The Artistic Home presents THE TIME OF YOUR LIFE. It’s 1939. People are unemployed, hungry and desperate. A mysterious man named Joe (played by Scott Westerman) holds court at Nick’s Tavern. Although the world around him is uncertain, he finds solace and beauty in his established routine of unpredictability. As various drunks, hookers, and seedy officials ...
Review “The Play About My Dad” (Raven Theatre): Poignant Hurricane Storytelling
Raven Theatre presents THE PLAY ABOUT MY DAD. Playwright Boo Killebrew tells Hurricane Katrina stories about her hometown, Gulfport, Mississippi. A family refusing to evacuate. An old lady waiting for her son to arrive from New Orleans. Two paramedics holding down their post. And Dr. Larry Killebrew, the playwright’s father, working through the storm at the ...
Review “Treasure Island” (Lookingglass Theatre): I Found Gold!
Lookingglass Theatre, in conjunction with Berkeley Repertory Theatre, presents the World Premiere of TREASURE ISLAND. Adapter and director Mary Zimmerman is at the helm of Lookingglass’ second voyage to sea. After closing their past season with the successful MOBY DICK expedition, Lookingglass opens this season with their TREASURE ISLAND adventure. Zimmerman adapts Robert Louis Stevenson’s classic ...
Review “The Terrible” (The New Colony): Therapeutic Performance Art with “No Exit”
The New Colony presents the world premiere of THE TERRIBLE. The lighting is stark. The stage is silent. Jessica London-Shields (Woolfe) methodically removes her clothes. She pulls on a one-piece, army-colored jumper. She sets up a camera and two tape recorders. Then, London-Shields binds her wrists from a rope suspended from a grappling hook. And in ...
Review “No Beast so Fierce” (Oracle Theatre): Pretty Fierce!
Oracle Theatre, in conjunction with the Department of Cultural Affairs and Special Events (DCASE), presents NO BEAST SO FIERCE. Adapter and Director Max Truax reimagines Shakespeare’s “Richard III” in his newest Oracle production. The first major difference in his innovation is casting Katherine Keberlein in the lead. Although Keberlein is Richard III, she is also a ...
Review “My Mañana Comes” (Teatro Vista): Serves up a Bro-Fest that turns ugly, real ugly
Teatro Vista presents My Mañana Comes. As someone who has served, I was riveted by this authentic portrayal of life and lives in a restaurant. Playwright Elizabeth Irwin neatly peppers the dialogue with jargon; ‘eyes on 16,’ ‘taking the cut,’ and ‘shift pay‘. Irwin uses random dinner shifts over a three month period to introduce us ...
Review “East of Eden” (Steppenwolf Theatre): Family Drama Page Turner
Steppenwolf Theatre presents the World Premiere adaptation of EAST OF EDEN. Steppenwolf uses all the right stuff to turn John Steinbeck’s sprawling novel into an engaging play. Adapter Frank Galati whittles down the complicated family drama and pulls out the essential nuggets. His lean script keeps the action moving but never sacrifices essential story elements. In ...
Review “My Brilliant Divorce” (Irish Theatre): Figgins Keeps It Real
The Irish Theater presents the Midwest Premiere of MY BRILLIANT DIVORCE. Barbara Figgins (Angela) strolls on stage with her faithful companion at her side, a life-sized dog stuffed and on wheels. Figgins will spend the next impressive hour and half chronicling Angela’s last four years. In this one woman show, Figgins plays Angela, a woman whose ...
EXTENDED Thru Nov 15 “Ride the Cyclone” (Chicago Shakespeare Theater): A Total Original
Chicago Shakespeare Theater presents the U.S. premiere of RIDE THE CYCLONE. Canadian creative team Jacob Richmond and Brooke Maxwell have reconstructed their roller coaster in Chicago. The musical originated as a song cycle of the theatre company Atomic Vaudeville. The show garnered a cult following within the Canadian border. At Chicago Shakes, Richmond and Maxwell continue ...
Review “The Tempest” (Chicago Shakespeare Theater): This is My Fave!
We believe conjuring and poetry are complementary. Poetry is magic, spoken. Magic is poetry acted out. Marrying them illuminates both. - Teller Chicago Shakespeare Theater presents THE TEMPEST. I’ve often experienced Chicago Shakes producing magic in their productions. In THE TEMPEST, it’s literally true: card tricks, a levitating lady, disappearing people. In less skillful hands, these ...