Chicago Theatre Review

Author: Colin Douglas

Never Never Land

March 28, 2024 No Comments

Peter Pan

A newly updated musical version of the boy from Never Never Land, who refused to grow up, has soared into Chicago for only two weeks. The title character in this version’s portrayed with adolescent finesse by a handsome young actor. But this is just one of the many differences in this newly modernized musical. The original production, based upon the novel and play by Sir J.M. Barrie, was adapted, directed and choreographed 70 years ago by the late, great Jerome Robbins. This new, updated version, directed by Lonny Price, sports an “additional book” credited to Larissa Fasthorse (the first female Native American playwright to have written a show for Broadway, THE THANKSGIVING PLAY). The libretto and most of the songs in this revised, non-Equity production, are based upon the original 1954 version, but everything is served up with a 21st century sensitivity and realness. 

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Guaranteed to Make You Think

March 27, 2024 No Comments

Love Song

Remy Bumppo Theatre is known in the Windy City for its productions that are guaranteed to make audiences think. John Kolvenbach’s 90-minute one-act is such a play. The theatre company is also famous for plays that celebrate language. Kolvenbach’s LOVE STORY features a script that’s a banquet of precise and poetic communication, often incorporating beautiful and unusual combinations of words that stir the imagination and tickle our fancy.

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The Guiding Principles

March 27, 2024 No Comments

Purpose

What exactly does the word “purpose” mean? It can be said that it’s a long-term aim or guiding principle. It’s the impact that we want to have on the world. Having a purpose in life means having a sense of direction and meaning. It means knowing what you want to achieve and why it matters. Research has shown that people who have sense of purpose are happier, more resilient and more successful than those who don’t. It’s a person’s aim, end goal, intention or objective.

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Love and Substance Abuse

March 24, 2024 No Comments

The Brightest Thing in the World

Lane is the face of, and a hardworking employee at, Recovery. It’s a trendy, cozy little cafe and bakery in Lexington, Kentucky that’s staffed by workers dealing with substance abuse. For its customers, the bistro offers plenty of comfort, coffee and cupcakes. The cafe provides a warm, home-away-from-home office space or den in which to work or just enjoy themselves. Folks, like Steph, are encouraged to stop by with their computer or favorite books and stay as long as they like. Friendly, free-spirited baker, Lane (played with vivacity and impish charm by Claire Kaplan), takes an instant shine to Steph, a more reserved new customer (portrayed by the delightfully smooth and charismatic Jojo Brown). Soon she learns more about Steph than that she takes her coffee with almond milk. Steph writes for a small Lexington newspaper and also works at a florist shop. Before long Steph lowers her guard, gives in to Lane’s enthusiasm and a sweet romance develops between the two young women.

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Sweltering Sultriness

March 22, 2024 No Comments

A Streetcar Named Desire

It might still be cold and snowing in Illinois, but the heat and humidity from New Orleans has worked its way North. The thick, musty air seems to sizzle and sear into Paramount’s Copley Theatre. The cause for this sweltering sultriness isn’t due to climate change. It comes from Artistic Director Jim Corti and guest co-director Elizabeth Swanson’s scintillating production of Tennessee Williams’ 1948 Pulitzer Prize-winning drama. Playing now through late April, it’s a production that no one should miss. 

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By the Pricking of My Thumbs

March 20, 2024 No Comments

What the Weird Sisters Saw

Dramatizing the damaging psychological effects that political ambition has on those who seek power, William Shakespeare’s shortest drama, THE TRAGEDY OF MACBETH, begins with a supernatural encounter. Amidst lightning and thunder, the Scottish general and his friend Banquo are returning victorious from defeating the allied forces of Norway and Ireland. There upon a heath, by the pricking of my thumbs, Macbeth meets Three Witches, who are also called the Weird Sisters. After praising his valor in battle, they portend that Macbeth will “be king hereafter.” Thus begins a sordid tale of evil, corruption, murder and revenge.

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Broadway Baby

March 20, 2024 No Comments

The Sondheim Tribute Revue

Absolutely delicious, delectable and delightful. Those are some of the adjectives that flowed through my mind as I basked in the mellifluous glory that is a new tribute to the music and lyrics of Stephen Sondheim. This undisputed genius of the American musical theatre recently passed away but his legacy, the melodic majesty he created for our age and time immemorial, will last as long as there are instruments to play and voices to sing. Like one of his most popular songs claims, Sondheim is a true “Broadway Baby.”

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The Culture Vulture Angel

March 16, 2024 No Comments

The Big Gay Cabaret

Jai Rodriguez may not be familiar to some people, but to certain populations he’s known as that handsome, youthful, multi-talented actor/singer who’s earned fame working very hard in all of the arts. As a result, Mr. Rodriguez has become a household name. In a cabaret show filled with biographical tidbits, personal confessions, celebrity gossip, songs from Broadway and the pop charts and a whole lot of laughs and charm, Jai Rodriguez tells all.

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The Good Wife

March 13, 2024 No Comments

The Penelopiad

In Greek mythology, Penelope was the Queen, the devoted spouse and the good wife of King Odysseus. When her valiant husband is called to fight in the Trojan War, the loving and devoted Penelope struggles against all odds, including hundreds of persistent suitors, to remain faithful to her husband for the next 20 years. Comforted and aided by her 12 faithful maids, Penelope struggles to remain a loyal, loving wife to Odysseus, to singlehandedly raise their defiant son Telemachus and to fend off the persistent advances of an army of admirers and wooers. In this new play, based upon the novella by the distinguished Canadian author, Margaret Atwood, we experience the trials and tribulations of Penelope, all presented from the woman’s point of view.

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How Do You Spell W-i-n-n-e-r?

March 12, 2024 No Comments

The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee

Bravo to Music Theater Works and, especially, to Guest Director Christopher Pazdernik, for the talent and artistry of the Skokie company’s latest production. Chris, his talented cast and all the many gifted theatrical creatives connected with this heartwarming and hilarious musical, bring a fresh, exciting vision and energy to this show. Each member of the cast is filled with brilliance, ingenuity and creates a truthful, realistic character. The risky element inherent in this musical is having to add four unknown, unrehearsed amateurs from your audience to the cast at every performance. It works very well here. I suspect that’s due to the excellent direction and preparation provided by the company, the production and stage manager, as well as by Pazdernik’s dynamic cast of actors. Everyone has anticipated any possible situation that might occur, and the show rolls along smoothly.

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