The Cricket on the Hearth
Filled with fine English traditional folks Christmas songs, Cricket is a nostalgic trip to early Victorian Christmas family life. It is quaint and homespun and heartwarming. The cast is game and dedicated
Latest from Chicago Critic
Oliver!
Oliver! is Lionel Bart’s 1963 masterpiece adaptation of Dickens stinging attack on child abuse, urban decay and indifferent social institutions. Bart takes a lighter treatment than Dickens yet the cruelty come through
The Book of Mormon
So, I guess I’m telling you that most theatre patrons will like, even admire The Book of Mormon, therefore, don’t be left out. It is a show that must be seen to either enjoy it or to conclude that it is the most disappointing, over hyped show in years. So see it and judge for yourself. I’m glad I saw the show. No serious theatre patron can avoid experiencing such a popular show.
WarHorse
The look, the movement, and the personality of Joey (and others) marvelously came to life. Since theatre is about the audience’s use of imagination, these puppets easily came to life on stage. We love Joey and we cheer for him throughout.
Radio City Christmas Spectacular
“The Twelve Days of Christmas” is a rhythmic tap rendition of the first order. “The Nutcraker” is deliciously performed by the ballet-infused dancers while the New York at Christmas features the Rockettes in a double-decker bus in front of that large video pictorial of Manhattan.
The Glass Menagerie at Mary-Arrchie Theatre
Director and narrator/player Hans Fleischmann (Tom) is a homeless hobo living in an alley (glass infested set designed by Grant Sabin). He is dressed in dirty ragged clothes and he sports a full beard – he is reliving memories from his life with his mother and sister in 1937 St.Louis. This is an intriguing concept that I’ve never seen before in any production of Williams’ greatest play – The Glass Menagerie. This concept speaks much about what happened to Tom after he left St. Louis for adventure.
The School for Lies
Playwright David Ives sure knows how to take the 17th Century classic French farce, The Misanthrope, and bring it up to date from 1666 to modern times by using a mixture of rhyming couplets. Ives blends Moliere’s wordy comedy of manners style with contemporary colloquialisms with casual vulgarity and scatological humor that could offend some. Yet, the zaniness of the classic characters together with the witty couplets played for extreme comic effect, makes for a belly laughing theatrical feast.
Julie Shannon…My Friends Sing My Songs
Shannon is probably the finest relatively unknown composer and lyricist you could find. I was stunned at the versatility, the number of soaring anthems, the terrific lyrics that sit upon the music so effectively. Seldom will you find a more talented composer and lyricist in one person that Julie Shannon!
Hansel und Gretel
Hansel und Gretel is filled with charming melodic music that contains gentleness, sweetness, as well as dark motifs. Humperdinck used German folk elements together with original folk tunes to flavor his opera. The score demand much vocal dexterity and Kanyotova and DeShong delightfully have that element in their fine performance. I was thrilled by the darkly comic work by Jill Grove as the manic witch. Brian Williams’ father was also appreciated.
It’s a Wonderful Life: Live at the Biograph (American Blues Theater, Mohrlein’s 11th Season)
Continuing its perennial holiday tradition, American Blues Theater brings a classic to wondrous life that transports you to a simpler time for a retelling of one of our most beloved inspirational tales.