By Steven Petersen Directed by Richard Perez At Chicago Dramatist, Chicago Comedy and drama conflict in backyard tale of a Jewish family My trouble with Steven Peterson’s world premiere The Invasion of Skokie arises from his contradictory blend of comedy and drama in a most predictable and cliched TV-sitcom style work that has major characters … Read more
Arthur Miller’s 1955 one-act set in a Brooklyn auto-parts warehouse: the characters, the play’s history, and our review of Eclipse Theatre’s 2010 staging.
Playwright Kathleen Akerley’s script features writing that is filled with excellent mystical storytelling told in vivid language as well as whimsical and wryly speeches that bring out the quirkiness of the characters. Akerley’s plot keeps the mystery suspense mounting throughout. With death as a character and myth of the nature of life itself, Theories of the Sun is both an ‘idea play’ and a mystery on the nature of aging and life itself.
The story focuses on the perspective of two Chicagoland families, a black family living in Cabrini Green and a white suburban family living in Lake Forest. The daughter, Sam (Stephanie Stroud,) from Lake Forest is now living in Chicago’s wealthiest neighborhood, Gold Coast, and working for the Chicago Tribune (a job her politician father got her.) Sam is a bleeding-heart liberal filled with white guilt and determined to make a difference with her stories.
We meet two sets of lovers: Claudio (Aaron Kirby in a charming turn) and the beautiful Hero (Jessica Record) and the commanding Beatrice (Meg Elliott) and her picture-taking lover Benedick (the emotionally wrenching Ned Record). Claudio/Hero are aggressively in love while Beatrice and Benedick are engaged in a “love/hate merry war” that finds each scorning love, marriage and each other.
After one of his boxing lessons, Billy is left alone in the gymnasium, in which a ballet class shortly follows. It is here where we learn that Billy’s secret dream is to be a dancer. Nurtured by the tough but caring ballet instructor Mrs. Wilkinson, Billy realizes his true potential, when he is primed for an audition at the Royal Ballet. Upon discovering this, Billy’s father is enraged that his son would take to such an effeminate hobby, and pulls Billy from any further lessons.
Emmy, played with delicious verve by Zoe Levin, is a sex pistol. Wise – or seemingly wise beyond her years – hers is the voice of experience, determined to lead her friend astray. Rae Gray presents a Claire that is perfect as the shy, insecure, young friend, only too willing to follow. Both girls exemplify youth, beauty, inexperience, and a touching bravado.
Seeing a seldom mounted two part early work from famed Irish playwright Brian Friel is a fine way to start off the fall theatre season in Chicago. Director Terry McCabe has cast well for this two part work….Lovers is a fine early Friel work that aptly depicts Northern Ireland in the 1960’s where family and religion dominated society. We love these characters.
The 42nd Annual Jeff Awards ceremony honoring excellence in professional theatre produced within the immediate Chicago area will be held on Monday, October 25, at Drury Lane Oakbrook, 100 Drury Lane, Oakbrook Terrace. A pre-show Appetizer Buffet will run from 6:00 p.m. to 7:30 p.m., and the Awards Ceremony, directed by Michael Weber, will begin at 7:30 p.m.,
We get a glimpse into the lonely characters’ lives whose need to be heard and connect with one another is fueled by the drink. When Finbar brings Valerie to the pub, she becomes the center of attention. At Finbar’s instigation, Jack starts telling a ghost story from 1911. This is the first of several wonderfully scary Irish ghost stories deftly told first by the engagingly skillful talents from Brad Armacost–who is Chicago leading Irish actor.