Old Times, Pinter’s 1971 drama, is a static, wordy affair that unfolds as a psychological exercise in mind games designed as competition between Deeley and Anna for Kate’s affection. Deeley and Kate are a miaged married couple living in a rural farm house in Britain.
Victory Gardens Theater, the home of world premiers plays, debuts ensemble playwright Jeffrey Sweet’s new play, Class Dismissed. It is a somewhat nostalgic look back at the 1960’s and the effects that decisions made during that time of rebellion have on the lives of participants growing up in that tumultuous time. Class Dismissed is funny, well acted and accurate.
Eclipse Theatre does justice to Rebecca Gilman’s Blue Surge, now playing at the Greenhouse Theatre Center. Blue Surge is peopled by relatively uneducated working class folks caught in the confinements of semi-poverty. We see two Midwest small town cops, Curt (Kevin Scott), a sergeant struggling to make lieutenant and his friend Doug, a detective without ambition as they screw up at raid on a message parlor. Curt meets Sandy (Laura Coover in a fabulous nuanced performance), an eighteen year old prostitute caught in survival mode in tough economic times. The wild and carefree Doug entraps Heather (Sasha Gioppo) during the raid.
Chicago playwright/actor Tony Fiorentino has written and acted in several terrific plays (Cold Cold Feet, 2006), (Fraternal Instinct, 2007), and (My Dinner with Amy, 2008). His latest, All My Love, is an ambitious and mildly entertaining drama about the perils and pitfalls of open romantic relationships.
By Anthony Neilson Directed by Darrell W. Cox At Profiles Theatre Bizarre dark comedy is full of laughs and wonderment In a departure from their gritty raw dramas, Profiles Theatre tackles Scottish playwright Anthony Neilson’s new dark comedy, The Wonderful World of Dissocia. This is a fantasia in the vane of Alice In Wonderland that … Read more
Now in their 25th season, Drury Lane Oakbrook Theatre, has grabbed the first regional production of Curtains preceding even the first National Tour! Credit Kyle and Drew DeSantis for their initative. Once this fabulous show woos their West Suburban audiences with its smart wit, humor and musical chops—I hope they will remount Curtains at their Drury Lane Water Tower Place.
After two successful years on Broadway, the first national tour of Mary Poppins flies into Chicago for a four month stay at the Cadillac Palace Theatre. Co-produced by Disney and Cameron Mackintosh, Mary Poppins is a fresh hybrid musical that co-creator/producer Mackintosh stated; “What I was searching for was a show that was both familiar and surprising, which would merge the best of the books and the film into something new.” Did he ever succeed!
By Regina Taylor Directed by Anna D. Shapiro At the Goodman Theatre Regina Taylor’s Magnolia unfolds as an American ode to The Cherry Orchid. Regina Taylor’s world premiere, Magnolia, deftly deals with change during one of the most pivotal years of the 20th Century—1963. Set in Atlanta at Black Pearl’s Restaurant and Kerry’s Restaurant, we … Read more
Walter Stearns’ decision to cast Pacific Overtures with all Asians was bold making it the first Chicago production to do so. It worked effectively, to say the least! The atmosphere was created with Kurt Sharp’s sliding door set on John Horn’s fine lighting. The players are dressed in gorgeous Japanese kimonos (designed by Carol Blanchard) with authentic wigs and they move with Kabuki movements with Noh theatre elements. The show features terrific musical direction by Eugene Dizon and his orchestra that flawlessly plays Sondheim’s strongly Oriental influenced score. The show is Japan meet Broadway.
Matei Vişniec’s absurdist tale of hyper-patriotism gets a fresh new look in director Radu-Alexandru Nica’s stylish new staging now playing at Trap Door Theatre. Told in three successive scenes of women sending their men off to war, Horses at the Window explores the insanity created when war is constant and no one remembers life without it. The departure of the soldier is inevitably followed by the arrival of a messenger bearing red flowers and some bad news: a son has been blown apart, a father has been driven mad, a husband has been trampled to death by his own fleeing comrades.