we meet the wealthy Farrelly family headed by matriarch Fanny Farrelly (the terrific Kathy Scambiatterra), who appears as a flighty woman who seeks control of all aspects of life in her country estate. She fights with her housekeeper Anise (Lorraine Freund) and her butler Joseph (Brandon Boler) in a mutual love-hate relationship. Her son, David (John Stokvis) is an unmarried lawyer who Fanny sees as just like her late husband Jushua.
Read MorePorchlight Theatre, under the leadership and direction from Michael Weber, have mounted, on a low budget, an intense, well sung and well performed production of Sweeney Todd. It rivals the terrific production recently at Drury Lane Oakbrook in quality not scope. This production is intimate, slick and darkly scarey proving that the source material can work on different scales. This Sweeney plays very much like the 1979 original and the 1982 national tour.
Read MoreFounding artistic director of Remy Bumppo, James Bohnen, returns to direct a political satire by Maxwell Anderson, his 1933 Pulitzer Prize winner drama, Both Your Houses. This is a fine ensemble work that features naturalistic dialogue from a cast that easily captures the essence of powerful United States Congressman as they wheel-and-deal to get an appropriations bill through congress in the late days of the Hoover Presidency as the Great Depreciation devastates America.
Read MoreAmong the remarkable accomplishments by LaChiusa and Wolfe that director/choreographer Brenda Didier made in The Wild Party was that the story contains a rich, fully developed group of characters depicted through song, dance and comedy. This show is a drama that morifs into a into a musical that marvelously tells its story through songs and strong acting. The singing, dancing and comic turns by the entire cast were amazing
Read MoreTake all the youngsters in your life to hear a master songwriter’s work neatly song by a veteran cast presenting a varied, engrossing revue of memorable show tunes that have survived the test of time. Cole Porter’s songbook needs to be heard again by us fans of genius composers/lyricists. Porter takes his place among Gershwin, Sondheim, Berlin and Herman. Light Opera Works, once again, has a hit revue going that begs a trip to Evanston.
Read MoreIn a baffling turn, Profiles Theatre has mounted David Manet’s 1994 utterly perplexing drama – The Cryptogram. Even after doing copious research including reading Manet’s comments on what The Cryptogram is about, I m still baffled.
Read MoreThis production of Don Giovanni is particularly well sung, especially by soprano and Ryan Opera Center alumna Andriana Churchman making her role debut as Zerlina. Her natural melodic singing was a joy to hear! She should be proud of her debut performance. The other cast members were terrific also. Marina Rebeka, a soaring soprano and soprano Ana Maria Martinez as Donna Elvira complimented the scorned ladies.
Read MoreThe play starts with a two person speech wherein Rhonda (Jan Ellen Graves) and Marie finish each other’s sentences as they expound about their husband’s deaths as firefighters in NYC. Marie’s man was a 911 hero while Rhonda’s man died in a house fire a year after 911. Both firefighters were heroes but the 911 fallen firefighters were given major hero status by government and by the public. Marie got several million and Rhonda received the normal adequate death benefits. Marie and Rhonda stay friends as each helps the other adjust to life after losing their husbands.
Read MoreThe Night Alive is a brilliantly constructed drama that unfolds as finely directed and beautifully acted work that leaves audiences moved and satisfied that their lives and their aspirations are in a better place than Tommy, Doc and Aimee. We are glad we shared their experiences of these very human souls as only a master playwright can present them. The Night Alive is one of the finest players seen on a Chicago stage this year! Don’t miss it.
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