Latest from Chicago Critic

This engrossing tale is a mixture of satire and realism that breaks conventional storytelling motifs. It part dark comedy and part absurdism with shallow underdeveloped characters do baffling things

With MC Patrick Bristow urging on both the puppeteers and asking the audience for theme ideas, the cast nimbly grabbed a puppet from the dozens available and quickly delivered a funny short sketch. I was more impressed with the “how” – the methodology behind the Henson puppet work, How each used the video and how they played off one another was fascinating to watch.

Since we never understand why Nan just doesn’t simply leave nor do we see how actually abusive Kyle is toward her – the structure is thin making the play need gimmicks and silliness to harvest enough humor to sustain 75 minutes

This new play by Emily Schwend, South of Settling is based on the quiet, orderly life of a middle aged couple – Kate (Janet Ulrich Brooks) and Irwin Deckhouse (Keith Kupferer) that becomes topsy-turvy with the arrival of Kate’s long estranged cousin Amy (Nicole Wiesner) and he new husband Randall (Jeff Trainor).

I wonder why Jessie would, after two years of not speaking to the family, come to his brother’s wedding especially knowing that Evy and probably the entire family would reject his lifestyle? What compels him to attend the wedding?

The most engaging thing in Crow is the use of sailing ropes that Sher deftly arranges from one clamp to another making a series of crossed rope formations hinting a sail ringings. I quickly got tired of watching Jeremy Sher move about the set as he tells his story while manically moving about suggesting the rigors of ocean sailing.