Amanda Drinkall and Rufus Collins in Goodman’s “Venus in Fur” Where to start with David Ives’ twisting, tantalizing and tawdry dark comedy? This is the kind of work that delights and surprises in the moment, yet following the event you begin to look past the intoxicating veneer to unravel the underlying puzzle. And you wonder:… Read More Goodman’s Venus in Fur: A Power Play with a Twist
Walt Disney’s “The Jungle Book” is one of those movies I’m sure I’ve seen, but I don’t recall much from it – aside from the jaunty tune “The Bear Necessities.” While the Goodman’s new and wildly inventive adaptation of Rudyard Kipling’s collection of stories is a wholly original creation by mastermind director Mary Zimmerman, it… Read More ‘The Jungle Book’ is a feast for the eyes and ears, but leaves the heart empty
It’s not hard to understand why Jon Robin Baitz’s Other Desert Cities is such an effective play. This award-winning compact family drama addresses the notions of deception, trust, loyalty, privacy and integrity using a deliciously straightforward setup: a strong-willed novelist daughter returns home to declare to her well-bred and respected republican family that her next… Read More HuffPo Review: A Flat Yet Fascinating ‘Other Desert Cities’ at Goodman
When Jon Robin Baitz’s searing family drama Other Desert Cities premiered at Lincoln Center in January 2011, it took the town by storm. Not since August: Osage County can I recall an American play that’s had such buzz, with the New York Times calling it “the best new play on Broadway.” And, like most good… Read More Chatting With Tracy Michelle Arnold, Star of Goodman’s ‘Other Desert Cities’
Goodman’s Sweet Bird of Youth is a fascinating mess. Forget the talented and stunning Diane Lane — David Cromer’s direction is the star. After all, his bewildering and distracting choices insert themselves front and center. Or spin around in circles, as is the case in the dizzying third act. But I’m getting ahead of myself.… Read More HuffPo Review: An Overstuffed ‘Sweet Bird of Youth’ Features a Strong Performance in Diane Lane
So, I woke up from a restless sleep early this morning, checked my phone and noticed that the 2012 Equity Jeff Awards had been announced. And my first impression was: wow. No Nathan Lane. Yes, the Jeff committee overlooked Lane’s unconventional but widely praised performance as Hickey the hardware salesman in Goodman’s The Iceman Cometh,… Read More 2012 Equity Jeff nominations: A Chicago Theatre Addict’s reactions
E. Faye Butler and the cast of Goodman Theatre’s “Crowns” “Does anyone still wear a hat?” bellows the embittered Joanne, as memorably originated by Elaine Stritch in the 1970 musical Company. Why, yes. Yes, they do. And they’re mighty proud of it, too. Inspired by Michael Cunningham and Craig Marberry’s 2000 book that explores the… Read More HuffPo Review: Goodman’s Joyous Crowns Gets Your Spirits Singing
The long-delayed reunion of any family can provide the basis for a three act play, particularly if there are more than a few skeletons in the closet. And in Paul Oakley Stovall’s riveting new dramedy, Immediate Family, the Bryant family is suddenly forced to unpack some deeply closeted emotions, resulting in hair pulling, a broken… Read More Family values turned upside down in riveting and riotous ‘Immediate Family’
Chicago truly is an amazing theatre town — especially now, where we have two epic plays receiving landmark productions, and I’ve been lucky to see both of them. Following the seven hour Angels in America at Court Theatre this weekend, I took in Goodman Theatre’s highly anticipated The Iceman Cometh, which clocks in at just… Read More HuffPo Review: Goodman’s ‘Iceman Cometh,’ Starring Nathan Lane, Chills to the Core
This audition video for Goodman Theatre’s Crowns is quite charming. These two young actresses look like they’re completely gobsmacked to be working on this show, and their energy is infectious. Now I’m even more excited to see this Goodman revival. *** Maybe old news to some, but Writers’ Theatre’s A Little Night Music has scored… Read More This and that in Chicago theatre
While there were many moments in Goodman Theatre’s deeply disturbing and immensely fascinating production of Tennessee Williams’ Camino Real that flew over my head, one thing certainly didn’t: a large chunk of stale bread tossed into the audience by an actor, which navigated right to my forehead, ricocheted off it and landed square onto my… Read More Huffington Post Review: Goodman Theatre’s ‘Camino Real’
“Everyone’s a little bit racist,” sing the puppets of Avenue Q. Then there’s sh*t white girls say to black girls. And what about anything comedienne Lisa Lampanelli says? Racism, in all its forms, is such a force in our nation (as grody as that statement sounds) that, at times, we just have to, well, laugh… Read More The jury’s mostly out in Mamet’s ‘Race’
Patrick Andrews and Edward Gero get to work in John Logan’s “Red.” The creation of art is a daunting thing. Not only is the process most usually taxing (especially if the creative muses aren’t hitting you at the moment — and you’re on deadline), but, when it’s done (and how do you even know when… Read More Art isn’t easy in Goodman’s searing ‘Red’
I’m starting a new job next week, and took a week off between jobly obligations to head to Northern Michigan for some much-needed R&R in Alpena, Michigan — my hometown. It’s been nearly a decade since I’ve been home during the summer, and I guess I took for granted the serene beauty this port-side town… Read More While I’ve been out: an update
Through his smart observations of cultural differences impacting our rapidly changing business landscape, David Henry Hwang finds the uncomfortable hilarity in the art of global negotiation in his new play, Chinglish (which is moving to Broadway in the fall). It’s not so much who’s pulling the strings in this incredibly entertaining comedy, but why. Add… Read More David Henry Hwang’s ‘Chinglish’ translates modern business relationships into comedic gold
Chicago Theatre Addict 