Displaying items by tag: Marie Antoinette
Marie Antoinette Projects Compassion for the “Killer Queen”
Marie Antoinette by David Adjmi opens with a spectacular video presentation of the massive gardens and castle of Versailles along with a full on catwalk style fashion show by the queen, her girlfriends and the rest of the royal cast. I loved the staging of this show by a six person design team including Clint Ramos (scenic design), Dede Ayite (costume design), Dave Bova (hair and wig design), Japhy Weideman (lighting design), Lindsay Jones (sound and composition) and Jeff Sugg (projection design). The mirrored stage, combined with giant Vegas style flowers above it and the ever changing video projections worked together wonderfully to give us a glimpse of the largesse and majesty of that time period. Truly, the fashion of the time was something that separated the rich from the poor but also enslaved those able to afford it because it was impossible to dress and style yourself without a huge staff.
Alana Arenas is stunning as Marie Antoinette and does a great job portraying the doomed queen with both biting sarcasm and the occasional childlike grasp of the violent events unfolding all around her and because of her but not within her control at all. She, like the rest of royalty, is completely out of touch with the real world. We really see this as they try to pass as farmers during their escape after revolutionaries have taken over yet they are completely incapable of holding a normal conversation with approaching peasants (worse yet, they actually try to flee in the royal carriage thinking no one will notice them!). It is also very interesting to see the many parallels from Marie Antoinette that exist today, such as the inappropriate distribution of wealth, power in the hands of people that should not have it and the lack of power in those that should.
I like that Adjmi mentions twice in the play that Marie was only 14 years old when she was married to the imbecile King Louis the Louis XVI (Tim Hopper) – because most people assume she was an adult when she entered the realm of marriage and politics which was not true. You can really see in his text how similar the situation is for celebrities and their children today that their every move is first exalted and then diminished and eventually degraded as the social and political climes about them change. It is also pointed out how gross the invasion of privacy is when a human being feels they cannot even leave the confines of their home or do anything normal in public at all without it being analyzed and ridiculed by thousands of strangers whose opinions should not matter at all.
In a way we all have a little Marie Antoinette in us, that confused and excited teenager who is thrust into adult circumstances and is forced to “conform and perform” or sink under the weight of disappointment of family and society around us if we do not produce the hoped for successes in finances and family life, i.e. having children.
I highly recommend this elegant, eye popping and thoroughly modern interpretation of the life of a woman who was born and bred not to have her own life but the life prescribed for her by her parents and their political advisors.
Tickets and information:
When: Now through May 10, 2015
Where: Steppenwolf Upstairs Theatre, 1650 N. Halsted St.
Contact: www.steppenwolf.org
One Fine Show: Beautiful The Carole King Musical dazzles Paramount Theatre
04 May 2024 in Theatre ReviewsGrowing up our radio dial was tuned to one channel, K-Earth 101. In Southern California that station was the oldies,…
'Judgment Day' a Top-drawer Production That Will Leave You Laughing, and Maybe Changed for the Better
03 May 2024 in Theatre in ReviewCrowds will flock to see “Judgment Day,” having its world premiere at Chicago Shakespeare Theater on Navy Pier. While many…
Panther In the Sky – “A Moving Tapestry of Grief and Hope"
02 May 2024 in Dance in ReviewIn "Panther in the Sky," playwright Lani T. Montreal masterfully weaves a tapestry of grief, resilience, and redemption through the…
IDENTITY PERFORMING ARTS PRESENTS FIRST INTL COLLAB May 17 &18 “Lights/9”
02 May 2024 in Upcoming DanceA collaboration of Chicago dance and Germany lighting sculpture live on stage About the Program: This program, set within an…
PRE-BROADWAY WORLD PREMIERE OF DEATH BECOMES HER, 25TH ANNIVERSARY TOUR OF MAMMA MIA!, AND THE SIMON & GARFUNKEL STORY START TODAY!
01 May 2024 in Upcoming TheatreBroadway In Chicago is excited to announce the pre-Broadway World Premiere of DEATH BECOMES HER is now playing at the Cadillac Palace Theatre…
Blue in the Right Way's 'Women Beware Women' at The Edge Innovative… radical… courageous… confusing
01 May 2024 in Theatre in ReviewBlue in the Right Way audaciously chose for their inaugural production a 400-year-old play, WOMEN BEWARE WOMEN, written in 1621…
Red Theater's 'Hamlet' at The Edge Off Broadway - Rosencrantz and Guildenstern are… hilarious!
28 April 2024 in Theatre in ReviewI think my favorite thing – well, one of my favorite things – about Wyatt Kent’s take on HAMLET is…
Review: Joffrey Ballet's 'Midsummer Night’s Dream' at Lyric Opera House
26 April 2024 in Dance in ReviewFrolicking season is upon us once again and Joffrey Ballet welcomes summer with the return of Alexander Ekman’s “Midsummer Night’s…
Eerie, Human Mystery In Captivating ‘Jump’ by Shattered Globe Theatre
26 April 2024 in Theatre in ReviewAs the audience takes its seats we are greeted by an atmosphere of foreboding, a trestle bridge girder to the…
Review: Joe Turner's Come and Gone at Goodman Theatre
25 April 2024 in Theatre in ReviewDirector Chuck Smith returns to Goodman with another major August Wilson revival–“Joe Turner’s Come and Gone”. This is the second…
THE GIFT THEATRE COMPANY ANNOUNCES 2024-25 SEASON
25 April 2024 in Upcoming TheatreThe Gift Theatre is pleased to announce its 2024-25 season featuring Suzan-Lori Parks' masterpiece Topdog/Underdog directed by Shanésia Davis and the world premiere of Cygnus by Susan Soon He…
HARRY POTTER AND THE CURSED CHILD TO PLAY BROADWAY IN CHICAGO'S JAMES M. NEDERLANDER THEATRE SEPTEMBER 10, 2024 – FEBRUARY 1, 2025
25 April 2024 in Upcoming TheatreBroadway In Chicago is excited to announce that individual tickets for the world premiere of the first ever touring production…
Cast and production team announced for BrightSide Theatre production of JESUS CHRIST SUPERSTAR, June 7-23
25 April 2024 in Upcoming TheatreFull cast and crew have been announced for BrightSide Theatre's upcoming production of JESUS CHRIST SUPERSTAR, the rock opera that…
Chicago Opera Theater presents Chicago leg of the world premiere tour of Jake Heggie and Gene Scheer’s newest opera Before It All Goes Dark May 25 & 26 at the Studebaker Theater
23 April 2024 in Upcoming TheatreChicago Opera Theater (COT), Chicago’s foremost producer of new and reimagined opera, closes its 50th Anniversary season presenting the final performances of…
Fleetwood-Jourdain Theatre announces 2024 season - celebrates local artists and two of the most significant Black female writers of the past 50 years
23 April 2024 in Upcoming TheatreTim Rhoze, Artistic Director of Fleetwood-Jourdain Theatre, has announced the company's 2024 season of four productions. The season will open with…
Comedy & magic collide in RIDICULOUS! with David Williamson, May 16-June 30 at Rhapsody Theater
23 April 2024 in Theatre in ReviewDavid Williamson, regarded as one of the top magicians in the world today, makes his Rhapsody Theater debut with Ridiculous! Known for his tours…
THE 35th ANNUAL RHINOCEROS THEATER FESTIVAL RETURNS MAY 25 – JUNE 30 AT SIX CHICAGO VENUES
23 April 2024 in Upcoming TheatreCurious Theatre Branch is pleased to announce the 35th annual Rhinoceros Theater Festival, May 25 - June 30 at six venues across Chicago. The…
Oh Baby, Baby: BABY the Musical at Citadel Theatre
22 April 2024 in Theatre ReviewsIt’s often said that in the workplace you should refrain from talking about politics and religion; too personal, too easy…
Ballet 5:8's 'Lost Women of Juárez' in a word - evocative!
22 April 2024 in Dance in ReviewBALLET 5:8 is a female - and minority-led ballet company resident at Harris Theatre in Millenium Park. Under the leadership…
Northlight Theatre’s BROOKLYN LAUNDRY Highlights Solid Acting and Thought-Provoking Script
21 April 2024 in Theatre in ReviewWhen life’s chaos is full of impossible choices, how are we possibly meant to move forward? Brooklyn Laundry is about…
Babes with Blades triumph over time and space in THE S PARADOX!
20 April 2024 in Theatre in ReviewI would absolutely bomb out of jury selection cos I have a very definite bias: I’ve been a fan(atic) of…
No Trouble with Marriott Theatre’s Music Man
19 April 2024 in Theatre in ReviewYou got trouble, my friends, if you’re going to put on Meredith Willson’s The Music Man. If you’re going to…
Alvin Ailey in Transition: A Poignant Performance at the Auditorium Theatre
19 April 2024 in Dance in ReviewThis year's Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater 65th-anniversary engagement at Chicago's historic Auditorium Theatre held particular importance as it marked…
Emile Zola Adaptation 'Nana' Is a Triumph at Magical Trap Door Theater
15 April 2024 in Theatre in ReviewFor the final show of its 30th anniversary season, Trap Door Theatre—the little company that could—has selected a sure-fire hit…
Auditorium Theatre Announces vibrant 2024-25 Season
15 April 2024 in Upcoming TheatreChicago’s National Landmark Auditorium Theatre (50 E. Ida B. Wells Drive) proudly announces its 2024-25 performance season presenting a vibrant mix of…
Chicago Writers' Bloc Announces 2024 New Play Festival May 5 - 19 at Theater Wit
15 April 2024 in Theatre in ReviewChicago Writers' Bloc has announced the lineup of plays and musicals for its biennial festival of new plays, to be…
Hershey Felder Brilliant as Monsieur Chopin
14 April 2024 in Theatre in ReviewIf you appreciate classical music and captivating stories about brilliant artists from the past, Hershey Felder’s one-man show, Monsieur Chopin:…
Jackalope Theatre Announces Cast and Creative Team for the World Premiere of THE SINGULARITY PLAY, May 19 - June 22
11 April 2024 in Upcoming TheatreJackalope Theatre Company continues its 16th season at Edgewater’s Berger Park, 6205 N. Sheridan Rd., with the announcement of the cast…
Spanish Language Magic Shows at Rhapsody Theater to celebrate Cinco de Mayo
11 April 2024 in Upcoming TheatreBorn and raised in Mexico City, Dr. Ricardo Rosenkranz, MD, Chicago’s own Physician Magician, will celebrate the festive Cinco de Mayo holiday weekend by…
Court Theatre’s Rosencrantz and Guildenstern are Dead Features Fabulous Ensemble with Striking Design
09 April 2024 in Theatre in ReviewThe Player (Lorenze Rush Jr) has just run into Rosencrantz and Guildenstern with his troupe of players. As he explains…
Latest Articles
-
One Fine Show: Beautiful The Carole King Musical dazzles Paramount Theatre
Written by Kendall RoyzenGrowing up our radio dial was tuned to one channel, K-Earth 101. In Southern California that station was the oldies, the classics, belting out hits from the 1950s and 60s; Sam Cooke, Buddy Hall, Mel Carter, Peggy Lee, The Ronettes,… -
Blue in the Right Way's 'Women Beware Women' at The Edge Innovative… radical… courageous… confusing
Written by Sarz MaxwellBlue in the Right Way audaciously chose for their inaugural production a 400-year-old play, WOMEN BEWARE WOMEN, written in 1621 by Thomas Middleton and adapted by the company’s co-founders Kevin Smith (Kevin/Kevin’s, also director) and Daiva Bhandari (she/her, also lead… -
'Judgment Day' a Top-drawer Production That Will Leave You Laughing, and Maybe Changed for the Better
Written by Bill EslerCrowds will flock to see “Judgment Day,” having its world premiere at Chicago Shakespeare Theater on Navy Pier. While many will be drawn by its star, Emmy and Tony-winning actor Jason Alexander of “Seinfeld” fame (George Costanza), and he is… -
Panther In the Sky – “A Moving Tapestry of Grief and Hope"
Written by Wesley DavidIn "Panther in the Sky," playwright Lani T. Montreal masterfully weaves a tapestry of grief, resilience, and redemption through the intertwined narratives of four culturally diverse mothers who have tragically lost their teenage sons to the relentless grip of gun…
Does your theatre company want to connect with Buzz Center Stage or would you like to reach out and say "hello"? Message us through facebook or shoot us an email at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..
*This disclaimer informs readers that the views, thoughts, and opinions expressed in the text belong solely to the author, and not necessarily to Buzz Center Stage. Buzz Center Stage is a non-profit, volunteer-based platform that enables, and encourages, staff members to post their own honest thoughts on a particular production.