Tom Williams

These two Broadway stars offered a wonderful lesson on how to land a song in character. No one can “sell” a song better than Mandy Patinkin, except for Patti LuPone! These two work hard and with their arranger and pianist, Paul Ford, deftly accompanying on piano offer a rare treat. The song book is interesting and fresh, the singing fine for the most part but the energy and stagecraft by Patti and Mandy is dynamic and thrilling.

Featuring a lovely score by Harvey Schmidt with poetic lyrics and dialogue by Tom Jones, The Fantasticks a is beloved icon that generations cherish. Many terrific productions have emerged on Chicago stage through the years. The Promethean Theatre Ensemble, under the leadership of director Beth Wolf, got much of the musical correct. Her Fantasticks is worth a look.

Sometimes a theatre group outsmarts itself. That is the case with Dog & Pony Theatre Company’s new, highly inventive theatrical event-The Twins Would Like To Say. Too many gimmicks starting with the use of a promenade ( having the audience walk around the playing area and standing throughout the performance) and having spoken scenes competing for attention marred the production.

He and Armin meet on a chat room on the Internet. They bond and express their needs and desires over months of online chat. Eventfully, the agree to meet. Armin comes to Berlin to take Bernd to Armin’s country home where he has made a torture chamber complete with chains and cutting tools.

While I was impressed with the weird movement and unique staging, Bernadette’s story was presented in a surreal, abstract, almost absurdest style. Scenes like Bernadette and her muse-the imaginary Clip, being punished by having metal clips place on their tongues for hours allowed the boy and girl to invent a new language-“clip”-a sort of pig Latin.

Strawdog Theatre, under the intelligent direction by Kimberly Senior, has a well acted and sincere production of Chekhov’s 1899 tragicomedy, Uncle Vanya…The cast of nine talents most effectively present Chekhov’s tragicomedy translated by Curt Columbus.

We meet a host of high school juniors about to turn 17 as World War II rages. The boys are on the brink of being eligible for the draft as their safe, predictable world is about to turn gray with uncertainty.

Back Stage Theatre, now in their 10th season, usually find stage worthy scripts that they cast and stage quite professionally. Their latest gem is Craig Wright’s comic drama, Orange Flower Water…Wright has some funny moments as the bed and sexual needs triumph over family obligations and loyalty.

Raven Theatre, under the tight direction by Aaron Todd Douglas, presents an emotional wrenching production of the classic court room drama, Twelve Angry Men. Douglass uses a modern, interracial cast, including several African-Americans, Latinos and an Asian-American. That added a sharper edge to the drama