Lifetime Theatre presents the World Premiere Adaptation of MIDNIGHT COWBOY. Loneliness pours off Lifetime’s stage in its newest production. A naive young man moves to NYC to hustle rich ladies. Playwright Christopher Hainsworth has adapted the Midnight Cowboy novel by James Leo Herlihy. Although the novel also became the 1969 iconic movie starring Jon Voight and ...
Review “A Loss of Roses” (Raven Theatre): Simply Complicated Perfection
Raven Theatre presents A LOSS OF ROSES. This play is simply complicated. In depression era Kansas, a widow and her twenty-one year old son have a routine. They work. They have supper. Mom goes to church. Son goes to the pool hall. Mom nags about his late night carousing. Son whines about her store bought pie. They exist as ...
Review “Pop Waits” (The Neo-Futurists): No Clowning Around
Reviewed by Tom Lawler Set the scene: The Neo-Futurists are housed in a funky Andersonville space with colorful, art-festooned halls and vestibules perched above a funeral home. Since the late ‘80s the Neo-Futurists have occupied their own rung in the Chicago theater scene with a revolving ensemble of young, diverse writers-actors dedicated to creating their own ...
Review “Romeo and Juliet” (Lyric Opera): The Greatest Love Story Ever… Sung!
Lyric Opera of Chicago presents ROMEO AND JULIET. At the Lyric, I’m gotten fairly adept at reading the English titles while watching the opera. This time because I’m very familiar with ‘the greatest love story ever told,’ I chose to ignore the printed translation and just experience the opera. I focused on the ...
Review “In a Word” (Strawdog Theatre): Collision of Fact and Fiction
The Strawdog Theatre Company presents a National New Play Network Rolling World Premiere of IN A WORD. Playwright Lauren Yee’s new play is about ‘words.’ The ones we hear. The ones we say. The ones we wish we heard. The ones we wish we said. All these words get tangled in the emotional mishmash of memory. ...
Review “Other Letters” (The Other Theatre): Romantic Sonnet of Love’s Complications Over The Years
The Other Theatre Company presents the World Premiere of OTHER LETTERS. In an age of texting and emailing, sentiment is abbreviated to essential words, acronyms and emoticons. Letter writing has become a lost art. And along with that loss is the missing written expression of the human connection. Inspired by A.R. Gurney’s Love Letters, Other Letters, ...
Review “Marc Salem’s Mind Over Chicago” (Apollo Theatre): Extraordinary Wrapped in Ordinary
Richard Friedman and Rob Kolson present MARC SALEM’S MIND OVER CHICAGO. According to the program, Marc Salem has been ‘a student of the human mind for over 30 years.’ He is also considered ‘one of the world’s foremost authorities on nonverbal communication.’ Both of those descriptors would suggest Salem is more studious than magical. In fact, ...
Review “Interrogation” (The Artistic Home): Dark Comedy and Edgy Drama
The Artistic Home presents the World Premiere of INTERROGATION. Bill did it in the woods with his belt. Vanessa did it in the kitchen with a chopping board. Kevin did it by the river with his bare hands. Imagine if the family from August: Osage County played the game Clue and you have the basis for ...
Review “Cabaret” (Broadway in Chicago): Come hear the music play!
Broadway in Chicago presents Roundabout Theatre Company’s Tony Award-Winning CABARET. Even before the show starts, several actors and musicians, wearing satin and harnesses, are strutting on the stage. It feels like closing time at a kinky bar. Everyone is openly undressing each other with seductive looks. People are looking for a good time!! And if you are ...
Review “Far from Heaven” (Porchlight Music Theatre): Smart Captivation
Porchlight Music Theatre presents the Chicago Premiere of FAR FROM HEAVEN. Summer Naomi Smart (Cathy) captivates from lights up. In a stylish mid-century wardrobe by Costume Designer Bill Morey, Smart is absolutely a picture-perfect-housewife. The stage serves as a pseudo 1950s runway as Smart continually sweeps in with a variety of swing coats, matching hats and full-skirted ...