Must See

The Pullman Porter Blues is a “play with music” that contain the best of each element. It is a toe-tapping blues oriented show with 13 – 30’s blues numbers played with gusto by the onstage band and sung with deeply felt emotions by Marshall, Derricks , and Morohumfola. When the drunken feisty Sister Juba (E. Faya Butler) sings the blues, the emotional level gets intense. As a blues songfest, Pullman Porter Blues delivers; as a dramatic play, it works effectively as it presents the work ethic and plight of the Pullman porters.

But the best way to pay tribute to this genius composer is to hear his music. That is what Taylor’s tribute is check full of: from his early tunes – “Gypsy Woman” to “It’s All-Right” to “Mama Didn’t Lie,” the smoothly warm Soul style of Mayfield emerges. Cecil Jones was terrific as the ‘Young Curtis.’ As Mayfield’s works progressed his social and political consciousness, with a distinct peaceful message, gave hope to the struggles of African-Americans during their Civil Rights struggle

Featuring the glorious smells of French cuisine, To Master The Art is the story of Julia Child, the famed advocate of French cooking, print and TV star of cooking shows, the remount of the hit premiere at TimeLine Theatre once more unites Karen Janes Woditsch, as Julia and Craig Spidle, as Paul.

art111 400×266 To Master the Art at the Broadway Playhouse

The first full production commissioned by TimeLine Theatre in 2010, To Master the Art by William Brown and Doug Frew was delightful.

It is quite difficult to mount a play that depicts a major 3 day battle but adapter Karen Tarjan and director Matt Miller have created a stylish theatrical piece that captures the essence of the horror of the battle while giving us enough of the motivations and strategies to give the piece coherence.

The seven reunited with Stuart Carden at Writers Theatre after a successful 2012 run of The Old Man and the Old Moon in New York. They have revised the work for the Midwest premiere at Writers Theatre. The result is a magnificent wholly imaginative work. Pigpen Theatre Co. reminds me of the work of Redmoon Theater, Blair Thomas & Company and House Theatre but Pigpen is more sophisticated musically.

Following their terrific Part I (https://chicagocritic.com/the-iron-stage-king-part-one/), Nathan Allen and Chris Mathews continue their saga of the boy king Casper Kent (Brandon Ruiter) and his kingdom that is inspired by the legend of King Arthur with hints of Lord of the Rings. Those who enjoyed Part I will welcome Casper, Hap The Golden (Cliff Chamberlain), and the various ladies as they attempt to keep the land ruled by the people oriented boy king. With his magical hammer in hand, Casper unites the land but he finds out that heis ruler of all but his own story.

The creative folks at Porchlight Theatre found a brother team of talents to mount the musical farce penned and first performed by Bob & Jim Walton, Double Trouble. Adrian and Alexander Aguilar play Jimmy and Bobby. The Aguilar’s have the talent, the singing, the dancing, and the comedic ability to engage the audience as they play more than ten characters in an old-fashion musical farce.

we learn about the Chicago Police Chief Francis O ‘Neill with a fine assortment of Irish tunes from those he chronicled. Presented as a fresh, more tuneful 1 hour 15 minute show, each Sunday at 4 pm, folks can enjoy the amazing story of a “music mad” man whose obsession led him to preserve Irish music for all-time. This show needs to become a staple of Chicago theatre.