Author: Colin Douglas
Practically Perfect in Every Way
Mary Poppins – Drury Lane
Since the first National Tour played in Chicago, the Windy City has enjoyed a number of productions of Disney and Cameron Mackintosh’s “Mary Poppins.” Each one has been unique, exceptional and magical in its own way. Now Drury Lane Theatre is presenting another one-of-a-kind production of this theatrical “Spoonful of Sugar,” a show that’s become a classic suitable for the entire family and an absolute treat that’s “Practically Perfect” in every way.
Read More
How Great Thou Art
Always… Patsy Cline – Firebrand Theatre
It’s hard to believe that this is the third season for Firebrand Theatre, the self-professed “first musical theatre company committed to employing and empowering women, by expanding opportunities on and off the stage.” In this company’s admirable mission to reimagine the classics, while also producing unknown or forgotten jewels of the theatre, Firebrand is also commissioning exciting, new works to premiere in Chicago.
Read More
A South African Musical Myth
Lindiwe – Steppenwolf Theatre
Ever since Paul Simon’s much loved and greatly lauded “Graceland,” a record album, released in 1986, the South African musical group, Ladysmith Black Mambazo has been enjoyed by thousands of fans. Their velvety harmonics, gentle rhythmic choreography and a cappella performances are, ironically, both stimulating and soothing to the ear. The group has recorded over seventy albums and has earned five Grammy Awards. Called “South Africa’s Ambassadors to the World” by Nelson Mandela, this wonderful group of nine singers have a gorgeous sound that’s unmistakable.
Read More
A Rediscovered Dramatic Gem
Rutherford and Son – TimeLine Theatre
Male chauvinism isn’t a new attitude. It has, unfortunately, been around everywhere for centuries. And still, despite a great deal of resistance and all manner of women’s movements and protestations, it’s still with us. Examples of male dominance are prevalent in the literary world, especially when it was revealed that, in the past, most female authors were forced to write under a male pseudonym in order to have their works published. Even when a woman managed to publish her writing under her own name, it was often dismissed and not taken seriously.
Read More
Upstairs/Downstairs
The Wickhams: Christmas at Pemberley – Northlight Theatre
Some may call this delightful, new holiday period play, co-written by Lauren Gunderson and Margot Melcon, a sequel to their popular “Miss Bennet: Christmas at Pemberley,” a wonderful, lighthearted holiday comic-drama that premiered at Northlight Theatre during their 2016-17 season. But it’s not really. It’s more of a companion piece, much in the same vein as Alan Ayckbourn’s trilogy, “The Norman Conquests.” Both depict the same main characters over the course of a couple of days, with each play set in a different part of the house. Like Ayckbourn’s trio of plays, Gunderson and Melcon’s two installments about the Bennets, inspired by Jane Austen’s romantic Regency Era classic, take place during the very same Christmas holiday.
Read More
A Modern Twist on a Holiday Classic
The Nutcracker – The House Theatre
Ten years have passed since The House Theatre of Chicago first presented their original, contemporary version of E. T. A. Hoffman’s classic story, “The Nutcracker and the Mouse King.” Whenever theatergoers hear that iconic title, forever associated with Christmas, they envision fairies and a toy that comes to life to bravely battle a Mouse King to rescue a little girl named Clara. They imagine a dazzling spectacle, a lavishly-produced ballet, featuring dozens of lithe, magnificently skilled dancers. They picture lush, imaginative costumes and a story set in a magical fantasyland of snowflakes and flowers.
Read More
Conversation and Combat
The Niceties – Writers Theatre
As the lights rise on an office at an upscale, Ivy League university, we discover junior college student Zoe Reed, a smart, articulate African-American student, in the middle of a conversation with her history instructor, Professor Janine Bosko. The appointment appears to be going affably enough, as Ms. Bosko takes a fine comb to her student’s research paper. She humorously points out that Zoe has left a comma out of a sentence, but then continues to pick apart and denigrate most of her student’s work. The kindly conversation gradually turns combative, as an abundance of less than politically correct phrases innocently tumble from Janine’s mouth. Soon a war of words and ideas breaks out between student and teacher, further fueled by the fact that Ms. Bosko is an entitled, Caucasian Baby Boomer and Ms. Reed is a proud, African-American Millennial.
Read More
A Dickens of a Great Production
Oliver – Marriott Theatre
Filling the Marriott Lincolnshire stage with the largest cast ever assembled at that venue, more than 35 talented triple-threats, from children to adults, entertain, amaze and bring down the house with an entertaining musical classic and a lesson about love. Nick Bowling’s much-welcome production of Lionel Bart’s adaptation of Charles Dickens’ classic, Oliver Twist, is dark, often tragic but also filled with surprising moments of comedy and glorious music. Mr. Bowling, who’s one of Chicago’s premiere directors, has fashioned a true family-friendly production for the holidays that has so much more to offer than just a large cast.
Read More
A Contemporary Take
Romeo and Juliet – Chicago Shakespeare Theatre
In a cleverly orchestrated, lightning-paced production of the Bard’s most popular love story, Chicago Shakespeare Theatre not only sometimes involves the audience in its production but it has updated the play, setting it in the near future during the upcoming hot Summer of 2020. The look and sound of this production is a more contemporary take on the familiar tragedy about two feuding families. In this version, the death of the two star-crossed lovers, whose untimely demise ultimately reconciles their kin, looks more like “West Side Story” than an Elizabethan drama, albeit without the gorgeous songs and jazzy, finger-snapping dances.
Read More
An Overstuffed Suitcase of Memories
Packing – About Face Theatre
Each of us have lived lives that are filled with significant situations, emotional events and meaningful memories. If we all possessed an eloquent gift for writing, as well as a talent for emotionally honest storytelling, any one of us could probably condense our childhood, adolescence and early adult years into a 90 minute narrative, like this. But few would be as captivating at sharing his life story as Scott Bradley. Performing alone on a simple, white square platform, which sometimes serves as a blank canvas for Stephen Mazurek’s colorful and evocative projection artwork, Mr. Bradley opens his heart and bares his soul in this incredibly moving solo performance of disco and survival.
Read MoreRECOMMENDED SITES
