Broadway in Chicago presents the Tony Award-winning HAMILTON. I saw this blockbuster sensation on Wednesday night. It’s a life-changer! Since experiencing the biographical musical, I’ve been pondering the revolutionist, now and then. I’ve been musing about how future generations will interpret this tumultuous moment in U.S. history. I’ve been wondering how my life looks from a ...
Review “Saturn Returns” (The Neo-Futurists): Intellectual Lampoon
The Neo-Futurists present the World Premiere of SATURN RETURNS. Tif Harrison sets out to prove the astrological correlation of living 29 years and Saturn’s solar orbit of 29 years. She confidently rolls out her theory in a classroom setting. Harrison reveals her own sequential loss at 29: mom moves, dad dies, partner leaves. She then draws ...
Review “How We Got On” (Haven Theatre): Upbeat, Uplifting and Unexpectedly Poignant
Haven Theatre presents the Chicago Premiere of HOW WE GOT ON. Playwright Idris Goodwin sets his coming-of-age story in the 80s. The hip hop movement has just started. In the suburbs, three midwestern teenagers struggle to find their artistic voice. As they develop their craft, they must confront limited technology, family dysfunction, and jealous rivalries. Goodwin ...
Review “Das Rheingold” (Lyric Opera): Shiny, Solid Gold Treasure!
The Lyric Opera of Chicago presents DAS RHEINGOLD. The Lyric simultaneously launches its 2016-2017 season and their new production of The Ring Cycle. DAS RHEINGOLD is the first of the four Wagner operas to be presented at the Lyric. Director David Pountney introduces a solid gold Ring. Wagner’s imaginative adventure of gods, dwarves and giants explodes ...
Review “The Room” (A Red Orchid Theatre): Pinter’s Puzzler
A Red Orchid Theatre presents THE ROOM. Playwright Harold Pinter puts us in a small room. He dumps out pieces of a colorful and warped puzzle. The challenge is to fit them together within the absurd constraints of this room. Is the space a sanctuary or a prison for Rose (played with distinction by Kirsten Fitzgerald)? ...
Review “The Happiest Place on Earth”(Sideshow Theatre): Dawkins’ Disney Playful and Poignant
The Greenhouse Theatre Center, in conjunction with Sideshow Theatre,presents the World Premiere of THE HAPPIEST PLACE ON EARTH. I am a longtime fan of Playwright Philip Dawkins. Until Friday night, I had never seen Dawkins perform. In his one man show, Dawkins cleverly weaves together his family’s and Disney’s origin stories. In a classroom-like setting, he ...
Review “Visiting Edna” (Steppenwolf Theatre): A Lengthy Visit
Steppenwolf Theatre presents the World Premiere of VISITING EDNA. Sally Murphy starts the show. Clad in black, she explains that she’ll be playing a television. The oddity of the pronouncement is confirmed by her clarification that she’s not quite sure how to do this or why it’s being done. Tim Hopper strolls on stage. He is ...
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 ...
Review “A Comedical Tragedy for Mr. Punch” (The House Theatre of Chicago): Now That’s How You Do It!
Reviewed by Tom Lawler Set the scene: The House Theater, no stranger to darkening up storybook classics (i.e., The Terrible Tragedy of Peter Pan, The Great and Terrible Wizard of Oz), now deconstructs a tale that’s already pretty grim – the violent and outrageous “Punch and Judy” puppet shows that reached their peak in the 1700s ...
Review “Life Sucks” (Lookingglass Theatre): Solid Ensemble Kicks Ass!
Lookingglass Theatre presents the Midwest Premiere of LIFE SUCKS. This show keeps it real. The problems are relatable. The emotions are intense. These flawed humans ponder the very essences of the human condition. They love and long for someone or something to make them happy. They wrestle with how people see them, how they ...