These are Chicago Critics Must See shows. If you are only going to see one show let us recommend one of these great pieces of true Art!
Letts’ Superior Donuts demonstrates Letts’ keen ability to write dialogue capturing the unique voice of each of his rich characters. After 25 years living in Chicago, Tracy Letts claims he is a true Chicagoan. Superior Donuts is his ode to the melting pot ethnic neighbor of Chicago’s Uptown….
Read MoreHer’s back–yes Hershey Felder will be back here in Skokie soon.
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Bulrusher is a coming-of-age story about a pure innocent as she struggles to find both her personal identity, her racial identity, and her sexual identity. Finding out who and what you are is a daunting journey but Bulrusher’s strength and her rare powers serves her well. Once she comes to terms and meets her mother, she emerges as s woman ready to face the changing world of the 1950’s
Read MoreThe Opponent. It is a riveting multilevel drama that utilizes the action of boxing to expound on such themes as mentor-pupil , father-son relationships plus the nature of preparing, living and remembering our dreams and the effects and consequences of our life choices. Loyalty is tested, even with explosive reactions.
Read MoreThe lush melodies were sweepingly romantic as they exude richly deep emotions. The unity of music with libretto in Simon Boccanegra worked strikingly well with the baritones and bass. The two romantic duets are to be cherished. The preponderant of low male voices seemed a tad dark until the music and the glorious soprano from Krassimira Stoyanova balanced the sound in her Lyric debut.
Read MoreWho would think that a female actor/director could write a play about Vietnam? But Susan Felder sure did and its a terrific gritty war drama. With a swiftly paced intensity and loads of suspense, Wasteland unfolds as a riveting two-hander upon an awesome set (by Kevin Depinet) that depicts an American solder, circa 1972 captured by the VC and isolated in an underground cave
Read MoreWhy is Sylvia Gellburg (Jacqueline Grandt) paralyzed from the waste down when medically she seems fine? Why does Phillip Gellburg (Neal Grofman) come off as attacking, argumentative and self-loathing? What does the horrible news of Kristallnacht in Berlin in November of 1938 so upset Sylvia that she seems obsessed with fear that the attacks on Jews could come to her Brooklyn neighborhood?
Read MoreCan a fabulously rich woman find happiness with a relative pauper? Can a woman with a father fixation come to terms with an oedipal mate? What happens when parents influence their children (and their choice of partners) from beyond the grave? Come and find out.
Read MoreThis show uses silly humor, parody, and loads of music to re-write history while also containing a subtext about how and why we select our leaders. The 100 minutes are fun, often exhilarating. While I’m not a fan of punk rock music, I found those numbers cute and appropriate to the material and style of the show.
Read MoreKudos to the creatives at Light Opera Works for creating a revue of the finest songs from Viennese, Berlin, London, and American operettas. These wonderful songs can easily stand on their own devoid of plot. They range from waltzes, ballads, polkas, and marches contain lush music and fine lyrics; romance, frivolous encounters, often satirical, and sentimental tones prevail.
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