Latest from Chicago Critic

The Abduction From the Seraglio

September 20, 2022March 10, 2009 by Tom Williams

Mozart’s 1782 comic opera, The Abduction from the Seraglio, highlights his genius with his fresh spirited score that contains local color from Turkish music containing cymbals, bass drums and the like.From beautiful arias to up-tempo marches and stirring anthems, Mozart’s opera moves from comic delight to deep emotions.
This romantic adventure deals with Konstanze (Erin Wall) a beautiful and spirited Spanish noble woman captured by Turkish pirates. Together with her feisty maid, Blonde (a last minute triumph debut by Angela Mannino), they end up in the harem of Pasha Selim (David Steiger) overseen by Osmin (Andrea Silvestrelli). Of course, the ladies’ trueloves—Belmonte (Matthew Polenzani) and Pedrillo (Steve Davislim) launch a plan to rescue their loves.

Evita Presented By Theo Ubique

October 22, 2022March 10, 2009 by Tom Williams

Leave it to director Fred Anzevino and the creative staff at Theo Ubique for boldly mounting Evita on their miniscule stage in the No Exit Café. They have perfected their trademark “cabaret theatre” style taking storefront musical theatre up a notch or two. They have successfully mounted a most articulate and musically sound version of Webber & Rice’s pop opera, Evita. I heard and understood every word and I enjoyed Brenda Didier’s smartly stylish choreography.

El Lunes de León Rodríguez

September 17, 2017March 7, 2009 by Tom Williams

Inspired by Death of a Salesman by Arthur Miller By Raúl Dorantes Directed by Marcela Munoz A Moving Spin on the American Dream in Latin Voice Arthur Miller’s Death of a Salesman is an American classic. It tells the story of the flawed protagonist, Will Loman, and his delusional descent into insanity and suicide. The … Read more

Barleby the Scrivener

September 15, 2017March 7, 2009 by Tom Williams

Bartleby the Scrivener Adapted from Herman Melville By R. L. Lane Directed by Richard Cotovsky Produced by Mary-Arrchie Theatre Kudos to Mary-ArrchieTheatre and director Richard Cotovsky for producing Bartleby the Scrivener. This simple allegorical drama is deep in meaning as we struggle to discover who the enigmatic Bartleby is and why he reacts as he … Read more

Art

September 17, 2017February 14, 2009 by Tom Williams

Art, written my a French female, Yasmina Reza, deals with the reaction of three supposed friends to a painting purchased by one of them for a large sum. Art, of course, tests the depth and validity of the friendship between the three men. Serge (John Procaccino) is a self-proclaimed expert in modern art.

Art at Steppenwolf

September 17, 2017February 14, 2009 by Tom Williams

Like the white-on-white painting at the center of Yasmina Reza’s masterful play Art, now at Steppenwolf, the show itself is open to interpretation

“I Gotcha” The Story of Joe Tex

September 17, 2017February 9, 2009 by Tom Williams

Black Ensemble Theater’s Season of Men continues with “I Gotcha” (The Story of Joe Tex and the Soul Clan). Written by Joe Plummer and David Barr III, “I Gotcha” uses the basic Black Ensemble formula: blending tidbits of biographical information with a character sketch of the principal person to that person’s music and those he/she associated with.

The Taffetas

September 19, 2022February 7, 2009 by Tom Williams

This nostalgic musical revue features a girl-group, The Taffetas, out of Muncie, Indiana as they appear on a national network TV show in the 1950’s.

Jersey Boys (Updated Review)

September 17, 2017January 7, 2009 by Tom Williams

Now in its second year at the Bank of America Theatre on Monroe Street, Jersey Boys keeps getting raves from the packed houses that come to see each performance – and with good reason

Don’t Dress for Dinner

September 12, 2017November 23, 2008 by Tom Williams

The British Stage Company and producer Damian Arnold have mounted one of the funniest sex farces to arrive in Chicago (at the Royal George Theatre) for sometime, Don’t Dress for Dinner. This wildly funny show is a treat for these bluesy holiday times.