Sense-assaulting 'Skriker' just doesn't work by Nina Metz

NINA METZ reviews "The Skriker" at Red Tape Theatre ★★ and "Geography of a Horse Dreamer" at Mary-Arrchie Theatre ★★ NINA METZ reviews "The Skriker" at Red Tape Thea…

SOURCE: Chicago Tribune Subscription at 11:31am on September 27, 2012[SHARE]

'WRENS' a quiet but compelling revival for Rivendell by Nina Metz

NINA METZ reviews "WRENS" at Rivendell Theatre Ensemble ★★½ and "Blagojevich, Blagojevich" at the Athenaeum Theatre ★★ NINA METZ reviews "WRENS" at Rivendell Thea…

SOURCE: Chicago Tribune Subscription at 2:20pm on September 13, 2012[SHARE]

Promise of 'Pool' falls short for Vitalist by Nina Metz

THEATER REVIEWS: "Pool (No Water)" by Vitalist Theatre ★★ and "Susan Swayne and the Bewildered Bride" by Babes with Blades ★★ NINA METZ reviews "Pool (No Water)" by …

SOURCE: Chicago Tribune Subscription at 1:58pm on August 30, 2012[SHARE]

Enthusiastic men in tights in 'Ren Faire' by Nina Metz

NINA METZ reviews "Ren Faire!" ★★★ and "Finally Alone ... Together" ★★★ "Ren Faire! A Fistful of Ducats"

SOURCE: Chicago Tribune Subscription at 10:26am on August 9, 2012[SHARE]

Small moments find the comedy in 'Wilderness' by Nina Metz

NINA METZ reviews "Ah, Wilderness" by Eclipse Theatre at the Athenaeum ★★½ NINA METZ reviews "Ah, Wilderness" by Eclipse Theatre at the Athenaeum ★★½

SOURCE: Chicago Tribune Subscription at 2:49pm on August 1, 2012[SHARE]

Risks feel real in 'Impress These Apes'; 'Smartphones' a shift for Trap Door by Nina Metz

NINA METZ reviews "Impress These Apes" at ComedySportz ★★★ and "Smartphones" at Trap Door Theatre ★★½ NINA METZ reviews "Impress These Apes" at ComedySportz…

SOURCE: Chicago Tribune Subscription at 12:58pm on July 26, 2012[SHARE]

Agreeably odd 'My Mans'; barbed 'Butley' by Nina Metz

NINA METZ reviews "My Mans" at iO Theater ★★★ and "Butley" by Hubris Productions at Greenhouse Theater Center ★★½ NINA METZ reviews "My Mans" at iO Theater …

SOURCE: Chicago Tribune Subscription at 5:22pm on July 11, 2012[SHARE]

'Humanity': Series of plays short on time, long on insight by Nina Metz

NINA METZ reviews "Oh, the Humanity" at Gift Theatre ★★★ ... It's a funny thing, seeing Will Eno's "Oh, the Humanity" so close to the debut of Aaron Sorkin's latest project.

SOURCE: Chicago Tribune Subscription at 10:23am on July 2, 2012[SHARE]

Taking liberties with Chekhov and Shakespeare by Nina Metz

NINA METZ reviews "Common Hatred" by Ruckus Theatre at The Side Project ★★½ and "Mexican Wrestling Macbeth" by The Mammals at Zoo Studio ★★½ "Common Hatred" Â…

SOURCE: Chicago Tribune Subscription at 3:35pm on June 27, 2012[SHARE]

Puzzling and absurdist 'Anger/Fly'; thin 'Bodies' by Nina Metz

NINA METZ reviews "Anger/Fly" at Trap Door Theatre ★★ and "Bodies" by MPAACT at the Greenhouse ★★ NINA METZ reviews "Anger/Fly" at Trap Door Theatre ★★ a…

SOURCE: Chicago Tribune Subscription at 1:04pm on May 31, 2012[SHARE]

Truthfully coming of age in at Rivendell Theatre's 'Crooked' by Nina Metz

"Crooked" 

SOURCE: Chicago Tribune Subscription at 4:52pm on May 23, 2012[SHARE]

'White Trash' and 'Sexy Baby': Crassness done right by Nina Metz

NINA METZ reviews "White Trash Wedding and a Funeral" by Factory Theater ★★★ and "Sexy Baby" by Hell in a Handbag ★★★ NINA METZ reviews "White Trash Wedd…

SOURCE: Chicago Tribune Subscription at 5:11pm on May 9, 2012[SHARE]

'Elams' an entertaining bit of sibling revelry; adapting 'Moby Dick' by Nina Metz

NINA METZ reviews "Dinner with the Elams" at iO Theater ★★★ and "All Girl Moby Dick" by The Mammals ★★½ NINA METZ reviews "Dinner with the Elams" at iO Thea…

SOURCE: Chicago Tribune Subscription at 3:16pm on April 26, 2012[SHARE]

Sharp words, sharp knives in an entertaining slice of Midwestern Gothic by Nina Metz

NINA METZ reviews "The Butcher of Baraboo" at A Red Orchid Theatre ★★★ NINA METZ reviews "The Butcher of Baraboo" at A Red Orchid Theatre ★★★

SOURCE: Chicago Tribune Subscription at 1:00am on April 18, 2012[SHARE]

Chicago-style stardom gets skewered in 'Johnny Theatre' by Nina Metz

NINA METZ reviews "Johnny Theatre" at Chemically Imbalanced Theater ★★★ and "God vs. Hall & Oates" by Drinking & Writing ★★ "Johnny Theatre"

SOURCE: Chicago Tribune Subscription at 3:45pm on April 12, 2012[SHARE]

The Chicago actor's dilemma: Love Chicago but leave it by Nina Metz

Trio of new plays explore 'awful ambivalence': Move for fame or stay for art? (POSTED BY NINA METZ) "No actor should be in Chicago 'cause they wanta make money," a character says in "The La…

SOURCE: Chicago Tribune Subscription at 6:27pm on April 11, 2012[SHARE]

'Pinocchio' pops, but 'The Giver' holds back by Nina Metz

"The Strange and Terrible True Tale of Pinocchio (the Wooden Boy) As Told by Frankenstein's Monster (the Wretched Creature)" -- 3 stars

SOURCE: Chicago Tribune Subscription at 11:16am on March 29, 2012[SHARE]

True stories from the train in entertaining 'El' by Nina Metz

NINA METZ reviews "El Stories" by Waltzing Mechanics ★★★ and "In the Heart of America" by Theatre Seven ★½ NINA METZ reviews "El Stories" by Waltzing Mechanics &…

SOURCE: Chicago Tribune Subscription at 1:00am on March 8, 2012[SHARE]

'Barnum' has big-top appeal; 'Pyramid' a bit unsteady by Nina Metz

THEATER REVIEWS: "The People's Barnum" by Quest Theatre Ensemble ★★★ and "$25,000 Pyramid" at the Playground Theater ★★ NINA METZ reviews "The People's Barnum"…

SOURCE: Chicago Tribune Subscription at 2:13pm on March 1, 2012[SHARE]

Echoes of Drew Peterson saga in 'Dante'; unreal 'Gingerbread' by Nina Metz

THEATER REVIEWS: "Dating Walter Dante" at the Raven Theatre ★★½ and "The Gingerbread House" at Red Tape Theatre ★★ NINA METZ reviews "Dating Walter Dante" at the …

SOURCE: Chicago Tribune Subscription at 1:00am on February 16, 2012[SHARE]

'Hunchback' as opera; 'Judy' could go further by Nina Metz

THEATER REVIEWS: "The Hunchback Variations Opera" by Theater Oobleck ★★½ and "Are You There, Judy? It's Me, Cancer" in Donny's Skybox ★★½ NINA METZ reviews "Th…

SOURCE: Chicago Tribune Subscription at 12:35pm on February 2, 2012[SHARE]

Paul Brittain is off 'SNL' by Nina Metz

Chicagoan Paul Brittain, who joined “Saturday Night Live” as a featured player last season, is “leaving the show, effective immediately,” according to Entertainment W…

SOURCE: Chicago Tribune Subscription at 2:39pm on January 31, 2012[SHARE]

Chicagoan Paul Brittain leaving 'Saturday Night Live' cast by Nina Metz

Chicagoan Paul Brittain, who joined “Saturday Night Live” as a featured player last season, is “leaving the show, effective immediately,” according to Entertainment W…

SOURCE: Chicago Tribune Subscription at 1:06pm on January 31, 2012[SHARE]

Solid fringe theater, nothing fancy at '12 Rhino Fest by Nina Metz

THEATER REVIEWS: 2012 Rhinoceros Theater Festival's "American Drink Book" ★★★½ and "I Love You Permanently" ★★½ NINA METZ reviews 2012 Rhinoceros Theater…

SOURCE: Chicago Tribune Subscription at 3:43pm on January 18, 2012[SHARE]

Chicago improv veteran, teacher Mike Enriquez dies at 42 by Nina Metz

Chicago lost a longtime member of the city’s sketch and improv scene last week. Performer and teacher Mike Enriquez, who mentored current “Saturday Night Live” featured pla…

SOURCE: Chicago Tribune Subscription at 4:40pm on January 16, 2012[SHARE]