…this Carmilla is a mixed bag of boring melodrama and predictable and ill-timed horrific bloody vampire fight and biting scenes. There are stiff performances, loads of screaming, and wild blood letting that unfortunately fails to either scare nor thrill. Some of the dialogue was so poorly written or translated and/or delivered by the cast that the audience reacted with belly laughs. That is not what you want if your trying to build enough suspense to scare audiences.
Read MoreThe 16th Street production of The Beats is a lively glimpse into the ideas and personalities of some of the Beats’ leading characters. Told in brilliantly articulated performances by Adam Poss as K (Holy Hipster), John Taflan G (The Student), Malcolm Callan S (Dharma Bum), Jon McGilberry J (Jazz Cat) and Carly Ciarrocchi D (Beat Chick), with terrific underscoring and atmospheric jazz tunes from Grant Strombeck (drums) and Doug Lofstrom (bass).
Read MoreFeaturing one of Shakespeare’s best loved heroines, Rosalind (Kate Fry in a most charmingly winning performance), As You Like It is a sure crowd pleasing pastoral romantic comedy. Director Gary Griffin has cast a full list of “A” list classical players
Read MoreBy Bruce Norris Directed by Clive Cholerton Caldwell Theatre Company At the Count de Hoernle Theatre Potentially brilliant work falls
Read MoreDirector June Eubanks combines a documentary style with a dramatization to tell John Merrick’s story. Each scene is introduced and the cast double as Foley artists to supplement the production with sound effects. The most remarkable element of this production is the lack of sentimentality as Merrick’s story unfolds.
Read MoreI have always admired theatre groups with the chutzpah to stretch the boundaries of theatre. No troupe in Chicago does a finer job covering new territory than Trap Door Theatre. Max Truax’s Hamletmachine is master piece of experimentalist theatre that will boggle your mind. For those adventurous souls who cherish stylist and artsy work, the Hamletmachine will satisfy your creative cravings.
Read MoreA new Musical lovingly ripped off from the film “Monty Python and the Holy Grail” Book & Lyrics by Eric
Read MoreThis vivid depiction of a flamboyant character is reinforced in all of Mame’s relationships, but nowhere more comically and effectively than in the scenes between Mame and arch rival/best friend Vera Charles (Loriann Freda). One of the best moments of the musical is when the two women – one clad in white, the other in slinky black, explain their love/hate relationship in the song “Bosom Buddies.” High praise to Marilyn Wick and Costume World Theatrical (www.costumeworld.com) for the all the glamorous outfits.
Read MoreIt is fitting that 2010 ends with a marvelous production Jerry Herman’s 1964 pure Americana musical Hello, Dolly! In the hands of the creatives at Light Opera Works, with their 24 person orchestra under conductor Roger L. Bingaman and the attention to details by director/choreographer Rudy Hogenmiller, Hello Dolly! is a tuneful old chestnut that still endures. It is so refreshing to see the full version sans cuts with the complete cast of dancers to bring home Gower Champion’s original choreography nicely recreated by Hogenmiller.
Read MoreWhat makes this charming and well sung musical work is the strong performance by Ed Rutherford as the Toad. Rutherford has the flamboyance of an English gentleman and the impulsive wildness of an adventurous cad. Rutherford’s larger-than-life persona contains a nice mixture of humor, mischievousness with a fine singing voice and loads of empathy. We quickly like Toad and we cheer for him to escape from his incarceration.
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