fragments inspired by stage and screen
Lover of ghost lights, movies, stories of creative lives, magic of live performance, storytelling in song.
[originally published: http://www.aislesay.com/CHI-ONEFINE.html%5D ONE FINE DAY by David Rush Directed by Drew Martin Stage Left Theatre 3408 N. Sheffield, Chicago / (773) 883-8830 http://www.stagelefttheatre.com Through April 7, 2007 Reviewed by Martha Wade Steketee February 27, 2007 David Rush‘s spanking new play “One Fine Day” starts off with a Chinese dragon monster we soon learn is “the fucking Jabberwocky” from Lewis Carroll‘s […]
[originally published: http://www.aislesay.com/CHI-LADY.html%5D LADY by Craig Wright Directed by BJ Jones Featuring Lance Stuart Baker, Paul Sparks, and Michael Shannon Northlight Theatre 9501 Skokie Boulevard, Skokie / (847) 673-6300 http://www.northlight.org Through February 25, 2007 Reviewed by Martha Wade Steketee February 18, 2007 Craig Wright has written and BJ Jones has staged a resonant play about three men with guns, divergent lives, […]
[originally published: http://www.aislesay.com/CHI-PIANO-TUNER.html%5D THE PIANO TUNER by Daniel Mason Adapted by James E. Grote Directed by Jonathan Berry Lifeline Theatre 6912 N. Glenwood Avenue / (773) 761-4477 http://www.lifelinetheatre.com Through March 25, 2007 Reviewed by Martha Wade Steketee February 17, 2007 James E. Grote‘s adaptation of the novel “The Piano Tuner” by Daniel Mason offers a view of a Victorian sensibility dropped […]
[originally published: http://aislesay.com/CHI-LANDSCAPE.html%5D LANDSCAPE OF THE BODY by John Guare Directed by John Mossman The Artistic Home Theatre 1420 West Irving Park Road / (866) 811-4111 http://www.theartistichome.org Through March 18, 2007 Reviewed by Martha Wade Steketee February 11, 2007 Two sisters, an adolescent son, two deaths, a detective, a nutty ex-Good Humor man dressed in white, a gaggle of teenagers […]
[originally published: http://aislesay.com/CHI-UNCLE.html] UNCLE VANYA by Anton Chekhov Translated by Paul Schmidt Directed by Charles Newell Court Theatre at the Museum of Contemporary Art 220 E. Chicago Avenue / (773) 753-4472 http://www.CourtTheatre.org Through February 11, 2007 Reviewed by Martha Wade Steketee January 20, 2007 In the Court Theatre‘s production of “Uncle Vanya” at the Museum of Contemporary Art, one enters a world […]
[originally published: http://aislesay.com/CHI-BETRAYAL.html] BETRAYAL by Harold Pinter Directed by Rick Snyder Featuring Ian Barford, Tracy Letts, and Amy Morton Steppenwolf Theatre Company Upstairs Theatre 1650 N. Halsted Street / (312) 335-1650 / http://www.steppenwolf.org/ Through May 27, 2007 Reviewed by Martha Wade Steketee February 9, 2007 The lovely Steppenwolf upstairs theatre and its proscenium set for this production incorporates two entrances, one room, […]
[originally published: http://aislesay.com/CHI-TWELVE.html%5D TWELVE ANGRY MEN by Reginald Rose Directed by Scott Ellis Roundabout Theatre and Broadway in Chicago at the LaSalle Bank Theatre 18 W. Monroe Street / (312) 902-1400 http://www.broadwayinchicago.com Through February 11, 2007 Reviewed by Martha Wade Steketee January 31, 2007 Just a week or so ago, this same marvelously restored theatre was home to the cloistered […]
[originally published: http://aislesay.com/CHI-TWOROOMS.html%5D TWO ROOMS by Lee Blessing Directed by Monica Wilson Theatre Entropy at No Exit Cafe 6970 N. Glenwood / (773) 505-6766 http://www.theatreentropy.org Through February 3, 2007 Reviewed by Martha Wade Steketee January 26, 2007 “Two Rooms” has had numerous productions since its first in 1988. One can legitimately ponder the ways in which this play that centers […]
[originally published: http://aislesay.com/CHI-EXECUTION.html%5D EXECUTION OF JUSTICE by Emily Mann Directed by Gary Griffin About Face Theatre at Victory Gardens Greenhouse 2257 N. Lincoln Avenue / (773) 871-3000 http://www.aboutfacetheatre.com Through February 18, 2007 Reviewed by Martha Wade Steketee January 20, 2007 You know you have come to see a play about the fatal 1978 shootings of San Francisco Mayor George Moscone […]
[originally published: http://aislesay.com/CHI-PRICE.html] THE PRICE by Arthur Miller Directed by Todd Schmidt Shattered Globe Theatre at Victory Gardens Greenhouse 2257 N. Lincoln Avenue / (773) 770-0333 / www.shatteredglobe.org Through March 3, 2007 Reviewed by Martha Wade Steketee January 14, 2007 The splendid setting created by Kevin Hagan and lit by Mike Durst in Shattered Globe‘s current production of Arthur Miller‘s “The Price” provides a perfect frame […]
[originally published: http://aislesay.com/CHI-FAITH.html%5D FAITH HEALER by Brian Friel Directed by Mikhael Tara Garver Uma Productions at Chopin Theatre 1543 W. Division / (773) 347-1375 http://www.umaproductions.org Through February 10, 2007 Reviewed by Martha Wade Steketee January 12, 2007 Uma Productions has created a gem of a production out of a challenging play, in a corner of the downstairs space at the […]
[originally published: http://aislesay.com/CHI-DOUBT.html%5D DOUBT by John Patrick Shanley Directed by Doug Hughes Starring Cherry Jones, Chris McGarry, Lisa Joyce, and Caroline Stefanie Clay Broadway In Chicago at LaSalle Bank Theatre (formerly Shubert Theatre) 18 W. Monroe / (312) 902-1400 http://www.broadwayinchicago.com or www.doubtthetour.com Through January 28, 2007 Reviewed by Martha Wade Steketee January 11, 2007 In our world of over-hyped mega productions, […]
[originally published: http://aislesay.com/CHI-IMPOSSIBLE.html%5D IMPOSSIBLE CITIES Co-created and performed by Seth Bockley, Jessica Hudson, Chloe Johnston, Ira Murfin, and Seth Zurer Directed by Seth Bockley Walkabout Theater Company at Peter Jones Gallery 1806 W. Cuyler, 2nd Floor / (773) 472-6725 / http://www.walkabouttheater.org Through January 27, 2007 Reviewed by Martha Wade Steketee January 5, 2007 “Impossible Cities” is a multi-layered, multi-sensory exploration […]
[originally published: http://aislesay.com/CHI-VELVETEEN.html%5D THE VELVETEEN RABBIT by Margery Williams Adapted by Elise Kauzlaric Directed by Jenifer Tyler Lifeline Theatre KidSeries 6912 N. Glenwood / (773) 761-4477 http://www.lifelinetheatre.com Through February 4, 2007 Reviewed by Martha Wade Steketee December 17, 2006 Pull your copy of Margery William‘s “The Velveteen Rabbit” off your library shelves, close your eyes, and recall hearing the words while […]
[originally published: http://aislesay.com/CHI-REALTHING.html%5D THE REAL THING by Tom Stoppard Directed by James Bohnen Remy Bumppo Theatre Company Victory Gardens Greenhouse Theatre 2257 North Lincoln Avenue / (773) 244-8119 http://www.remybumppo.org Through January 7, 2007 Reviewed by Martha Wade Steketee November 19, 2006 Remy Bumppo‘s production of “The Real Thing“, directed by James Bohnen takes us into 1982 London and intertwined artistic lives […]
[originally published: http://aislesay.com/CHI-WOYZECK.html%5D WOYZECK by Georg Buchner Directed by Greg Allen Greasy Joan & Company at Live Bait Theater 3914 N Clark Street / (312) 458-0718 http://www.greasyjoan.org Through December 17, 2006 Reviewed by Martha Wade Steketee November 12, 2006 Greasy Joan‘s newest offering at Live Bait Theater continues the company’s ongoing commitment to challenge audiences thematically, visually, aurally, stylistically. Greg Allen‘s creative […]
urban excavations 