The Palmer House presents HISTORY IS HOTT. Full disclosure... I love Chicago history. And I've always loved the Palmer House! I've had the pleasure to visit it as both a hotel guest and event guest. And I even had a membership to the fitness center two decades back. The grandeur is breathtaking. The attention to detail ...
EXTENDED Thru Oct 3rd “After Miss Julie” (Strawdog Theatre): Battle of the Sexes and the Classes
Strawdog Theatre presents AFTER MISS JULIE. The 1945 election results are in. England’s Labour Party has had a landslide victory over Winston Churchill’s Conservative Party. Workers unite in revelry. And out on her father’s country estate, Miss Julie (played by Maggie Scrantom) wants to join the merriment. As the country is positioning for change, Scrantom attempts ...
MacBeth (Midsommer Flight): Summer Shakes Done Right
Reviewed by Tom Lawler Set the scene: Midsommer Flight’s mission is to bring high-quality outdoor Shakespeare productions to the people. This summer they’ve brought the Bard’s Macbeth to four Chicago parks free of charge. What’s it all about: As you may know, Shakespeare’s shortest (and darkest) tragedy is about a Scottish general, Macbeth, who has the misfortune ...
Review “Things You Shouldn’t Say Past Midnight” (Windy City Playhouse): Light-hearted, Sexually-charged Frolic
The Windy City Playhouse presents THINGS YOU SHOULDN’T SAY PAST MIDNIGHT. Playwright Peter Ackerman has penned a saucy tale of lovers that go bang in the night. This isn’t a rom-com as much as a sex-com. Three couples. Three bedrooms. Although it never becomes a menage-a-trois, Ackerman cleverly connects these six together via three-way calling and ...
Dear Bill Cosby,
Dear Bill Cosby, I know your life is tough right now. This IS a fan letter but it’s also a hate letter. WTF? You were an icon. You had great stand-up comedy fame. You were the JELL-O pudding spokesperson. And the tour de force behind all the voices of Fat Albert in the 70s. Yet, your defining celebrity ...
An Excerpt from My Still-To-Be-Named Book
In February, I stopped my personal blogging to focus on writing a book. If I had to categorize it, I'd say it's a self-improvement book. I'm enjoying the process and am currently working on Chapter 8. At my good gal pal Sue James' suggestion, I'm publicizing an excerpt for my past and future readers. This ...
Review “Kurios Cabinet of Curiosities” (Cirque du Soleil): AMAZING!
Ladies and gentlemen, the Cirque has come to town! And you won’t want to miss it because it’s amazing! Cirque du Soleil returns to Chicago after four years with its newest production KURIOS CABINET OF CURIOSITIES. Get ready to be astonished by death defying feats and visual eye teasers. KURIOS is anchored in a steampunk aesthetic. The ...
Review “We Gotta Bingo” (Chicago Theater Works): Has a way to G-O to be a Winner!
Chicago Theater Works presents the interactive dinner experience WE GOTTA BINGO. Upon arrival, the atmosphere is festive. A band is playing polka-style music. The proprietor, clad in leder-hosen and an Alpine hat, beckons people to get their drink on. Beer posters and knick-knacks plaster the room. A throne is perched against the wall. We’ve entered the ...
Review “Last Train to Nibroc” (Haven Theatre): Satisfyingly Engaging
Haven Theatre presents the Chicago premiere of LAST TRAIN TO NIBROC. This play reminded me of the movie “Before Sunrise”. Two people meet on a train. Their first encounter has the hesitation of strangers deciding to become familiar. The conversation is awkward and riddled with possibility. We are seeing the very beginning of a relationship. It’s ...
“FEAST” (Albany Park Theatre Project): Gritty Reality Blended with Whimsy for a Palpable Pleaser
Albany Park Theatre Project (APTP), in partnership with Goodman Theatre, presents a revival of its 2010 hit play FEAST. The 25-member youth theatre ensemble works with a team of adult theatre artists for a bounty of imaginative storytelling. FEAST is devised from dozens of interviews of the local residents in Albany Park. The multi-cultural ensemble share ...