiwick Chicago presents the Chicago Premiere of DESSA ROSE. Dessa Rose is a runaway slave. Ruth is a desperate farmwife. Dessa Rose is black. Ruth is white. Their lives collide. Their characters clash. This isn’t a one-sided rescue. This is all encompassing liberation of lives. Both women must confront their childhood beliefs before they can find individual ...
Puberty in the 1900s, Crone zone in 2000s
I went to the vagina-cologist today. It was that time of the year. This is the only appointment I was a little excited for. I was holding on to some monumental news. After the preliminary doctor-patient welcome banter, she asks *the* question. Dr. Rose: When was your last period? ME: August!!!! (pause) I looked at her in anticipation. I thought ...
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 ...
Review “The Wild” (Steppenwolf Garage Rep): Marveling
Steppenwolf Theatre presents the Fifth Annual Garage Rep. Three theatre companies have been selected by Steppenwolf to perform in rotating repertory for ten weeks: *Walkabout Theatre, “The Wild” *The New Colony, “reWILDing Genius” *Prologue Theatre, “Saturday Night/Sunday Morning” THE WILD is synchronized chaos. The press release describes this world premiere as ‘what happens to people when institutions crumble and deities ...
I’m booked!
I lost an hour last night. Even after twenty years in Chicago, the whole moving clocks back and forth is still odd to me. I grew up in Indiana and we didn’t play with time like that. (Indiana, the national holdout, has since joined the country in daylight savings time.) My natural body rhythm is pretty scheduled. ...
Review “Les Parents Terribles” (The Artistic Home):
The Artistic Home presents LES PARENTS TERRIBLES. Playwright Jean Cocteau coils family dysfunction around love triangles. The result is some kinky threesomes. Michael has grown up with loving parents. His mother loves him… to obsessive levels. When Michael falls for Madeline, he’s ready for his happily ever after. What could go wrong? Well back at home, his ...