Love and Substance Abuse

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.

Sweltering Sultriness

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. 

Mamma Mia! Here we go again…

A heartwarming story full of laughter, love, and familial dynamics, “Mamma Mia!” is not to be missed! Told through the music of Swedish quartet ABBA, “Mamma Mia!” follows the story of Sophie Sheridan as she prepares for her upcoming wedding to Sky. Sophie’s mother Donna owns and operates a hotel on a small Greek island, and that’s where the wedding is set to take place. The only thing that could make Sophie’s day perfect is the presence of her father, but there’s a small problem. She isn’t sure who he is. So what does she do? She finds the names of three men whom Donna had relationships with years ago, and invites all three to her wedding in the hopes that she’ll recognize her father at first sight. This goes about as well as expected, and only serves to confuse Sophie further and send Donna into distress. Now Sophie has to juggle three potential dads while readying herself for marriage, and Donna is forced to revisit feelings she thought she buried long ago. 

By the Pricking of My Thumbs

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.

Broadway Baby

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.”

The Culture Vulture Angel

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.

The Good Wife

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.

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

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.