Theatre Reviews Archives - Page 93 of 232

With a title like 44 Ways to End Your Sex Life, an audience shouldn’t be surprised to find that this show is strictly adult humor. Composed of many short skits, this production is reminiscent of Saturday Night Live. Six ensemble actors and actresses, change characters every scene to embody another hilarious and often pathetic sexual encounter. The whole thing is one large collection of ridiculously outrageous, to pathetically realistic sexual scenarios that leave the audience rolling with laughter.

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Tom Williams

Seminar

Seminar is funny, stinging, smart, as it stirs us with biting comments on the world of both fiction writing and our quest to achieve fame and fortune in the creative arts. Anyone who has ever penned a story will relate to this show. Haven Theatre has mounted a gem of a show. A strong script presented by a terrific ensemble are ingredients for a wonderful trip to the theatre. This show is worth seeing.

MUST SEE REVIEWS REVIEWS BY Theatre Reviews Tom Williams

Tom Williams

Les Parents Terribles

Director John Mossman sure gets his game cast of five to exude every ounce of comedy from Jean Cocteau’s 1938 French farce, Les Parents Terribles. We meet the ultimate tangled and twisted dysfunctional family that finds the father, George (Frank Nall) a wacky inventor; his wife Yvonne (Kathy Scambiatterra) the hyper-excessive mother who clings to her son, Michael (Julian Hester) in a passionately unnatural way. But Michael is in love with Madeleine (Allie Long) who also has an affair going with George. Aunt Leo (Miranda Zola), who has been in love with George for decades, live in the household is the only one present with a sense of order.

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Tom Williams

Leveling Up

We see these immature addicted poor souls as their lives are dominated by their obsession with these virtual reality games. They seem to blur actual reality with the possibilities on living in the fantasy of online games. Ian thinks online gamers are his friends despite his only contact with them is through the Internet. Zander is so consumed by games that he can barely relate to Jeannie or the real world. Chuck seems to be just marking time until he decided what to do with his life.

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Tom Williams

Miss Marx: or the involuntary side effects of living

In its strongest moments, Miss Marx is a riveting and complex glimpse into the life and character of the amazing Tussy Marx. Played with gusto, depth, and a haunting sense of her own contradictory personality by Dana Black, Miss Marx is fascinating story that, once it is cleared from the clutter that bogs it down, could emerge into a major theatrical event. Dawkins has captured a most interesting figure in Tussy. She is the youngest daughter of the founder of Communism – Karl Marx. She became the flag-bearer of her father’s legacy

MUST SEE REVIEWS REVIEWS BY Theatre Reviews Tom Williams

Tom Williams

Golden Boy

Golden Boy, written in 1937 (later made into a film with William Holden), is Joe Bonaparte’s (Nate Santana) story. Set in Depression era New York, Joe, a talented violinist and son of an Italian American immigrant chooses to be a boxer in his relentless search for the American Dream. Filled with gritty underworld characters and real family members (and, of course, the local socialists), Odets has the knack for presenting exact models of 1930’s frustrated lower class.

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Tom Williams

Chicago – The Musical National Tour 2014

After all these years – Chicago still packs a wallop. The slick, sassy, stylish and sophisticated Broadway musical that was remounted on 1996 from the original 1975 production (which ran for 936 performances. To date, Chicago’s 1996 production has played for more that 6, 800 performances on Broadway making it one of the longest runs in history. Audiences love this show and the opening night audience at the Bank of America Theatre gave it a rousing standing ovation – me included! It’s that good and it never gets stale.

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Tom Williams

A Tale of Two Cities

A Tale of Two Cities is set in Paris and London in 1775 during The Reign of Terror that swept through Paris that ignited the French Revolution that led to the downfall of the French aristocracy. We meet victims of both the aristocracy and the revolutionaries as many suffered the guillotine as social and political change swept France.

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Tom Williams

Red Light Winter

Farilane Theatre Co. put on an effective production of Adam Rapp’s Red Light Winter. A modern look at sex, obsession, and friendship comes to life. Beautifully written characters make this story sensitive and dark. Early in the show, automatically we veer our sympathy toward Matt (Chris Martin with a stellar performance). On the opposing end is Davis (Bob Pantalone in an aggressive, strong performance). As tempers arise, the story and production stays engaging from beginning to end.

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Tom Williams

A Midsummer Night’s Dream – Short Shakespeare

…Chicago Shakespeare Theatre’s A Midsummer Night’s Dream. Short Shakespeare is a program that CST puts on to expose the younger audience of Chicago to the one and only, William Shakespeare. This version is cut down to 75 minutes. It engages with the children, makes them laugh, ask questions, and learn the fine art.