Three well-introduced half siblings are brought together after that father’s deteriorating illness. Renee (Lynda Newton) is the oldest sibling married with kids. The middle sibling is Gary (Michael Patrick Thornton), a stoner who works in a comic book store that he is satisfied doing so. The youngest is Cassie (Brittany Burch) who is struggling with committing herself to anything. The three embark on a present day, family, comedy/drama.
Teenage Alex is learning both about his gay father and the small town family dynamic since he has joined his father on this emergency trip to Indiana. Once Brady shows up, old family wounds emerge as we see the devastating effects of Alzheimer’s on the entire family. Shaun is trying to put his life together while also trying to look after mother. Brady tries to instill into his son Alex toleration and morals while shielding him from old family secrets. Alex is keen to know about his father’s past in Indiana…
What makes Peter and the Starcatcher possibly worth seeing are the work from the young Chicago talents. Harter Clingman (Alf), Nathan Hosner (Lord Aster), John Sanders (a hoot as Black Stache) – these actors anchored the show… While Megan Stern, as Molly, lead the way for the boys, it was the charming, often charismatic, and fully heartfelt honest turn by Chicagoan Joey deBettencourt that made the otherwise tedious show palatable. Debettencourt, in his first Equity role, commands the stage ias a cute yet plausible boy who eventually emerges as Peter Pan
Obviously, the play begins with a most imaginative script, derivative of Wagner’s Opera, “Tristan and Isolde… well sort of… but you can be quite sure that even Wagner is laughing somewhere.
This production never gets the atmosphere at the Hill House eerie enough to get us to believe that poltergeists are inhabiting the place. Dr. Montague (Edward Kuffert) is a scientist bent on writing about “the greatest haunted house ever” so he invites folks who profess past experiences with paranormal events. He rents Hill House for the summer (circa 1950’s) to experience ghosts
Sandalwood is an allegory that begs the question of the effects of genetic inheritance of sin and violence. Sandalwood creates an eerie atmosphere with a strong performances by Sean Thomas and Anthony Stamillo. This world premiere work is tightly written and demonstrates the craft from Dan Caffrey as a playwright
Based on the premise: “Ever wonder what people are really thinking,?” the cast of skilled comic Equity performers have designed a fast-paced, laugh-a-minute comedy revue that easily grabs us from the start and keeps us belly laughing through. Chelsea Devantez, John Hartman, Mike Kosinski, Tawny Newsome, Emily Walker and Steve Waltien use everything they have, their vocal chops, their physical appearance, or their cute smiles including their ability to play animals to garner laughs.
The creatives for Australia, Erth-Visual & Physical have created and are now touring the world with their Erth’s Dinosaur Zoo Live. This experiential theatre production is part paleontologist lesson, part puppet show, and part audience appreciation of prehistoric animals. This kid friendly show utilizing video projections, amazing plant props, and live sized dinosaur puppets is narrated and hosted by Australian Aimee Louisanne, a charismatic young woman who has a way with both kids and paleontology.
Mammoths is an ambitious comedy that has twists on academic politics, the worthiness of a small museum as well as romantic relationships with a middle aged woman and a much younger woman. This sex comedy has unique twists that emerge when a 20something Andromeda- a New Age advocate – loves a pure academic and now is thrust into living with a dying doctor of philosophy. These exchanges are witty and quite funny. In act two,as Greer is growing sicker, the tone shifts as Andromeda becomes the main caregiver to Greer as Wreen is bogged down with campus business.
The main problem is John Weidman’s book. that quite superficially presents the Mizner brothers with a too broad a scope. The brothers, as presented, are two con men out to fleece the public on their way to pursuing the American Dream. Addison is presented, despite terrific work by Michael Aaron Lindner, a weak personality who is a failure as a con man completely subservient to his younger brother.. Wilson, played nicely by Andrew Rothenberg, is presented as a shiftless, ruthless and charming entrepreneurial con man whose addiction to cocaine and gambling made him always in need of cash.