Author: Colin Douglas
Mystery Most Foul
An Inspector Calls – Chicago Shakespeare Theatre
Following an elegant family dinner at Arthur and Sybil Birling’s comfortable home in northern England, the arrival of a mysterious man is announced. He claims to be police Inspector Goole who inexplicably shares with them the sad news that Eva Smith, a young working-class woman, has tragically committed suicide. No one at the family gathering, including young Gerald Croft, who has just officially proposed to Arthur’s daughter Sheila, nor Arthur’s son Eric, recognize the young woman’s name. It then begs the question: why is the inspector involving this family in the unfortunate incident?
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The Music of Words
Ma Rainey’s Black Bottom – Writer’s Theatre
During the 1920’s, the blues, sung by topnotch black performers, became so popular that it crossed over into mainstream America. The recording industry helped bring African American music from Harlem into the homes of white families all over the nation. Singers like Bessie Smith and Ma Rainey became household names and, although there would be many more years of fighting for Civil Rights, the African American integration movement was, thankfully, about to begin.
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Black Lives Matter
Pipeline – Victory Gardens Theatre
In 90 short, uninterrupted minutes, playwright Dominique Morisseau lays out how the direct route from school to prison has become the American norm for young, black men. That is, if they’re not being gunned down by some trigger-happy police officer. This is the hopeless existence depicted by the playwright of such important dramas as “Sunset Baby,” “Skeleton Crew” and the upcoming musical, “Ain’t Too Proud—the Life and Times of the Temptations.” In director Cheryl Lynn Bruce’s new production, a topic the playwright explored in a solo documentary, “Notes From the Field,” is starkly played out upon Andrew Boyce’s sparse, flexible scenic design. It’s a theatrical environment that wisely offers more focus upon the characters than the setting.
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How Lucky You Are
Seussical – Marriott Theatre
Oh, my goodness! Just tell yourself, “How Lucky You Are,” Chicagoans, especially those with families of young children. With Spring lurking just beyond the next snowdrift, there seems to be dozens of pleasurable options wherever you look. But this exciting and entertaining production stands out as one of the most multicolored musical offerings around. Marriott’s 65-minute Broadway caliber extravaganza is actually an combination of eight Dr. Seuss classics cleverly rolled into one charming story. The show is filled with oodles of catchy, toe-tapping, pop/rock songs by talented Broadway composers, Stephen Flaherty and Lynn Ahrens (“Ragtime,” “Once on this Island,” “Rocky”), and featuring additional scripted material by Monty Python’s Eric Idle.
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Waving Through a Window
Dear Evan Hansen – Broadway in Chicago
When this intensely moving and very topical musical opened on Broadway three years ago, one of its strongest selling points was that it was completely original. Unlike almost every other show on the Great White Way, that’s based upon a popular movie or book, Steven Levenson’s book, and the music with lyrics by Benj Pasek and Justin Paul, was fresh and groundbreaking. This talented team had written a stunningly poignant play that truly spoke directly to today’s youth, the adult theater audiences of tomorrow. As the winner of six Tony Awards in 2017, including the coveted accolade of Best Musical, this astounding show, like “Hamilton,” continues to draw new theatergoers and play to sold-out audiences. Now Chicagoans have the opportunity to experience this affecting, heartbreaking musical for themselves.
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The Door Opens Again
A Doll’s House, Part 2 – Steppenwolf Theatre
In 1879, Norwegian playwright Henrik Ibsen wrote a play that would become one of his masterpieces and provide, for that time, a shocking evening at the theatre. In “A Doll’s House,” Nora Helmer, the leading character, ends the play, and her stifling, unfulfilled marriage, by walking out and slamming the front door. In doing so, Nora signaled that she was leaving behind her husband and children and starting out alone, on her own terms.
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Navigating Loneliness
Fulfillment Center – A Red Orchid Theatre
The lights rise on the loading dock of a mail order business that ships packages from its New Mexico facility to the rest of the country. Suzan, a former, semi-famous folk singer (“I had a couple of fans”), is interviewing for and trying to land a seasonal job with the company. She’s recently fled a failed relationship and has found temporary shelter at a nearby campground, while trying to earn enough money to repair her broken-down car. Suzan convinces Alex, the kindhearted, 20-something supervisor of the shipping firm, that she’s capable of handling the stressful, physically demanding work load, despite her age.
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The Valentine Edition
The Golden Girls: The Lost Episodes – Hell in a Handbag Productions
The cheesecake is in the fridge, the coffee’s perking away on the counter and love is blossoming out in the lanai. Yes, it’s time for another edition of Hell in a Handbag’s rollicking parody of and homage to America’s favorite quartet of senior citizens: Dorothy, Blanche, Rose and Sophia. This time around, it’s February down in Miami and, with Valentine’s Day not far away, thoughts of love are in the air.
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When You Got It, Flaunt It
The Producers – Paramount Theatre
Glitzy, spectacular and filled with unstoppable laughs! That just about sums up Paramount’s new, high octane production. Out in Aurora, there’s a Broadway calibre presentation of Mel Brooks’ musical theatre adaptation of his popular 1967 film, that’s well worth the commute from Chicago. The movie originally starred Zero Mostel and Gene Wilder. In Jim Corti’s fantastic, kaleidoscope of comedy, song and dance, he’s give audiences two dynamic new stars and a multitalented, energetic, 28-member company, many of whom play multiple roles, who award theatergoers with more than their money’s worth.
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A Helpless Rage
Nina Simone: Four Women – Northlight Theatre
When we first meet Nina Simone, she’s clothed in a smart sequined dress and singing her famous rendition of Gershwin’s, “I Loves You Porgy,” probably at a northern nightclub. Suddenly a deafening explosion shakes the theatre and plunges the room into darkness. When we next see the talented singer, she’s all in black. The dust is still settling as Ms. Simone enters through the charred doors of the demolished sanctuary of what was once the beautiful 16th Street Baptist Church, in Birmingham, Alabama. It’s September 15, 1963, following the horrendous bombing that maimed several of the church’s congregation and killed four innocent young black girls. Filled with a helpless rage, Nina Simone tries to find the words to express her nearly uncontrollable anger through her music.
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