fragments inspired by stage and screen
[originally published: http://aislesay.com/CHI-SCARLET.html%5D THE SCARLET LETTER by Nathaniel Hawthorne Adapted by Rebecca Zellar Directed by Rebecca Zellar The GreyZelda Theatre Group StageLeft Theatre 3408 N. Sheffield / (773) 883-8830 http://www.stagelefttheatre.com Through September 16, 2006 Reviewed by Martha Wade Steketee August 24, 2006 The Scarlet Letter is currently in Chicago as adapted and staged by GreyZelda, a young company headed by Rebecca Zellar […]
[originally published Aisle Say Chicago August 6, 2006] Spare Change by Mia McCullough Directed by Lisa Portes First Look Repertory of New Work Steppenwolf Garage Theatre 1624 North Halsted / (312) 335-1650 / http://www.steppenwolf.org Through August 13, 2006 In the third of the three First Look new plays viewed in a marathon weekend, “Spare Change” features Brad (Paul Noble) and […]
[originally published: http://aislesay.com/CHI-SPINNING.html%5D SPINNING INTO BUTTER by Rebecca Gilman Directed by Anish Jethmalani Eclipse Theatre Company at Victory Gardens Theater 2257 North Lincoln Avenue / (773) 335-1650 http://www.eclipsetheatre.com Through September 3, 2006 Reviewed by Martha Wade Steketee July 27, 2006 The second of three productions in Eclipse Theatre Company‘s Rebecca Gilman season is currently running upstairs at the Victory Gardens Theatre.“Spinning Into […]
[originally published: http://aislesay.com/CHI-UNMENTIONABLES.html%5D THE UNMENTIONABLES by Bruce Norris Directed by Anna D. Shapiro Starring Amy Morton and Rick Snyder Steppenwolf Downstairs Theatre 1650 North Halsted / (312) 335-1650 http://www.steppenwolf.org Through August 27, 2006 Reviewed by Martha Wade Steketee July 16, 2006 Bruce Norris‘s newest play “The Unmentionables” is set in an unnamed African country, yet could be in any regime with haves […]
[originally published: http://aislesay.com/CHI-WANTS.html%5D WANTS AND NEEDS: AN IMROVISED EXPLORATION OF LIFE IN THE LAND OF PLENTY Directed by Jim Dennen Lookingglass Theatre 821 North Michigan Avenue / (312) 337-0665 / www.lookingglasstheatre.org Through August 6, 2006 Reviewed by Martha Wade Steketee July 15, 2006 It is important to enter the Lookingglass Theatre at Michigan and Pearson knowing what to expect from the […]
[originally published: http://aislesay.com/CHI-UNCHANGING.html%5D UNCHANGING LOVE by Romulus Linney Based on story by Anton Chekhov Directed by Gillian Kelly The Artistic Home 1420 West Irving Park Road / (773) 404-1100 / www.theartistichome.org Through August 20, 2006 Reviewed by Martha Wade Steketee July 14, 2006 “Unchanging Love” at The Artistic Home is an Appalachian, musically nuanced, classically structured tragedy based on a Chekhov short story. […]
[originally published: http://aislesay.com/CHI-GAUDY.html%5D GAUDY NIGHT Adapted from Dorothy L. Sayers by Frances Limoncelli Directed by Dorothy Milne Starring Jenifer Tyler and Peter Greenberg Lifeline Theatre 6912 North Glenwood Avenue / (773) 761-4477 / http://www.lifelinetheatre.com Through July 30, 2006 Reviewed by Martha Wade Steketee June 30, 2006 Lifeline Theatre‘s newest literary adaptation, “Gaudy Night” is a swiftly moving, mesmerizing, and romantic piece […]
[originally published: http://www.aislesay.com/CHI-DREAMS.html%5D THE DREAMS OF SARAH BREEDLOVE Written and Directed by Regina Taylor Starring L. Scott Caldwell and Keith Randolph Smith Goodman Theatre 170 North Dearborn / (312) 443-3811 goodmantheatre.org Through July 23, 2006 Reviewed by Martha Wade Steketee June 26, 2006 “The Dreams of Sarah Breedlove” at the Goodman Theatre is at once a classically staged family drama and a […]
[originally published: http://aislesay.com/CHI-DONT.html%5D DON’T MAKE ME OVER (In Tribute to Dionne Warwick) Written and Directed by Jackie Taylor Black Ensemble Theater 4520 North Beacon Street / (773) 769-4451 http://www.blackensemble.org Through August 27, 2006 Reviewed by Martha Wade Steketee June 25, 2006 Black Ensemble Theater‘s newest production “Don’t Make Me Over” honors the career of Dionne Warwick with style, energy, and enthusiasm in a […]
Ellen Under Glass By Ben Lobpries Directed by Tommy Rapley The House Theatre of Chicago Storefront Theater Gallery 37 Center for the Arts 66 East Randolph Chicago, Illinois Reviewed by Martha Wade Steketee April 3, 2006 Movement, Music, and Lyrical Language Combine in ELLEN UNDER GLASS “We’ve already made our mistake; now we have to live with it.” “Art is […]
The Cocktail Party By T.S. Eliot Directed by Jennifer Shook Caffeine Theatre Production Athenaeum Theatre Studio One 2936 N. Southport Avenue Chicago, Illinois 60657 Reviewed by Martha Wade Steketee April 2, 2006 This PARTY Offers Poetic Philosophical Musings and Grand Theatre “It’s such a nice party I hate to leave it; It’s such a nice party I hate to repeat […]
Clash by Night By Clifford Odets Directed by John Mossman The Artistic Home 1420 West Irving Park Road Chicago, Illinois 60614 Reviewed by Martha Wade Steketee March 31, 2006 Stunning and Simple CLASH Provides Electric Theatre “They’re not happy those movie people, none of them” ”I know when I’m in a cold storage atmosphere, so give me a base on […]
The Chalk Garden By Enid Bagnold Directed by William Brown A Northlight Theatre production North Shore Center for the Performing Arts 9501 Skokie Boulevard Skokie, IL 60077 Reviewed by Martha Wade Steketee March 29, 2006 Bagnold’s Exploration of Family and Justice Elegantly and Unevenly Staged by Northlight “A life without a room of one’s own is unbearable.” “I never allow […]
The House of Bernarda Alba By Federico Garcia Lorca, English version by David Hare Directed by Kristin Gerhring A Circle Theatre production Mainstage 7300 West Madison Street Forest Park, IL 60130 Reviewed by Martha Wade Steketee March 28, 2006 Lorca’s Story of Repression and Violence Struggles for Balance “Better never to lay eyes on a man, never to have seen […]
Fighting Words By Sunil Kuruvilla Directed by Tara Mallen A Rivendell Theatre Ensemble production At the Viaduct Theater Reviewed by Martha Wade Steketee March 25, 2006 Women’s Lives Cycle Through the Boxing Ring and Back to Themselves The Rivendell Theatre Ensemble production of Sunil Kuruvilla’s drama “Fighting Words” at the Viaduct Theater challenges and frustrates the viewer with glimpses of […]
The Sweetest Swing in Baseball By Rebecca Gilman Directed by Nathaniel Swift An Eclipse Theatre Company production At Victory Gardens Theater 2257 N. Lincoln Avenue Chicago, IL Running time 2 hours with 1 intermission Through April 23, 2006 Reviewed by Martha Wade Steketee March 19, 2006 Midwest Premiere of Gilman Gem Glows Rebecca Gilman’s “The Sweetest Swing in Baseball” received […]
urban excavations 