Reclining pigeon pose...OUCH! LADY IN THE ELEVATOR: You’ve been working out with a trainer. ME: Yes, I have. I love it. LADY IN THE ELEVATOR: I’m been watching you. You’re very limber. ME: I work at it. Two years ago, no one would have called me limber... because I wasn’t. I was very rigidity. I hobbled out of bed. ...
Review “The Art of Falling” (Hubbard Street and The Second City): Brilliant!
Hubbard Street and The Second City present THE ART OF FALLING. This show made me think of H.B. Reese’s a-ha moment; chocolate and peanut butter equals brilliant. It’s ‘two great tastes that taste great together.‘ Hubbard Street and The Second City are two of Chicago’s beloved and famous cultural institutions. Who would have thought to put ...
I’m falling for it
Fall is my favorite season. Summer just whizzed past. And it’s not quite the holidays. Fall is like taking a study hall in-between two honor courses. The pace is slower. The cool weather encourages snuggling under a blanket. With kids back in school, there is that adult self-satisfying smugness. I look at the little darlings ...
It’s always darker at night
It’s always darker at night. The other night I had insomnia. It’s not an infliction that I get with any regularity. It has more recently popped up a couple nights a week for an hour or two on each instance. If I’m being honest with myself, it correlates with my coffee intake sneaking up. I had ...
The 2014 Equity Jeff Winners vs my picks
2014 EQUITY JEFF AWARD NOMINEES PRODUCTION – PLAY – LARGE“The Dance of Death” - Writers Theatre - WINNER“Hedda Gabler” - Writers Theatre - T4W pick“Lost in Yonkers” - Northlight Theatre“Luna Gale” - Goodman Theatre “Seven Guitars” - Court Theatre PRODUCTION – PLAY – MIDSIZE“King Hedley II” - Congo Square Theatre Company“The Normal Heart” - TimeLine Theatre Company“Our Class” ...
Dallas – Day 3: Katy Does Dallas!
On Monday, Rosie had her interview with Camp Bow Wow. I’m happy to report she was accepted and flourished on her first day. She didn’t have to to resign herself to a ‘safety’ doggy daycare. She got in on her dream pick. She and her dad are elated! With Rosie pursuing scholastic excellence, Rich and I ...
Dallas – Day 2: I have my own trail, Katy’s Trail!
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 ...