Theatre Reviews

Playwright Joshua Rollins, in a ode to Sam Shepard, likes to create troubled characters who seem trapped in their lives. In Darlin’, now in a world premier at the Athenaeum Theatre, Rollins has Clem (Elizabeth Birnkrant), a 30something woman who arrives at a motel in rural Iowa. She is alone, drives a Volvo SUV with two baby seats and she has a wad of cash. The mystery abounds: who is she, why is she here; what is she running from?

It is 1945 in Memphis at Miss Mary’s (Kona N. Burks) beauty parlor and boarding house. the place is alive, full of women primping their hair while telling stories of their soldiers overseas and local gossip in Saturday Night/Sunday Morning by Katori Hall. As the War winds down the women worry about their men and the uncertainty of if and when they’ll return. This is a slice of life story about the folks living in a changing world.

Variety of styles, energetic, physicality with wild customs, weird sounds, techno music, chanting and singing fuel the Walkabout Theater’s 60 minute performance art piece. This thrilling and extremely innovative work is referred to As “laboratory theater’ by the creators meaning a work designed by the performers featuring their rigorous training practices that includes wrestling, acrobatics, dance, rhythmic movement. The physical risks are sexy, muscular and provocati

The Gospel of Lovingkindness is a religious oriented wish-fulfilling tale that puts faith ahead of sound problem solving. It is a nicely written work that is merely a ‘fell-good’ show that doesn’t really resolve anything. Terrific performances, particularly by Jacqueline Williams and Cheryl Lynn Bruce, make the show worthy. If only Gardley made a more substantial stand by offering practical solutions to gun violence.

This funny play features a nice assortment of Chicago’s fine non-Equity players each fully in tune with their characters ineptitude. Their planning their crime using their stupid logic becomes such as wacky scheme that it could possibly work. The humor is, indeed, in the details. I’ll not reveal more so as not to spoil the surprises. The Roper is really a character sketch of the petty criminals from the 19th Century immigrant lot as their desperation for the good life pressures them to take up crime.