Author: Tom Williams

Theatre Reviews

LES ENFANTS TERRIBLES: PROM NIGH

To understand the premise of the Les Enfants Terribles: Prom Night show at the Red Tape Theatre, one must first understand the logic behind the bouffant, or buffoon, character. The bouffant is a French derived “clown” act that keys in on the grotesque and absurd facets of human nature, rather than the vibrant and cheerful ones we’re used to seeing at the circus

Read More
REVIEWS

Charenton

The quality of acting and chemistry between the ensemble members is outstanding. The characters in the play have a sense of hopelessness, loneliness and desperation, but the play expresses this while still being decorated in beauty and raw emotion. The music is moving in itsel

Read More
REVIEWSTheatre ReviewsTom Williams

After the Fall

After The Fall is a study of one man’s search for meaning through the thoughts and memories stuck in his head. Using a narrative flashback featuring generous use of personal confessional monologues, Quentin (Nathanial Swift in a powerful, honest tour de force performance) is obsessed with how pointless is life has been. His focus is on his personal fall from innocence as he shows an intense moral discomfort.

Read More
REVIEWSTheatre ReviewsTom Williams

The Philadelphia Story

Bob Knuth once again has created an elegant old money family estate drawing room set that hints at the elegance of the rich and privileged Lord family of Philadelphia, circa 1930’s. Add the period-perfect costumes (by Elizabeth Wislar) and The Philadelphia Story plays like a classical drawing room comedy of manners. This production is light-hearted, fast-paced filled with whimsy.

Read More
OperaREVIEWSTom Williams

Jesus Christ Superstar

I must admit that I’m not a great lover of Superstar due to its pop/rock elements and its completely sung through rock style. However, Flaster’s casting and the skillful enunciation by the principle singers together with a blend of high-energy staging and haunting dramatization of Christ’s final days made this production of Superstar and explosive journey of redemption for me.

Read More
Theatre ReviewsTom Williams

Aida

Scott Ferguson and the new Bailiwick Chicago collective of Chicago non-Equity players have reinvented and revived the troubled, over-produced and over-amped Broadway production of the 1998 musical, Aida, with music by Elton John and Lyrics by Tim Rice.

Read More