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.
Read MoreThis 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.
Read MoreHeartbeat of Home is a refreshingly new take on Irish step dancing in that it has the manic energy and style but with more pizazz, improved Irish styles with smart inclusion of other sounds and dance styles. The result is a dramatically exhilarating new show with hints of the glory of Riverdance. Doherty and McColgan have another hit on their hands. The dancing go on…
Read MoreWith 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.
Read MoreSeminar 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.
Read MoreDirector 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.
Read MoreWe 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.
Read MoreIn 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
Read MoreGolden 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.
Read MoreAfter 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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