Chicago Theatre Review

Daily Archives: February 15, 2012

'The People's Barnum' at Quest

February 15, 2012 Comments Off on 'The People's Barnum' at Quest

By Devlyn Camp

Quest Theatre Ensemble’s mission is to create theater for the non-theatergoer in Chicago (surprisingly, there are some out there!). This is why they make a

huge effort to make their productions free to everyone. If you watched our television show this morning (CANTV, Channel 19 on Comcast), you might have heard Jason Bowen, a founding member of Quest, call their productions “gateway” shows into more Chicago theater. Their goal is to get more people interested in live theater, which is a pretty important goal if you ask anyone involved in the arts.

Bowen is currently leading The People’s Barnum at Quest, which, as mentioned, is free. The musical is a fantastic night for kids, as it is circus-themed and visually exciting. There are several songs and character voices to keep momentum moving. While the bar isn’t set high for great quality theater, it’s the perfect evening to get the kids acquainted with live shows and let them hoot and holler as excitedly as they wish.

THE PEOPLE’S BARNUM
Quest Theatre Ensemble
Through March 18, 2012
Tickets free, reservations available at questensemble.org

Contact critic at devlynmc@yahoo.com


Who Cares Whodunnit When You’re Dating Walter Dante?

February 15, 2012 Comments Off on Who Cares Whodunnit When You’re Dating Walter Dante?

Who Cares Whodunnit when you’re Dating Walter Dante?

By Angeli Primlani

If you yelled at the TV when you heard that Drew Peterson was engaged to a 23-year-old girl despite being suspected of murdering two of his four previous wives, oh boy is this is the play for you!  The Raven Theater’s world premiere of Jon Steinhagen’s Dating Walter Dante turns this tabloid situation into a delectable murder mystery, which teases a deeply human drama out of the cheap and familiar headlines.

Walter Dante is not exactly Drew Peterson. His first wife drowned in a swimming pool, not a bathtub, and Dante was married only twice, not four times. Unlike Peterson it is just possible he is innocent. That does not matter. This is not a play about the Drew Peterson case. It isn’t even really about Walter Dante. Instead the play asks why on earth any sane woman would date such a person, much less sign on to be Dead Wife Number Three?

Is Laura Bakersfield naive or brave to love this man? Are her friends justifiably concerned, or absurdly paranoid? Did Walter Dante really kill his two ex-wives, or is he an innocent man in a tragic horrific situation? And what is up with his dead wife’s ghost?  Is this, as the characters conflictingly claim, a drama, comedy, tragedy, dramedy, murder mystery, ghost story or love story? That’s for the audience to decide. The answers do not come easily.

Each member of the fine cast walks a delicate line that leaves the audience guessing. But Kristin Collins’ crushingly hopeful Laura is the heartbeat of the piece. At turns ridiculous, sensual, and flaky, she still has small town Midwestern steel carrying her willful optimism. You may find yourself wanting Walter to live up to her belief in him. Or you may want to scream that he can’t.

Dating Walter Dante is at the Raven Theater, Fridays-Sundays through March 24th. If you love true crime, murder mysteries, love stories, or just a head cracking good tale, make sure you don’t have to rush home. You may want to stand out in the cold discussing the play with total strangers afterwards.