‘Grimm’ Returns to Theatre Above the Law

Theatre Above the Law has brought back its fall tradition, Grimm, a remixing of Brother’s Grimm fairy tales. The mix of stories and characters veers from silly to scary, and as always, is a welcome addition to the fall theater scene in Rogers Park.

Having seen several iterations of the show, I think the core concept still has legs. I think we’ll be remixing and reimagining fairy tales for a long time to come. I think the show is at its most successful when it does a deep dive on a lesser known Grimm tale or less well-known elements of the classics. I think it’s also where the show has the most permission to get dark or weird since the Disney versions of these stories avoided the dark, messy parts more often than not. Not everyone gets a happily ever after, as this show demonstrates, and that’s where its teeth are sharpest.

As with previous productions, the stories are set in a simple tavern run by a now grown Red Riding Hood with various Grimm characters as her patrons. Cocktail shakers and wine barrels form the props for the stories. The most effective theater designs are often the most simple. The use of anything on hand to help tell the story brings to mind our parents reading these stories to us and doing the voices. Making the audience use their imaginations as well as the actors helps the audience feel a part of the piece.

I think that TATL’s Grimm is a great piece of theater for the whole family. The theater recommends ages 9 and up, helpfully comparing it to 80s classic, Gremlins, as a yardstick for your children’s comfort levels. I also, as always, deeply appreciate TATL’s commitment to nurturing younger talent, so in addition being a night out for everyone, this could be a great way to introduce the younger members of family to live theater. Even if they think they know these stories, they will still find something new here to delight them.

Recommended

Reviewed by Kevin Curran

Presented through November 2 by Theatre Above the Law at 1439 W. Jarvis, Chicago

Tickets can be purchased via their website.

Additional information about this and other area productions can be found by visiting www.theatreinchicago.com.