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The Iron Stag King: Part One

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The first part of Nathan Allen and Chris Mathews’ new trilogy, The Iron Stage King: Part One is a complex epic of crowns and country using elements of the King Arthur and Norse mythology with sprinkles of American fable themes. Utilizing all the House stylistic elements including puppets, miniature models, strong lighting, unique costumes with ample sprinklings of humor, this story has richly layered storytelling that explores the nature of leadership, governance with the unique American struggle to balance personal liberty with actions for the common good of society.

Shaw VS. Chesterton: The Debate

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The repartee between these two “friendly enemies” comes across in a solidifying relationship full of respect and fellowship. The atheist (Shaw) and the newly Catholic (Chesterton) engaged in a terrific war of wards that stimulate us with ideas and concepts.

Impenetrable

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Playwright Mia McCullough took a tiny story in the Chicago Tribune about local Glenview women protesting a billboard in their suburb making it into a profile of our complex concepts of the nature of beauty in 21st Century America.

Illegal Use of Hands

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Amazingly, the folks at American Blues Theater usually pick stage worthy plays and they knock them out of the park Not here with James Still’s Illegal use of Hands. This dark comedy gets a 15 yard penalty for being boring with few funny lines and a meandering go-nowhere plot.

After

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The 90 minute one act is a haunting look at the devastating effects of imprisonment of a youth, specially one who is innocent. Being robbed of one’s youth is could ruin most folks. Once released, we see how difficult it is to cope with contemporary society

A Class Act

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Led by the stunningly emotional and totally honest tour de force performance by Bill Larkin as the nerdy, mentally challenged composer, Edward Kleban, director Stacey Flaster has cast a fast-paced flowing musical with terrific talents anchored by the fabulous work from Bill Larkin

33 Variations

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Dr. Katherine Brandt (Janet Ulrich Brooks), a music scholar is obsessed with trying to solve the Beethoven riddle despite her battle with ALS and her deteriorating relationship with her daughter. Brandt’s drive sends her to Bonn, Germany to the vast Beethoven archives. Kaufamn’s drama is accompanied throughout by a grand piano centered on stage with George Lepauw playing one of the 33 variations during each scene.

As the mystery unfolds, we see Katherine’s ALS render her increasingly debilitated as well as us witnessing Beethoven’s deafness and deteriorating health, But each has a passion that compels them toward solving their mysteries. Her Beethoven is fixated on finishing all the possible variations; for Katherine it is solving the “why” of Beethoven’s fixation.

Dreamgirls at Marriott Theatre

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Director Marc Robin has his cast fully engaged in his fast-paced, well sung back-stage musical about the R & B groups of the 0-‘s and 70’s. Raena White , as Effie, sing her heart out especially in “I Am Changing.”

Skin Tight

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Skin Tight is a 50 minute two-hander about a couple living in a special relationship despite being married. We find Tosha Fowler (Ekizabeth) and her husband Tom (Tony Bozzuto) engaged in a highly physical game where ultimate violence…

Princes of Waco

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The only thing that kept me engaged was the strong performance by Joe Stearns as the evil Fritz. Stearns is an under rated character actor completely at home in comic or evil roles.

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