Top Plays of 2013
Here are my picks for the Top Ten Plays in Chicago in 2013
Tom Williams
Reviews
The Guys
I never knew how Roy spent the holidays until I needed to borrow his copy of the Gershwin musical, Crazy For You. Roy had a vast collection of theatre memorabilia and I always found him to be the source. I promised my nephew that we would watch the musical so he could be introduced to the wonders of Gershwin music. It was noon on Christmas Eve, snow was falling faster than the plows could remove it. I needed that tape. A promise is a promise.
Annie Get Your Gun at Light Opera Works
It is so refreshing to experience classical Browadway musicals mounted like the originals. With all the original Robert Russell Bennett’s orchestrations played by a 30 person orchestra, Annie Get Your Gun, now a holiday treat at Cahn Auditorium in Evanston produced by Light Opera Works, is a marvelous musical containing one of Broadways’ most memorable scores
Tribes
That decision wears thin on Billy over the years since tones, nuance and timber escape him during the often tremulous family spats. Billy is the only family member who truly listens. He never feels a complete member of the family. That world is challenged when Billy meets Sylvia (Alana Arenas) who is a child of deaf parents and one whose hearing is quickly fading. Billy instantly falls in love with Sylvia who introduces her the the larger Deaf community. Billy learns to sign after prodding from Sylvia.. This exposure sparks a struggle for self-identity for Billy. He realizes that their is a larger world available to him through signing and the Deaf community.
Sherlock Holmes and the Case of the Christmas Goose
Once the Holme’s method of crime solving gets going there is no stopping that process. Beside the goose caper, once Holmes discovers that said goose had a large blue carbuncle jewel belonging to the Countess of Morcar, they mystery is “on.” With the help of the game cast of players and foley artists with sprinkles of Christmas songs, the case is a fun dash of Christmas intrigue.
The Little Prince
Ian Barford is terrific as the perplexed stranded Aviator who learns to rekindle his creative instincts through his interactions with The Little Prince. Amelia Hefferon, in her first professional acting debut, give a heartfelt, charming performance as the wise yet innocent little prince. The moral lessons here including challenging our perspective as to what is really matters in life are splendidly presented. Passion, honest, and trust abound throughout. Children and adults can enjoy this amazingly pleasing theatrical event together
Die Fledermaus (The Bat)
Act two features the fabulous party at Orlofsky’s villa. This wonderful visual, tuneful and rhythmic act features much comedy. In one of them most memorable acts in the operetta cannon, the toe-tapping Strauss score comes alive featuring the impressive folk-infused dances that range from Austrian/German to Hungarian to manic Russian folk dances to augment the lush Viennese waltzes. The choreography is breathtaking! (choreography by Daniel Pelzig). The highlight of this fabulous act is the celebratory champagne toast. The costumes in this production standout as much as the music and the rich vocals.
autobahn
Neil LaBute is like a bitter herbal tea, it (and he) is an acquired taste. I generally like and admire his plays. he sure has a glowing in Chicago due to the numerous productions of his work at Profiles Theatre. LaBute’s autobahn was produced there in 2006 and it played as a series of dark comic vignettes. The fledgling Awkward Pause Theatre’s production of autobahn, now playing at The Den, is devoid of much of the dark humor. Rather this play-cycle is composed of seven two character skits.
The Merry Wives of Windsor
This delightful comedy brings us the lovable rogue—Sir John Falstaff—played hilariously by Scott Jaeck together with many terrific veteran Chicago actors such as Don Forston (Sir Hugh Evans), James Harms (Justice Shallow), Kevin Gudahl (Master Page), Ross Lehman (Master Ford), Greg Vinkler (Dr. Caius), William Dick (Host of the Garter Inn). In several funny scenes, we witness these splendid Thespians running about like the Keystone Cops in a silent movie! Steven Sutcliffe’s Slender was a particularly funny character marvelously played.
An Inspector Calls
So, on one level An Inspector Calls is a drawing room drama turned mystery a la Agatha Christie with a twist. Priestley has structured a clever mystery that seems to be ‘solved’ but on another level Priestley has another agenda weaved into his mystery. He uses individual guilt and personal accountability to highlight his social justice demands. Combining a smartly constructed mystery into a call for personal and social change reminds me of how Dickens, Shaw and Ibsen used drama to stir audiences.