Oh Coward! is a sharp 34 song-fest that is brilliantly performed by Kate Fry, Rob Lindley, John Sanders with terrific arrangements and deft piano work from Doug Peck. You’d be hard pressed to see a more slick, sophisticated, well sung musical revue.
As a musical, Post has written in a variety of styles from the folksy opening number–“The Wind in the Willows”–a optimistic anthem; to an assortment of rock, reggea, tin-pan ally, spirituals, ballads and a Gilbert and Sullivan styled patter song
I do believe that Michael Smith (the Chicago folk music legendary composer/performer) has produced a world class score filled with a variety of folk styles that include ballads, patter songs, cowboy tunes, blues, jazz, polkas and Broadway style show tunes. His lyrics are witty, funny and ironic.
Now in it’s 32 year, the Goodman Theatre’s A Christmas Carol still holds the honor of being the finest holiday show in Chicago! Director William Brown makes subtle changes including this year adding more Victorian holiday music to the mix
This cynical glimpse into the world of those dedicated to keeping the Christmas spirit alive. Fain delivers the vignettes about the chaos of the NYC Macy’s Santa Claus exhibit with varying comedic style
The 85 minute holiday classic–Miracle on 34th Street, now at the Theatre Building Chicago staged by Porchlight Music Theatre is a refreshingly sweet, family friendly, cute holiday treat.
The story follows the infamous L Ron (Hubbard) from his birth in a manger through the height of Scientology. I have to admit the writing is very thin, and it stretches 30 minutes of material into an hour. However, director Steve Wilson and his young ensemble more than make up for the writing flaws with passion and energy.
Felder mixes stories, biographical information with explanations and examples of Beethoven’s style and technique. Felder demonstrates his skills as an actor, pianist, teacher and showman. Felder teaches how Beethoven loved to create music in the key of C Minor, how he structured his sonatas and how he put his soul into his music creating deep emotionality into music.
The cast of 34 nimbly performed the Rodgers & Hammerstein tunes. The large (for a tour) orchestra played with gusto the complete Bennett orchestrations giving the show a lavish, romantic and hauntingly moving tone.
The Mystery of Irma Vep is a hilarious adventure mystery and door-slamming farce that is part horror movie, part melodrama, part Grand-Guignol, and part drag show pastiche featuring wordplay, Shakespeare and Ibsen quotes with much physical comedy