Wednesday, February 27, 2013
Lifeline's adaptation of China Mieville's masterful science fiction novel has grand hopes but is undone by a need for a much more explicit staging and tone. (read more...)
SOURCE: Chicago Theater Beat at 09:46PM[SHARE]Tuesday, February 26, 2013
The show winds up with a block party that gives us everything, including yes, a gospel-infused Charlie Pride, and each cast member has another chance to showcase his or her prodigious musica…
SOURCE: Chicago Theater Beat at 09:55PM[SHARE]Eclectic is new to the Chicago theater scene. I went into Six Degrees, then, with a healthy amount of trepidation. Thanks to simple production values, a deep respect for the text and Julie P…
SOURCE: Chicago Theater Beat at 09:17PM[SHARE]Monday, February 25, 2013
Perhaps a trimmed script with more emphasis on pacing could heighten the message as well as the humor. As presented, this production contains some enjoyable elements, but the whole of it win…
SOURCE: Chicago Theater Beat at 11:37PM[SHARE]Why did Strawdog choose this particular show out of every other available musical? I often ask myself some version of this question at the beginning of every show I review. In the case of Im…
SOURCE: Chicago Theater Beat at 11:18PM[SHARE]With Interrobang, you are in the hands of a talented group of people who tell it like it is. The play's complex characters are neither vilified nor put on a pedestal, making this a play wort…
SOURCE: Chicago Theater Beat at 06:35PM[SHARE]Die-hard Philip Glass fans will enjoy this no doubt. *Usher* is Edgar Allan Poe's crowning achievement of his totality style, with every piece in the short work fitting together to push a la…
SOURCE: Chicago Theater Beat at 12:54AM[SHARE]Sunday, February 24, 2013
This truncated version of Romeo and Juliet is not just for kids. For those wishing to try Shakespeare but who are intimidated by a commitment to a full-length production, this show is an exc…
SOURCE: Chicago Theater Beat at 02:34PM[SHARE]Saturday, February 23, 2013
Cadre was developed at Chicago Shakespeare Theater, and following its world premiere here will travel to the actors' homeland of South Africa and then on to Australia. It's a piece that's we…
SOURCE: Chicago Theater Beat at 06:39PM[SHARE]Friday, February 22, 2013
25 Saints is a harsh, unsentimental look at those for whom survival is a victory, by any means necessary. By the end of this play, I was curled into a ball; later, I had nightmares " it was …
SOURCE: Chicago Theater Beat at 10:03PM[SHARE]Just as the original off-Broadway production introduced the likes of Denzel Washington and Samuel L. Jackson to the theatre-going public, Raven's production showcases some fine actors we hop…
SOURCE: Chicago Theater Beat at 06:09PM[SHARE]Thursday, February 21, 2013
This production does a wonderful job capturing the endearing characters and heartwarming moments of the story, but it does come to the point of hysterics one too many times, making it over a…
SOURCE: Chicago Theater Beat at 09:50PM[SHARE]In the attempt for shock value, some characters take a hit or get obscured and that impacts the quality of the play. It is a valiant if uneven effort and I look forward to seeing what (re)di…
SOURCE: Chicago Theater Beat at 06:35PM[SHARE]Theater Wit's Midwest debut of Itamar Moses' newest work is a a true thinking nerd's romantic comedy, fearless in both its willingness to be unapologetically high-minded and an unblinking lo…
SOURCE: Chicago Theater Beat at 04:55PM[SHARE]Wednesday, February 20, 2013
This city plays out on Henry Behel's pitch-perfect noir set which, at one point, replicates Edward Hopper's masterpiece Nighthawks. Like that gorgeous painting, everyone in City of Dreadful …
SOURCE: Chicago Theater Beat at 09:49PM[SHARE]There is an utter lack of cohesion among this Tempest cast. Many actors shout and scream, completely disregarding the tiny venue. The characterizations are all over the place, each actor app…
SOURCE: Chicago Theater Beat at 05:01PM[SHARE]The entire cast in this world premiere is a delight, and clearly is having as much fun as we are. Counterfeiters is less provocative social commentary than plain good fun, but who doesn't ne…
SOURCE: Chicago Theater Beat at 11:48AM[SHARE]Tuesday, February 19, 2013
Despite minor flaws, this is a very well executed, creative, and entertaining piece of theater. The performances are overall excellent, and the intimate theater space is well used. (read mor…
SOURCE: Chicago Theater Beat at 11:07PM[SHARE]This is Julius Caesar that shouldn't be missed. This is one of those productions that lets Chicago theater fans see how lucky we are to have such a talent pool that we can populate a huge pr…
SOURCE: Chicago Theater Beat at 06:20PM[SHARE]Monday, February 18, 2013
The essences of this play is a father-son unable to communicate except through baseball. The relatable parent-child and parent-adult child is the thought-provoking stuff, and could be epic …
SOURCE: Chicago Theater Beat at 06:03PM[SHARE]Saturday, February 16, 2013
With their most exciting program in years, the Joffrey demonstrates how American choreographers can inspire amusement, tragedy, intelligence and lust in the span of two hours. It's enough to…
SOURCE: Chicago Theater Beat at 10:53PM[SHARE]Packed almost to the breaking point, Mournin' After reigns itself in just enough to ensure that the personal becomes universal and the pathos is ever balanced with levity. At such a brisk pa…
SOURCE: Chicago Theater Beat at 06:08PM[SHARE]Playwright Lee Blessing has spun a fascinating tale of political extremists. The premise is inconceivable and totally believable at the same time. It's uncomfortably powerful. (read more...)
SOURCE: Chicago Theater Beat at 11:50AM[SHARE]Friday, February 15, 2013
The Dinner Party makes a fun and tasty evening out at an affordable price, not so formal as a concert or theatrical event or so casual as dinner and drinks, but with elements of each. (read…
SOURCE: Chicago Theater Beat at 11:35PM[SHARE]Edith Piaf comes to life onstage through the multi-faceted talents of Milwaukee veteran performer Leslie Fitzwater, who wrote and performs in this one actor show. Director Jim Butchart has k…
SOURCE: Chicago Theater Beat at 05:51PM[SHARE]Thursday, February 14, 2013
Just in time for Valentines, this sweet, whimsical Disney short will surely brighten your day. Enjoy! The other candidates for Best Animated Short are here.
SOURCE: Chicago Theater Beat at 02:21PM[SHARE]Despite the need for editing, I enjoyed Teddy Ferrara for its fresh and believable portrait of young collegiate adults - gay and straight. Playwright Evan Shinn has an impressive voice and s…
SOURCE: Chicago Theater Beat at 08:34AM[SHARE]Wednesday, February 13, 2013
So it's not for me, but it might be for you. Your teen could do much, much worse on their own unescorted visits to the city, so if you're looking for some unthreatening fun, there's a wide s…
SOURCE: Chicago Theater Beat at 05:48PM[SHARE]Visually and technically, the show is impressive. Yet, like the tiger, we find ourselves asking "Why?" with no satisfactory answer. Rajiv Joseph's script presents us with a number of interac…
SOURCE: Chicago Theater Beat at 04:48PM[SHARE]Tuesday, February 12, 2013
This production is most notable for a promising concept that doesn't play as well as it should. Not only is the expected humor mostly absent, but we never get a clear picture of how telling …
SOURCE: Chicago Theater Beat at 06:06PM[SHARE]It might seem intimidating to have to sit through a Shakespeare play, but this one is worth a watch. There are enough twists and turns to draw you into the world of court intrigue and absorb…
SOURCE: Chicago Theater Beat at 04:38PM[SHARE]Loading more stories…
