Latest from Chicago Critic

This Is Our Youth

June 19, 2014 by Tom Williams

Set in Reagan Era money grubbing New York, three college-age New Yorkers from wealthy Jewish families live in self-induced doped-up squalor. Dennis (Kieran Culkin), a too-cool small-time drug dealer, Warren (Michael Cera), a hero-worshiping codependent, and Jessica (Tavi Gevinson), a mixed-up prep school girl. When Warren steals $15,000 cash from his father, he decides to take Jessica out for a night of seduction, while Dennis wants to finance a larger drug deal with the money.

Orville And Wilbur Did It

June 18, 2014 by Tom Williams

Orville And Wilbur Did It! tells the story of five actors and a stage manager as they tour. We learn to care about each player; their sadnesses, ecstasies, hopes, fears and egos as they travel and live together on the road. There are inappropriate hook-ups, funny conversations, bitter critiques and gratuitous flirting.

Grounded

June 17, 2014 by Tom Williams

We meet a hot-shot F-16 USAF pilot as she tries to explain what it feels like to command a fighter jet. She gets us to appreciate the “blue” of the sky as she darts into combat in Afghanistan. She exudes the thrill of surviving missile and ground fire as she supports our troops on the ground. her world is fun, adventurous, and dangerous. Her hands-on flying is her life.

Hamlet at Oak Park Festival Theatre

September 15, 2017June 16, 2014 by Tom Williams

Their Hamlet, now playing in scenic Oak Park, is set in 1920’s gangster-ridden Chicago wherein Claudius (Jack Hickey) is not king but the mob boss. Wide-label three-piece stripped suits complete with shoulder gun holsters and fedora hats dominate here. The mob rules . This tragedy is based on the torment of nephew Hamlet (Michael McKeogh) who is still mourning the death of his father killed by his brother Claudius in order to rule the mob. Claudius also took Hamlet’s other, Gertrude (Kelly Lynn Hogan) as his wife.

Godspell at Marriott Theatre

June 13, 2014 by Tom Williams

, Goodspell features music by Stephen Schwartz with lyrics inspired by Christian hymns penned also by Schwartz. The pop/rock score features an assortment of catchy tunes ranging from anthems to folksy homilies to scorching ballads. Director Matt Raftery opens the show with a cappella style featuring a blend of individual and various parts harmony from his ten member cast. This technique produced a weirdly haunting prologue that set the tone for the show.

Monstrous Regiment

June 12, 2014 by Tom Williams

In Monstrous Regiment, Borogravia is at war. Again. Polly Perks (Sarah Price) cuts her hair and joins the army (as a boy) in order to find out about her missing brother. Soon, she discovers that there are other girls disguising as boys in her unit. This band of misfits must survive corporeal Strappi (John Ferrick) and the strong sergeant Jackrum (Christopher M. Walsh) and the goofy Lt. Blouse (Robert Kauzlaric), This insane leadership is made plausible by the sheer cunning of the band of girls.

Tyrant

June 9, 2014 by Tom Williams

Since the premise of Tyrant is preposterous and the dull repetitive message scenes and rules-talk sessions are boring, Tyrant collapses under the weight of its own making. The play’s ending is both shocking and unsatisfying even if you accept the show’s premise. The show is too long and repetitive as it tries to cover too many themes. Freedom for all is surely lacking in an over regulated society. We get that so why concoct such a depressing future? I don’t believe the homeless problem will lead us to regulate away our freedom. That is why we have courts.

Damn Yankees

September 15, 2017June 9, 2014 by Tom Williams

This Damn Yankees is an intentional recreation of the 1955 work, It is rare that you’ll see Damn Yankees with no cuts and with a full orchestra and even rarer that you’ll see as fine a player as Rudy Hogenmiller playing Mr. Applegate. Damn Yankees is a clever, tuneful nostalgic trip back to the Golden Age of Broadway musicals. It is a trip worth taking.

A Musical Tribute to The Andrews Sisters

June 7, 2014 by Michael Gerrity

Whether or not you’ve ever heard of the Andrews Sisters, I’m positive you’ve heard their music in one form or another. Their music and style has infused itself into American pop culture and there’s no shaking it loose. Although the younger generation didn’t grow up with the Andrews Sisters music, they’ve most likely heard their grandparents playing them or in the background of old cartoons and period films. A Musical Tribute to The Andrews Sisters is a thoroughly entertaining revue, making old and young feel nostalgic

Eat Your Heart Out

July 26, 2014June 6, 2014 by Michael Gerrity

The direction and construction of the play was superb. The actors were all extremely lively and realistic, holding their characters well as the play quickly jumped from vignette to vignette. Anne Joy gave an especially genuine portrayal of Evie, truly living on stage.

Theatre is capable of doing many things, but one thing it does exceptionally well is allow the viewer to step right into the lives of others. Eat Your Heart Out is one of those plays where you forget that you’re sitting in a theatre and instead become a fly on the wall of someone else’s life. This is not one to miss.