Rosie and I are perfect companions. We both need to be walked. I always want to get my steps in for my FitBit obsession. And Rosie likes to get her puppy activity on. So, Richard took us to White Rock Lake. Although he had been here before, it was unexplored terrain for Rosie and me. ...
Dallas – Day 1: Where do they keep the horses?
Last year, my friend Richard was transferred to Dallas, Texas. Even though I’d never been to Dallas, I had a strong opinion about what my liberal-minded vegan was stepping into. Best intentions aside, I finally arrived over a year later on his doorstep to see how he was faring in his adopted city. I chose ...
Review “Bethany” (The Gift Theatre): She Will Survive!
Reviewed by Tom Lawler The Gift Theatre presents the Chicago premiere of BETHANY. A few things about this bracing look back at our recent (and lingering) Great Recession actually reminded me of an earlier era of economic hardship: the ‘80s. Maybe it was the Trumpian motivational speaker (a slithering James D. Farruggio) espousing his how-to-get-rich philosophy, ...
EXTENDED Thru Nov 16 Review “Sweeney Todd” (Porchlight Music Theatre): Scary Good!
Porchlight Music Theatre presents SWEENEY TODD: THE DEMON BARBER OF FLEET STREET. To open its season of Sondheim, Porchlight chose to showcase the darker side of the award-winning composer first. In Victorian England, Benjamin returns home after serving 15 years for a bogus crime. During his absence, his wife and daughter have also been victimized ...
Review “The Wild Party” (Bailiwick Chicago): Boozy, Groping, Tripping, Hot Mess
Bailiwick Chicago presents THE WILD PARTY. The title says it all! Director and choreographer Brenda Didier skillfully throws a party and it’s wild! Set in the roaring 20’s, the story is about the vaudeville shenanigans after the curtain comes down. Queenie (played with moxie by Danni Smith) is everyone’s favorite good time gal. She rocks it ...
Review “The Night Alive” (Steppenwolf Theatre): Dark with the promise of light
Steppenwolf Theatre presents the Chicago Premiere of THE NIGHT ALIVE. Tommy (played in bittersweet perfection by Francis Guinan) is having a mid-life crisis. He is estranged from his wife and teenage children. He is living in a dilapidated room in his aging uncle’s house. He survives by running petty scams with his friend Doc (played by the ...
Let’s do this, Wednesday!
I viewed the blood red moon from my roof this a.m. It was underwhelming. It looked like a distant, fuzzy, orangish circle. I took a picture but it was even less impressive in a photo. To make the most of my roof excursion, I snapped a picture of day breaking. Now, that’s something amazing to ...
Review “Capriccio” (Lyric Opera): Music is the winner!
Lyric Opera of Chicago presents CAPRICCIO. This is my second experience with Composer Richard Strauss’ debate of words verses music. Although Strauss aided Clemens Krauss in creating the libretto, there is no doubt what Strauss believes to be more important. Under the spirited baton of Sir Andrew Davis, the music dominates the stage from the overture ...
Wharton’s masterpiece
“Age of Innocence” was our most recent read in the Roaring 20s Book Club. The movie with Daniel Day Lewis and Michelle Pfieffer is one of my top ten favorite movies of all time. Tom hosted the book discussion at his house. He has a projection movie set-up so we also screened the movie. It ...
It wasn’t a disaster as much as a nonevent!
Dear Redmoon Theatre, When you invite the city to a party, you need to be prepared when they show up. Last night, Redmoon Theatre launched the first annual Great Chicago Fire Festival. The pre-spectacle press materials described it as a theatrical fire showcase taking place on the Chicago River from the State Street Bridge to the Columbus ...