Must See Archives - Page 88 of 92

Sonnets For An Old Century

March 5, 2011 by Tom Williams

It all begins with the fluidly lyrical writing by Jose Rivera. He moves from topics and personalities with a terrific grasp for language and colorful imagery that can be funny, wrenching, bitter and/or brutally honest as he lets his characters speak their minds. Rivera aptly depicts each individual so vividly that he demonstrates his keen eye for individuals. The assortment of characters, who mostly died prematurely, are a melting pot of urban Latinos, white and black, male and female characters that are a microcosm of today’s society.

Radio Golf

February 28, 2011 by Tom Williams

As Harmond researches the old house, it turns out to have a significant past. It was the home of Aunt Ester, the hereditary folk priestess whose tale goes back to 1619, when the first shipload of African slaves was brought to Virginia. Harmond also fins out that his family paid the taxes on the location for years. He comes to realize, with the help of the outspoken Sterling Johnson (Antoine Pierre Whitfield) – the self-appointed union member and construction expert, that doing the ‘right thing’ may necessitate re-evaluating his grandiose plans for the Hill District.

The Three Faces of Doctor Crippen

February 28, 2011February 27, 2011 by Tom Williams

The Three Faces of Doctor Crippen features the whimsical, macabre style that has become the Strange Tree Theatre trade mark. You’ll laugh and groin and you’ll wonder what will happen next in this expertly produced and well-acted comic tale of love, murder and mutilation. The ensemble delivers the tale with aplomb. Strange Tree Theatre is an intoxicating different troupe with a zany theatrical outlook on storytelling.

Servant of Two Masters

October 22, 2022February 26, 2011 by Tom Williams

But the Servant of Two Masters is anchored by the work of Omen Sade as the servant Truffaldino. Sade is a master comic deft at physical comedy, wordplay, improv and body movement. This guy is a pure comic able to endlessly evoke laughter through his natural talent and his dedication to the art of comedy. Omen Sade is a young master comic extremely skilled and totally committed to his art. His is emerging as a major player in the Chicago theatre scene

The Man Who Came to Dinner

October 22, 2022February 25, 2011 by Tom Williams

Kaufman and Hart authored the play as a vehicle for their friend, Alexander Woollcott, on whom they modeled the lead role, Sheridan Whiteside – revived excellent well in this production by Jon Steinhagen. Woollcott was famously insufferable, and the writers decided to explore the results should he become an unwilling house guest after slipping on the stairs. Needless to say, hijinx ensue: he terrorizes his hosts

Sleuth

February 23, 2011 by Tom Williams

The two hour mystery is a tour de force for both Larrt Yando and Lance Baker. Without their acting skills and stage instincts, Sleuth would not be able to attain and sustain the suspense necessary to satisfy our curiosity. You’ll become engaged as you wonder what will happen next

PLAZA SUITE

October 23, 2022February 20, 2011 by Tom Williams

There are few playwrights more enjoyable than Neil Simon, and few comedies as delicious as Plaza Suite. Time has not dulled the biting wit of the dialogue, the humor of the situation, and the perceptive peek into the foibles of romance, love, and marriage. Here in room 719 of the Plaza Hotel in New York, we watch the tale of three couples as a marriage dissolves, a seduction occurs, and a bride is persuaded to begin wedded bliss.

Lohengrin

April 18, 2011February 18, 2011 by Tom Williams

The story is in many ways a typical Knight of the Swan tale from the Middle Ages: a mysterious stranger (Lohengrin, in this production excellently portrayed by the South African tenor Johan Botha) appears, on a boat pulled by a swan, to save a troubled damsel (Elsa, the soprano Emily Magee); he then leaves, once a promise is broken, often that of not requesting the name and lineage of the hero

The Moonstone

February 19, 2011February 15, 2011 by Tom Williams

Under the smart, fast-paced direction by Paul S. Holmquest, Kauzlaric’s adaptation captures the mysterious allure of the ancient myth and curse of the large diamond know as the “moonstone.” This gem has been guarded by Hindu holy men for centuries and it has been stolen by conquering armies. In the late 18th Century, a rogue British officer brought the gem to England despite the curses attached to the stone. A trio of Hindu Brahmins have dedicated their lives to recovering the moonstone and returning it to India.

Shadowlands at Provision Theater

February 13, 2011 by Tom Williams

William Nicholson’s Shadowlands, is a powerful tear-jerker. It is a romantic love story that finds famous British author and scholar, C. S. Lewis, a committed bachelor, Christian, and Oxford professor, with outspoken American poet, Joy Gresham. In Shadowlands, their unlikely romance poses the basic questions about God and love, life and death, pain and suffering.