Idle Muse Theatre Company presents DR. JEKYLL AND MR. HYDE. The well-known tale of physician-by-day and killer-by-night gets an intellectual makeover in Playwright Jeffrey Hatcher’s adaptation. Hatcher has one Jekyll and several Hydes. Each ensemble member plays one of Jekyll’s various colleagues but they also each play his mental nemeses, Hyde. The notion is clever. And ...
#1387 reason to have a personal trainer
JOSH: How are you doing on your jogging goal? ME: Well, I really haven’t done any jogging yet. JOSH: Why? What are you afraid of? ME: Looking unattractive while I’m running. Breaking the treadmill. Falling off the treadmill and breaking myself. This exchange happened on Wednesday while I was walking on the dreadmill. Josh’s response to my fears was ...
Review “Evil Dead – The Musical” (Broadway in Chicago): ‘What the f#ck was that?’
Broadway in Chicago, in conjunction with Starvox Entertainment and Jeffrey Latimer Entertainment, present EVIL DEAD - THE MUSICAL. “What the f#ck was that?” sums up my experience last night with this Canadian cult classic. It’s also the title of a song in this horror spoof set to music. Since the original production opened in Toronto eleven ...
Review “Season on the Line” (The House Theatre): Art imitating Art
The House Theatre of Chicago presents the World Premiere of SEASON ON THE LINE. Playwright Shawn Pfautsch tells the tale of one man’s obsession with a whale. No, it’s not Captain Ahab but it is “Moby Dick.” The man possessed is the artistic director of Bad Settlement Theatre Company. Pfautsch dissects the inner-workings of a ...
EXTENDED Review “Jane Eyre” (Lifeline Theatre): Worth Swooning Over
Lifeline Theatre presents JANE EYRE. In 1847, Charlotte Bronte introduced the world to a modern-day heroine named Jane Eyre. A woman, who despite an abusive childhood, would thrive to become an independent and free-spirited woman. Since Jane was unorthodox for her time period, Christina Calvit gives her life an unconventional adaptation. Calvit pens the masterpiece. And ...
Review “Death Tax” (Lookingglass Theatre): Disturbing!
Lookingglass Theatre presents the Chicago Premiere of DEATH TAX. I would sum up Lookingglass’ season opener as ‘disturbing’! Lucas Hnath’s story swirls past in five scenes. The action takes place in a boxing-ring-type square but instead of ropes, the area is blocked off with theatrical floor lights. The visual reminds us that this is a play. ...
Review “Rest” (Victory Gardens): Restless Contemplation-inducing
Victory Gardens presents the Midwest Premiere of REST. Playwright Samuel D. Hunter pulls us into this Midwest reality. His set up is authentically familiar; the economy is shutting down a healthcare facility. Only a few residents and staff are left. One of the gentlemen has advanced Alzheimer’s. When a blizzard hits, his disappearance causes growing concern. Set ...
My life in couches
I realized the other day that I have never bought a new couch. I have just acquired used ones. This is my life in couches... When I graduated from college and moved into my first apartment, my parents gave me their fairly new striped couch. I loved it! But it didn’t love me. My friends and ...
Review “King Lear” (Chicago Shakespeare Theater): Yando is THE King!
Chicago Shakespeare Theater presents KING LEAR. From lights up, Larry Yando (Lear) shows us he is indeed king. He kicks off the show lounging in silk pajamas flipping through Frank Sinatra songs. Without saying a word, we see this is Yando’s world and he is in command. After he divides his kingdom into gifts for his ...
Enjoy your day!
I try not to tell people to “have a good day.” Instead, I go with my standard “enjoy your day.” I believe it’s a subtle yet significant difference. When I say “enjoy your day,” I mean so many things… I mean live in the moment. We shouldn’t just get through this hour, this work day, this month, ...