Nunset Boulevard
Goggins songs are worthy and the hooky comedy is spiced-up with terrific work from Alene Robertson, Felicia Fields, Lauren Creel and Nicole Miller. Mary Robin Roth’s performance was particularly funny and heartfelt.
Tom Williams
Rantoul and Die
Leave it to the creatives at the American Blues Theater to come up with a fresh, raw dark comedy – Rantoul and Die by Mark Roberts – now in its Regional Premiere at the upstairs space at Victory Gardens Biograph Theater. Written by a TV sitcom writer/producer, Mark Roberts (“Mike & Molly”), Rantoul and Die is far from a tame TV sitcom- rather it is a raw, foul-mouthed edgy dark comedy about four skankiets yet heartbreakingly real characters.
The King and I
The use of two pianos utilized the orchestrations created by the original producers but locked away for 50 years was made available to Porchlight Music theatre by R & H Productions ( owners of the Rodgers & Hammerstein rights) after they found the orchestrations a few years ago. So, this production contains “world premiere” orchestrations that Eugene Dizon and Allison Hendrix played marvelously.
Cirque Eloize iD
The 16 brave performers blend an original electronic score (composed by Jean-Phi Goncalves) with 10 different urban dance and circus arts. The skilled talents (from seven countries) showcase thrilling skills such as juggling, contortion, in-line skating, stilts, Cyr Wheel, hand balancing, straps, bike trial, Chinese pole and various aerial silks that move swiftly toward the spectacular finale on the dynamic trampowall
The Conquest of the South Pole
German playwright Manfred Karge’s 1986 dark comedy The Conquest of the South Pole, written in East Germany before the wall fell, vividly demonstrates the ill effects of long-term unemployment on a group of adult men. The translation by Calvin McLean, Caron Cadle and Ralf Remshardt aptly yields Karge’s penchant for poetic language as the first scenes contain verse-like dialogue. The work is quite in the Brechtian tradition of theatre which Karge respects dearly
Bury The Dead
Are they really dead? After a doctor certifies that each of the six are in fact dead so the General berates they to let the Army bury them. They silently refuse. A priest tries exorcism, their Captain engages them in a philosophical discussion – to no avail.
Look Back In Anger
The Verge – is now showing the 1956 drama Look Back In Anger by John Osborne. This four person play is the story of an angry and frustrated young man, Jimmy Porter (Nathan Burger) who is over educated and underemployed. He is filled with rage that he takes out on his wife Alison (Claire Alden) and his only friend, Cliff Lewis (Nicholas Harazin)
The Front Page
We see how the execution of a cop killer is but a backdrop to the larger story of rampant corruption, scandal, and hi-jinx that permeated Chicago in the Jazz Age. The show is filled with local historical references including the Red Scare and the dominance of gangsters in Chicago society. Chicago is depicted by these gritty reporters as a mean street city with politicians ever trying for political advantage in search of wealth, power and patronag
One Flea Spare
Wallace’s poetic language is nicely enunciated by this fine cast. Young Elizabeth Stenholt shows promise as an actor. Brian Parry and J. P. Pierson gave yeoman performances. Susan Monts Bologna’s subtle performance powerfully emerged as the strongest. There is humor, intensity and truth in One Flea Spare. For something different, see this show.
Tree
Tree – is a moving story of four souls searching for personal identity as shaped by their family ties. This is a haunting work with subtle power with a mysterious element that finds a couple of stubborn people struggling to either maintain the status quo or find our the how’s and why’s of their family (s) history.