Reviews

The Gravedigger: A Tale of Frankenstein Monster

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“The Gravedigger: A Tale of Frankenstein’s Monster”, follows the doctor’s retribution search for the monster….but this eerie tale flows with more symbolism, content and depth of dialogue than one probably finds in the subsequent plays and movies from the original 1818 story. When you suspend disbelief, The Gravedigger offers an honest dramatic evening of theater with good direction, script, acting, and terror…absent the many possible current gimmicks available.

The Vandal

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It’s fine to have funny Halloween stories, but the most lasting experiences are those that trigger fears like loneliness and regret. The Vandal packs a lot into its short run-time, and rewards its audience for their investment. This is a good show if you want to break up the drinking and zombies for the early part of an evening sometime this fall.

Danny Casolaro Died for You

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Danny Casolaro Died for You is the story of how the playwright’s cousin was found with his wrists slashed in a West Virginia hotel room under suspicious circumstances. Orlando’s story could easily have slid into propaganda or a boring series of interviews with lawyers and bankers, but instead, is the sort of psychological thriller more often seen on film than onstage.

The Cryptogram

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In a baffling turn, Profiles Theatre has mounted David Manet’s 1994 utterly perplexing drama – The Cryptogram. Even after doing copious research including reading Manet’s comments on what The Cryptogram is about, I m still baffled.

Smokefall 2014

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Over about twenty-eight narrative footnotes, we learn that how dysfunctional this family is. Mike Nussbaum, who is as old as the Goodman, plays a senile clown twenty-three years his junior, Violet’s father. He still insists on the authority due to him as a colonel, but has the memory and continence of a goldfish and has to re-discover his wife’s death every day. Violet’s daughter Beauty (Catherine Combs) eats dirt, so that’s what Violet feeds her.

Don Giovanni at the Lyric Opera of Chicago

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This production of Don Giovanni is particularly well sung, especially by soprano and Ryan Opera Center alumna Andriana Churchman making her role debut as Zerlina. Her natural melodic singing was a joy to hear! She should be proud of her debut performance. The other cast members were terrific also. Marina Rebeka, a soaring soprano and soprano Ana Maria Martinez as Donna Elvira complimented the scorned ladies.

Another Bone

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The play starts with a two person speech wherein Rhonda (Jan Ellen Graves) and Marie finish each other’s sentences as they expound about their husband’s deaths as firefighters in NYC. Marie’s man was a 911 hero while Rhonda’s man died in a house fire a year after 911. Both firefighters were heroes but the 911 fallen firefighters were given major hero status by government and by the public. Marie got several million and Rhonda received the normal adequate death benefits. Marie and Rhonda stay friends as each helps the other adjust to life after losing their husbands.

All My Sons

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The actors have all found ways to incorporate Miller’s wordiness into their characters. Spencer and Montemurro spit syllables like machine-guns, but I always understood them, and accepted this behavior as a tic of people constantly anxious over their self-delusions. Spencer captures the defiant cheeriness of a man who knows he’s controversial for things he’d rather move past. You can see how Joe Keller charms people despite their better judgment. Montemurro’s Kate scares people into humoring her as much as she demands pity. Despite living in denial, she shares her husband’s ability to alternatively brow-beat and seduce people for her pragmatic purposes.

The Night Alive

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The Night Alive is a brilliantly constructed drama that unfolds as finely directed and beautifully acted work that leaves audiences moved and satisfied that their lives and their aspirations are in a better place than Tommy, Doc and Aimee. We are glad we shared their experiences of these very human souls as only a master playwright can present them. The Night Alive is one of the finest players seen on a Chicago stage this year! Don’t miss it.

The World of Extreme Happiness

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The main character is surprisingly underwritten for how much Cowhig wanted a strong female lead; I have a hard time describing Sunny other than saying she is a Ke$ha fan and bursts into action when the plot requires it. Lim does her best with what she has to work with. I vastly preferred Long in her other role, the mid-wife Wang Hua, in which she was vibrantly funny, and played well off of Iskandar. His and Jue’s physical comedy supplied my favorite moments of the show.

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