Tom Williams

Tom Williams founded ChicagoCritic.com in 2001 and spent decades reviewing theatre and live performance across Chicago and its suburbs, from Broadway tours and major institutions to storefront theatre, opera, cabaret and classical music. In 2010, the Society of Midland Authors honored him with the James Friend Memorial Award for Literary and Dramatic Criticism (our 2010 announcement). Concord Theatricals quotes his reviews on its licensing pages for shows including Crazy for You and City of Angels.

Barnum

April 7, 2013April 5, 2013 by Tom Williams

Barnum ran two years on Broadway (1980-82) with music by Cy Coleman (Sweet Charity, City of Angels & Will Rogers Follies) Lyrics by Michael Stewart (Bye, Bye Birdie, Carnival & Hello Dolly!) and book by Mark Bramble (42nd Street). In the Mercury Theater production, director Walter Stearns as assembled a fabulous creative team and a terrific “A” list of Equity actors to make Barnum a true theatrical event. The score is a pastiche of toe-tapping marches, ballads, ragtime and Dixieland tunes with several circus-infused show stopping numbers designed to thrill audiences

Catch Me If You Can – The Musical

April 5, 2013 by Tom Williams

The best part of this musical was in the fine jazzy, swinging-sixties score by Marc Shaiman played with enthusiasm by the on-stage orchestra. As a non-Equity tour, this one was a tad better than most but you’d think for a top ticket price of $85 they’d find performers who could sing? The voices in this tour were much below what can be heard around Chicago from our non-Equity players in storefront theatres.

Beautiful Broken

October 23, 2022March 30, 2013 by Tom Williams

Beautiful Broken lasted a whopping two hours and thirty-five minutes! It is a relationship “romantic dramedy” that plays like a redundant-filled, cliche-ridden contrived drama fueled with “playwright-speak” unrealistic dialogue with a too-slow razor thin plot.

A Streetcar Named Desire – The Opera

September 11, 2017March 27, 2013 by Tom Williams

The libretto doesn’t shy away from the sexual power of the original script as it contains references to Blanche’s gay husband and as it presents the provocative kissing the newspaper collector “on the mouth”scene. This free-flowing three hour plus production has the haunting tone and a fluid use of trumpet and solo clarinet to amplify the atmosphere and psychology of a scene. Previn demonstrates his perception of the cloudy views of reality as seen by Williams’ characters. A Streetcar Named Desire pack a wallop and must take its place as one fine contemporary operas. Renee Fleming makes Blanche her own.

Under A Rainbow Flag

October 23, 2022March 25, 2013 by Tom Williams

Under A Rainbow Flag is a delightful, light-weight musical that explores the various types of love that gay men endured in those closeted-days during WWII. This show is a tribute to the wholesomeness and heart of gay men. It celebrates the essence of being gay with a high-energy expression. It contains humor, angst, love, and hope as those early brave souls were determined to live in truth. This is a fun show that could use a trim and more authentic military uniforms but it delivers a well-sung tribute to gay veterans all around bravery. It is a worthy new musical that begs an audience.

Stones in his Pockets

March 21, 2013March 16, 2013 by Tom Williams

As the story progresses, we learn to love the characters, hate the hypocritical American film makers and we feel the pain as we hear about the desperate action of one young lost Irish soul. Humor and heartbreaking situations give Jones’ script depth. You’ll laugh and be amazed at the stage craft of David Ivers and Brrian Vaughn – they even do some expert Irish dance steps!

Jekyll & Hyde

March 19, 2013March 16, 2013 by Tom Williams

J & H relies too much on style, staging and video and lighting gimmicks to convey the dreadful murderous acts of Hyde. We don’t get to know, much less like Jekyll, so when Hyde emerges, we are not surprised. Constantine Maroulis shouts and screams his songs relying on increased volume to convey dread and angst.

An American Story – for Actor and Orchestra

October 22, 2022March 12, 2013 by Tom Williams

This emotionally packed drama with music grabbed the opening day audience and kept them transfixed throughout. This may be Hershey Felder’s finest show. Certainly it is his most unique historical work that fills us in on an unknown historical figure as it is Felder’s most challenging acting role. It is a tight, powerful, and expressive glimpse both into history and 19th Century America culture. Hershey Felder once again proves that he is a master of stage presence. He is the finest storyteller of our time. Don’t miss his stunning work.

CCX

October 22, 2022March 8, 2013 by Tom Williams

Jim Lynch is a talented playwright with a keen ear for street talk and a knack for character development. His works begs an audience. CCX is a powerful, in-your-face, Chicago style play filled with outstanding performances particularly by Henri Watkins and David Lawrence Hamilton. The complexity of police work in gang infested Chicago that becomes shades of gray in execution wherein the line between the good guys and the thugs becomes blurred is vividly presented in Lynch’s terrify play.

She Kills Monsters – Garage Rep

March 4, 2013 by Tom Williams

Filled with colorful customs, shadow puppets, and loads of stage combat, Qui Nguyen’s ridiculous comedy, She Kills Monsters, is highlighted with much screaming, physical comedy and over-the-top performances. This wild and unworkable mess is the story of a most unlikable lead character, Agnes (Katherine Banks)’s life is tuned upside down when she stumbles upon her late sister’s Dungeons & Dragons notebook