I miss my Christmas lights. Although it’s been less than 24 hours, when you wake up to howling wind, snowy sleet and overall bleak gloom, you want bright dangling lights framing that windowscape. Today looks a little wet and miserable for Chicago. Still, I can’t complain. I’m basking in a weekend robust in good conversations ...
EXTENDED Thru Mar 14 Review “The Life and Sort of Death of Eric Argyle” (Steep Theatre): Clever Whimsy
Steep Theatre presents the Midwest Premiere of THE LIFE AND SORT OF DEATH OF ERIC ARGYLE. In their current Irish charmer, Steep invites us to fall down the rabbit hole. But instead of Alice, we’re following Eric into this wonderland focused on time and quirky characters. Playwright Russ Dungan pens an examination of a life. Dungan ...
THIS is my humble opinion
I’ve been struggling with humility. No, it’s not because I’m an extraordinary human being. It’s more because I’m flawed. And the recurring reminders of my inadequacies keep the concept of humility rattling around in my head. I’m naturally a confident person to the point of grandiosity. I’ve been that way since birth. My instinct is to approach ...
EXTENDED Thru Mar 15 Review “Accidentally, Like A Martyr” (A Red Orchid): Here’s to a long run…
A Red Orchid Theatre presents the Chicago Premiere of ACCIDENTALLY, LIKE A MARTYR. In A Red Orchid’s intimate theatre space, Set Designer John Holt has impressively constructed a fully-functional bar. The long-curvy bar fills the stage and blurs the lines between reality and fiction. The twinkly Christmas lights, the stacks of longneck cases, the juke box; ...
Review “Top Girls” (Arc Theatre): Sleek Synchronization in Heels
The Arc Theatre presents TOP GIRLS. At a restaurant, women of historical distinction gather for ladies night out. The hen party crosses continents and centuries as a Scottish explorer, the Japanese Emperor’s mistress, Pope Joan, a present day HR manager and some other gal pals lament over wine. This absurd feast is followed by a scene ...
Review “Keys of the Kingdom” (Stage Left): A religious experience
Stage Left Theatre, in association with Theater Wit, presents the world premiere of KEYS OF THE KINGDOM. A celebrity pastor from an evangelical mega church commissions an atheist lesbian artist to paint his ceiling. He believes she has been chosen by God. And he gives her the creative freedom to paint anything. He trusts her brush ...
I’m ready for my close-up
I walked into Wood last night and was immediately enveloped in the cuddly warmth of my favorite restaurant. Everybody knows my name, knows my story, knows my drink. It’s because over the last 2 1/2 years, I’ve worked the brunch shift and the occasional dinner too. They know me. And I love that! After a ...
Review “The Table” (Chicago Shakes): Moses is back!
Chicago Shakespeare Theater welcomes Blind Summit’s THE TABLE to headline the Chicago International Puppet Festival, January 14th through 25th. Moses is back! The little guy is here for the 2015 puppet fest. He brought his table and his mobility crew (Mark Down, Sean Garratt, Laura Caldow). Three performers manipulate and navigate the puppet through his existentialism ...
Review “The Revenants” (WildClaw Theatre): What do you do when your spouse dies…and returns?
WildClaw Theatre presents THE REVENANTS. What would you do if the love of your life turned into a zombie? A). Run B). Shoot him/her and run C). Tie him/her up and stay D). None of the above In their zombie love stories, WildClaw has a husband and wife grapple with his undead wife and her undead husband. The play starts as ...
Want vs Need
Over the holidays, I read an article that European kids are more content than American ones because they know the difference between want and need. It wasn’t an earth-shattering revelation to me. I had an ‘hmmm’ response. It makes sense. Christmas USA always has had a gluttonous flavor. And it feels like it’s just picking ...