Tuesday, 13 October 2015 11:34
"Good for Otto" A Masterful Exploration on the Importance of Mental Health Care
Written by Kimberly Katz
I was expecting a great work of art from David Rabe, the American Tony Award-winning playwright, screenwriter and author, famous for his Vietnam trilogy (“Sticks and Bones”, “The Basic Training of Pavlo Hummel”, “Streamers”), as well as other notable plays, like “Hurlyburly” and “In the Boom Boom Room”. I was…
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Theatre in Review
Wednesday, 07 October 2015 17:17
Step Up Production's "Barefoot in the Park" Lukewarm in Love Department
Written by Kimberly Katz
Neil Simon's "Barefoot in the Park" is one of my favorite comedies. Simon so perfectly captures the dynamics of a new couple moving in together as newlyweds and the pressures that begin to erode or test their love as soon as they move in. Cory and Paul's lack of money…
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Theatre in Review
What would you do if a stranger asked you for something as simple as a bone marrow transplant? What would you do if someone gave you a life shattering diagnosis? The appropriate reaction seems obvious but as many things in reality are, it's always more complicated. "Marvin's Room" is the…
Published in
Theatre in Review
Friday, 02 October 2015 12:57
Face Your Fears at Disturbia: Screams in the Park
Written by Eden Diez
Face your fears at Disturbia: Screams in the Park Imagine: You are walking down a long, dank hallway, towards a clown. He waits for you behind bars. If you're brave enough, you keep eye contact with the clown as you walk closer and closer to the door. You must push…
Published in
Theatre in Review
Wednesday, 30 September 2015 12:36
First Folio's "The Madness of Poe, A Love Story" Brilliantly Reveals The Loving Side of Poe
Written by Kimberly Katz
From the moment you enter the darkened and eerie Tudor Revival styled Mayslake Peabody Estate and are handed a dance card indicating which group of theater goers you will follow throughout the performance, the tension and excitement of this wonderful production begins to mount. Not long after First Folio Theatre’s…
Published in
Theatre in Review
Tuesday, 29 September 2015 14:22
Uproarious Halloween Fun - David Cerda's Trilogy of Horror "Scream, Queen, Scream!"
Written by Ken Payne
When October rolls along, Chicagoans have always been fortunate as far as the variety of Halloween events that take place around the city. And while many of these events take the form of haunted houses or annual midnight runs of The Rocky Horror Picture Show, Hell in a Handbag Productions…
Published in
Theatre in Review
Tuesday, 22 September 2015 16:27
Theatre at the Center's "Spamalot" Simply Smashing
Written by Ken Payne
If you’ve ever enjoyed the 1975 film “Monty Python and the Holy Grail”, then “Spamalot” is definitely for you. But even those who have never seen the classic comedy would be hard pressed not to relish the musical proudly tabbed as “lovingly ripped off from the motion picture”. Now playing…
Published in
Theatre in Review
Monday, 21 September 2015 11:23
Wendt and Kazurinsky Breathe Fiery Drama and Heartwarming Comedy into "Funnyman" World Premiere
Written by Kimberly Katz
"Funnyman", now playing at Northlight Theatre in Skokie, is a familiar tale about an artist who has reached the end of one phase of his career and has to either adapt to the new environs and trends in entertainment or retire to his old world , hopefully with his dignity…
Published in
Theatre in Review
Signal Ensemble Theatre presents the United States premiere of Nicolas Billon’s “Butcher”, a thrilling mystery of revenge and dark secrets. Directed by Signal Ensemble Member Bries Vannon, “Butcher” is a gripping nail-biter and will definitely keep you on the edge of your seat. On a rainy Christmas Eve in Toronto,…
Published in
Theatre in Review
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Monday, 14 September 2015 11:51
Review: "Who's Afraid of Virginia Woolf?" at Redtwist Theatre
Written by John Accrocco
What can be said about a play as often produced as 'Who's Afraid of Virginia Woolf?' With every company that takes on this landmark play, a new audience is given the opportunity to spend an electrifying evening with George and Martha. As legend has it, Mr. Albee is quite stringent…
Published in
Theatre in Review
Saturday, 12 September 2015 12:43
Ehrhardt Shines Brightly in the Highly Entertaining "Jamaica, Farewell"
Written by Kimberly Katz
Directed by Joel Zwick of “My Big, Fat Greek Wedding fame, and produced by Hershey Felder, “Jamaica, Farewell” is the charming, funny and often suspenseful one-person play about a young woman’s coming of age in Jamaica, performed brilliantly by Debra Ehrhardt. Not realizing it was a solo show upon arrival,…
Published in
Theatre in Review
Tuesday, 08 September 2015 16:38
Energetic and Powerful - The Hypocrites "American Idiot"
Written by Ken Payne
When I think of Green Day’s American Idiot, the thought of the majority of our population blindly falling in line with the agenda of media conglomerates comes to mind. It's true. America’s youth (and not so youthful) is influenced by suggestive ad campaigns, TV and film brainwashing and so forth…
Published in
Theatre in Review
Friday, 04 September 2015 11:05
Kunlun Myth Beautifully Brings Chinese Culture to Chicago
Written by Eden Diez
The China Performing Arts Agency presented “Kunlun Myth,” an original musical from producer Wang Yu, for a two-night engagement at The Auditorium Theater of Roosevelt University. “Kunlun Myth” smartly incorporated ancient and modern concepts into an elegant, sparky performance and what better venue to perform than the Auditorium Theater. During…
Published in
Theatre in Review
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Written by Sarz MaxwellI reviewed TITUS ANDRONICUS in mid-February, so I was eager to see the sequel! In TITUS, Shakespeare tells the story from the viewpoint of the regnant major characters: Empress Tamora and her sons Chiron, Demetrius and Bassianus; Lucius and the…
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