Review: THE OUTSIDERS at The Home Creative Co.
by Zac Thriffiley - September 25, 2024
Despite some moving performances from the supporting cast, seasoned fans of and newcomers to THE OUTSIDERS may be underwhelmed by a production whose various elements leave it struggling to “stay golden.”...
Review: INHERIT THE WIND at Goodman Theatre
by Rachel Weinberg - September 24, 2024
Goodman Theatre’s season-opening production of INHERIT THE WIND centers on a fictionalized version of the 1925 “Scopes Monkey” trial — at its heart, a debate on creationism vs. evolutionism. Though playwrights Jerome Lawrence and Robert E. Lee make it clear they’re on the side of evolution, it’s sti...
Review: NOISES OFF at Steppenwolf Theatre Company
by Rachel Weinberg - September 23, 2024
NOISES OFF is lengthy and occasionally redundant because the show literally runs through Act One three times from different perspectives. But it’s also legitimately funny — which is rare and welcome for a Steppenwolf show....
Review: LIGHT SWITCH at Open Space Arts
by Zac Thriffiley - September 18, 2024
Open Space Arts's production of LIGHT SWITCH shines a much-needed spotlight (no pun intended) on the struggles of neurodiverse members of queer communities, thanks in large part to its captivating leading man....
Review: HENRY V at Chicago Shakespeare Theater
by Zac Thriffiley - September 17, 2024
Featuring a strikingly charismatic yet grounded performance from its leading actor, HENRY V presents a compelling study of the excitement and danger inherent in even the best-intended feelings of nationalism....
Review: THE FLYING LOVERS OF VITEBSK at Northlight Theatre
by Zac Thriffiley - September 15, 2024
Now receiving its Chicagoland premiere, Northlight Theatre’s THE FLYING LOVERS OF VITEBSK features brilliant performances and moments of exquisite stagecraft, though the play’s lean script occasionally saps the production of necessary tension and greater thematic depth....
Review: THE HOUSE OF IDEAS at City Lit Theater
by Zac Thriffiley - September 04, 2024
THE HOUSE OF IDEAS provides an entertaining history of Marvel’s precipitous rise to pop cultural supremacy that nicely captures the collaborative spirit of Kirby and Lee’s frequently tumultuous partnership. But more casual fans of the brand may find themselves lost in the play’s more intricate plot ...
Review: THE FULL MONTY at Paramount Theatre Aurora, IL
by Tina St. Angelo Wetzel - September 01, 2024
“Desperate times take desperate measures”. These words are spoken by one of the out of work steel workers in Buffalo. That is exactly what happens in the Full Monty, currently playing at the Paramount Theatre in Aurora through October 6. ...
Review: THE NORMAL HEART at Redtwist Theatre
by Zac Thriffiley - August 29, 2024
Redtwist’s THE NORMAL HEART is frequently an emotionally affecting piece, thanks to the powerfully palpable talents of its principal cast. However, some uneven performances and an occasionally murky directorial vision prevent the production’s themes and message from beating forth as forcefully as on...