Cole Theatre presents its inaugural production, ECSTASY. It’s 1979. Do you know where your life is? Jean doesn’t. Playwright Mike Leigh drops us into her flat. Her dismal efficiency is decorated in Mid-Century spinsterhood by Scenic Designer Grant Sabin. The room is cluttered with empty beer bottles, mismatched furniture and gin-soaked novels. A singular drip of ...
“My Name is Asher Lev” (Timeline Theatre): Thought-Provoking Tribute
Timeline Theatre presents the Chicago Premiere of MY NAME IS ASHER LEV. Art?! At what cost to the artist?! Award-winning novelist Chaim Potok explored a painter’s obsessive turmoil. A conservative Jewish boy must express his artistry despite its opposition to his religion, community, and parents. Playwright Aaron Posner boils down the essences of Potok’s novel into ...
Shake it off! Shake it off!
Well, it finally happened! My mom always warned me that ‘if you’re horsing around, someone is bound to get hurt.’ Of course, her prediction technically took a few decades to actualize. On Tuesday night, we were enjoying “Wizard of Oz” at movies in the park. What happens when you’re enjoying a childhood classic? You start to act ...
Review “The Arsonists” (Strawdog Theatre): Ignites and Sizzles
Strawdog Theatre presents Max Frisch’s THE ARSONISTS. Why would anyone knowingly invite trouble into their life? Playwright Max Frisch answers that question in absurdity. Frisch sets his tale in a city plagued by arsonists. His protagonist, Biedermann (played with deft by Robert Kauzlaric) gets goaded into defending his morality by the charismatic Scott Danielson (Schmitz). Kauzlaric represents ...
Gratitude with Grace X 3
A thank you note is the perfect way to let someone know that they did something extra special. Grace sent me THREE thank you notes. I received the stuffed envelop yesterday. Nothing says appreciation for two weeks at camp than the independently and thoughtfully chosen words of a 7 1/2 year old. The actual card.... Der Aunt ...
Review “WITCH SLAP!” (Babes with Blades): A Calderon of Personalities
Babes with Blades presents the World Premiere of WITCH SLAP! Playwright Jeff Goode explores the male corruption by the Puritanical driven witch hunts. The 2013-2014 winner of “Joining Sword & Pen,” WITCH SLAP! is the herstory told from the witches’ perspectives. Goode’s characters represent a wide range of sorceresses: the crone, the gypsy, the vamp, the ...
Day 234: What I know now
Patience is not my burden. I don’t like to wait for instructions, decisions, life’s healing forces. I want to understand the situation immediately. I want people to choose and move forward. I want all people - but especially people I love- to be pain-free. The reality is life is not like that. There are ups ...
Review “Stupid Fucking Bird” (Sideshow Theatre): Sort of Liked
Sideshow Theatre presents the Midwest premiere of STUPID FUCKING BIRD. In the program the phrase ‘sort of’ appears before the adaptation credit. Playwright Aaron Posner uses the basic framework from Anton Chekhov’s “The Seagull.” Although Posner sets it in contemporary times, his characters have the same Chekhov conflicts. Dev loves Mash who loves Con who ...
There is a reason for my drama…maybe even 7
Over the weekend, I conjured up a moment of high drama. It started out as wild speculation. I let my imagination go until it festered into something very real to me. And in my make believe scenario, I became devastated. Luckily, I only reached out to one other person to announce my pretend crisis. And ...
On the rocks or not, GIVE!
The ALS Ice Bucket challenge has been making its way across online platforms. People dump a bucket of ice water over their head for charity. Friends challenge friends to get wet. People accepting the challenge film and post the drenching. They also make a $10 donation to ALS. In their video post, they tag three ...