“Winterreise” poses more of a challenge as the white box theater is much smaller, but the result is a heightened sense of intimacy more so than constriction. With nowhere to run, nowhere to hide, the 20-some-odd people in the near-sell-out audience and the 5 performers fall into a tangled symbiotic web,…
By April Smallwood Directed by Toma Tavares Langston Co-Directed by Eileen Tull Produced by Innate Volution Theatre Productions At North Lakeside Cultural Center Chicago New take on the effects of religious extremism a cautionary tale Innate Volution Theatre Productions found April Smallwood’s Right As Rain from their New Play Circle Series of staged readings. This … Read more
This play-within-a-play has a wealthy banker – J.B. goes from a happy prosperous family man with a fine wife and a hose full of children to a hopeless and desperate man devoid of all family members. It is the ultimate man’s test of faith.
I have seen the play done twice, both times wonderfully; however, it is a rare opportunity to see a piece of Chekhov performed in the original Russian. Furthermore, Maly Drama Theatre is a world-renowned theatre comprised of artists with immense talent: It is one of only three theatres to have been given the status, Theatre of Europe.
The Lieutenant is faced with a series of grisly murders resembling the work of a dead serial killer. It takes until act two to get us to meet Damien or Sunlight – the essence of true evil nicely played to the hilt by the terrific Scott T. Barsotti.
Trust plays on stage like a screenplay with many short scenes deftly using the video and live stage action to tell the story of a upper middle class family steeped in contemporary technology. We meet Annie (the amazingly truthful Allison Torem) as the 14 year old high school freshman who loves soccer and Internet chat.
Veteran actor Turk Muller plays Gippo in a stirring performance filled with a richly authentic Irish brogue and a truthful depiction of a guilt-ridden drunkard. Muller has the blarney, the alcoholic attributes and the bewildering realization that his 30 years in the IRA has gotten him nothing–not even a place to sleep.
While many Chicago bars are closed on Monday nights or hardly doing any business, there is one spot that packs them in. No, it’s not for Monday Night Football or a Cubs game. They come to Sidetrack Video Bar (3349 North Halsted Street) for Showtune Mondays.
Veteran Piven Theatre Workshop member Bernard Beck not only gave a tour de force performance as Leo Gold, a fictional Holocaust survivor but he also gave a masterclass in acting.
…Theo Ubique’s production made an effort to give the show some heart. That mostly came from Maggie Portman’s fine singing and engaging performance as Florence the main love interest for the two Chess champions.