Review: The Mousetrap
Perhaps best known as the longest-running play ever (notching north of 28,000 performances and counting), Agatha Christie’s The Mousetrap has been continuously on stage in London’s West End since 1952. Now, the reliably entertaining murder mystery set over a few snowed-in days at the remote (and fictional) Monkswell Manor finds its way to a stage much closer to home. Hyde Park’s Court Theatre presents a vibrant, comical take on this evergreen whodunnit through February 16. Directed by Sean Graney, the ensemble piece set in the “present day” (really, the post-war era of its original premiere) is here infused with bold color choices, whimsical set design and a self-aware sense of humor throughout…
Review: Once On This Island
Just a few blocks north of the heart of Times Square and next door to the massive Gershwin Theatre (capacity: 1,900) is a more intimate space, an 800-seat theater built for unique productions that immerse their audiences into the world created on stage eight times a week. The aptly named Circle in the Square Theatre presents shows that make the most of the space’s thrust stage, with seating surrounding three of the four sides. I’ve seen a couple shows there, including the magnificent (and Tony Award-winning) revival of Oklahoma! headed on tour this fall, where they serve homemade chili on stage during intermission. Before Oklahoma!, Circle on the Square was host to another…
2018 [on stage]
I broke a personal record of sorts in 2018: thanks to exceptional access via Third Coast Review (hello, media tickets!), I saw a whopping 35 theatrical productions over the course of twelve months. From storefront productions to world-class opera and everything in between, there were weeks I saw several shows in a row. And of course, who can forget that super-festive holiday run in December. (To put this all in perspective, consider this: I only saw seven shows in 2017!) There are several highlights (and low-lights) that come to mind when I look back on the full list of shows (recorded below for posterity). Generally speaking, I’m most grateful for…
36 Hours in Chicago (From a Local)
After the New York Times updated their 36 Hours in Chicago itinerary, I decided I should take a stab at my own version.
‘Tis the Season | Holiday Theater in Chicago
For two years running now, I’ve made it my own little holiday tradition to see American Blues Theater’s annual production of It’s a Wonderful Life: Live in Chicago. The show is an absolute treat, a word-for-word performance of the film script…except as an old-timey radio play. Each year, the actors are wonderful, the spirit is festive and I shed more than a few tears as George Bailey realizes he’s already the richest man in the world. When the opportunity came up to see it again this year for Third Coast Review, I snapped it up…along with about a half dozen other holiday season productions around town. Before I knew it,…
Summer Adventures
The radiators in my apartment kicked in for the first time this season just the other day, and as excited as I am for sweater weather, it got me nostalgic for all the adventures I managed to pack in over the summer. It’s no secret that Chicago loooves summer, those fleeting three months in the middle of the year where we can come out of hibernation and enjoy all the city has to offer. And oh boy, does it have a lot to offer. Just a quick rewind on my Instagram account offers a photographic recap of some serious summer celebrating, and I’m not even counting my trip to Europe…
