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21 Jan 2013

Improv All-Stars

WHAT: Improv All-Stars (Comedy)
WHEN: Every Monday at 8pm from January 21 – April 29 (with an additional performance on January 24 at 8pm)
WHERE: UP Comedy Club (230 W. North Ave.)
RUN TIME: 60 minutes, no intermission
PRICE: $16.00 (Online and phone orders incur a $3-$7.50 fee)

OUR RATING: Chance It!

In Chicago, you can’t get more classic than The Second City. Founded in the 1950s at the University of Chicago, it is a cornerstone of comedy, and so, we expect only the best chortles when appreciating their interpretation of the artform. Improv All-Stars at UP Comedy Club, comprised of Second City-ites, certainly made us chuckle, but fell short of the mark and ultimately left us believing that you can only do the same routines so many times before they become old and worn.

(upcomedyclub.com)

We’d previously been initiated into the UP Comedy Club scene a few months ago to see a few stand-up acts by Maribeth Monroe and Erik Griffin from the show Workaholics. The space, located on the third floor of Piper’s Alley in Old Town, and just adjacent to their presenter Second City, is pretty unique, offering two levels of cabaret-style seating, as well as a full service kitchen and bar.

Under the direction of Mick Napier, Improv All-Stars features highly interactive improvisational comedy, with a mix of traditional games you’ll see elsewhere in the Chicago improv scene with some long-form pieces. We will admit that some classic routines, including shout-outs from the audience to construct a story told by each member in succession (including robots and Asians) and a full musical sung about completely wacky subjects, with the accompaniment of an acoustic piano, were really fun and could not be replicated by other groups.

(upcomedyclub.com)

Improv All-Stars really plays on their ancestry, once in awhile speaking about the development of the improvisational art form and the uniqueness of Second-City comedy. This segwayed into a simple, but rather lengthy, two-person improvised scene based entirely on one suggestion from the audience.

(upcomedyclub.com)

However, perhaps what bothers us the most about UP is not the content or locations, but the little things that seem to get in the way of a good evening. The price, at $16, is steep for an hour of comedy (even if it is Second City), and especially so when the material is not really that new. Add to this the service charges (we could talk about how nauseating annoying these are in another post entirely) and you have tickets costing over $20 for only 60 minutes of performance. That’s more than a just-minted college grad makes in 2 or so hours, and they are literally just running around the stage playing games! And then there are the wait staff. Our advice to them: stop harassing patrons who are clearly not going to buy anything, especially since there isn’t a drink minimum (if we’ve said no once, do you really think our answer is going to change over the course of an hour? And if it did, we’d just wave you over to help us out).

(upcomedyclub.com)

Seeing comedy in Chicago is kind of like playing Russian Roulette, and with the cast of Improv All-Stars constantly rotating, there is such a thing as an on or off night. So, our advice to you (if you have the $20 to spare) is go and try it out. You’ll have a good time regardless (it’s funny), but only if you are willing to part with your Jackson with no hard feelings.

Posted in Performing Arts, See It! and tagged chicago, comedy, entertainment, Erik Griffin, Improv All-Stars, Maribeth Monroe, Mick Napier, North Avenue, Storefront City, The Second City, UP Comedy Club, Workaholics

16 Jan 2013

Concerning Strange Devices from the Distant West

WHAT: Concerning Strange Devices from the Distant West (Theater)
WHEN: January 15 – April 14, 2013 (Previews from January 15-23)
WHERE: TimeLine Theatre Company (615 W. Wellington Ave.)
RUN TIME: 90 minutes, no intermission
HOST: TimeLine Theatre Company

OUR RATING: Chance It!

(timelinetheatre.com)

Pack your bags and get ready to travel from East to West and across time in the Midwest Premiere of Naomi Iizuka’s Concerning Strange Devices from the Distant West, now playing at TimeLine Theatre Company in Lakeview East.

We visited TimeLine last season for Enron and were pretty impressed. Their mission is to present stories inspired by history that connect with the social and political issues of today. Concerning Strange Devices definitely hits this target, but we were generally more impressed by TimeLine’s production than by Iizuka’s script.

Last night we attended the first preview performance, so please take this review with a grain of salt. As we both know well, until their opening night on January 24th, this piece is still a work in progress, so a lot could change before you set foot in director Lisa Portes’ vision.

Rebecca Spence as Isabel Hewlett. (timelinetheatre.com)

And what a vision it is. As soon as you walk into the lobby you are subsumed within a fascinating, interactive and educational foray into the history of Japanese tattoos and photography with a well-thought out lobby display designed by Dina Spoerl. It’s small, but it sure packs its share of punches.

After milling about the lobby you are welcomed with open arms into the performance space through a hyper-surreal tunnel of beautiful giant Japanese paper lanterns and into an Alley-configuration theatre with a projection screen puzzle on the opposite wall.

The play focuses on several characters across the span of the 19th century to the present day. The central theme is the camera, which captures both the real and imaginary, and blurs the line between the two. In the late 1800s, an American woman, Isabel Hewlett (Rebecca Spence), discovers the magic of Japan through the camera of photographer Adolfo Farsari (Michael McKeogh). In the present day, a collector of rare photographs (also McKeogh) travels to Japan to negotiate a deal for the very same Farsari photos. Except, this isn’t the whole story, but we shall not say more.

Playwright Naomi Iizuka (timelinetheatre.com)

Adam: I was most impressed by the design of the set and lighting, which allowed one to enter the world of the production as a member, rather than a spectator. I was also extremely happy with most performances, although Tiffany Villarin (as A Woman in a Kimono, A Servant Girl and Kiku) tended to be weaker than her co-stars. While the production was held together well, my biggest concern is the script. Iizuka creates jumpy, underdeveloped dialogue that sounds oddly like a devised piece from a college than a professionally written piece of theatre. She also seems to have a tenuous grasp of the history surrounding the production (i.e. Farsari’s sexuality), as well as the neurological underpinnings of sight.

That being said, this does not belittle the production itself, and TimeLine does an admirable job of bringing seriously flawed material to life through impeccable line delivery and world creation. It is a shame that TimeLine chose to give Iizuka’s shaky script a go, however, when so many more worthy playwrights remain unproduced.

Director Lisa Portes (timelinetheatre.com)

Alicia: What really made this show: Spence’s star performance, Mike Tutaj’s dazzling projection design, Portes’ surreal/fantastical/sexy transitions, and the fact that pieces of the lobby infiltrated the performance space. This team really thought about the audience experience.

As the space is so intimate, even the smallest details are important, and while Julia Eberhardt’s props capitalized on this with their intricacies, scenic designer Brian Sidney Bembridge’s flooring and Costume Designer Janice Pytel’s take on Hewlett’s Victorian dress cheapened the experience. However, major kudos to them all for being able to transition back and forth and tackle this multifaceted world.

(timelinetheatre.com)

Final thoughts: For all our criticism of the production, it must be remembered that it is only currently in previews and will be until January 23. We expect that, as more runs are completed, the show will tighten and become even more enjoyable to watch.

In a way, it is simply worth going to see the amazing design elements, that allow you to transition from a little Japanese camera shop in the 1880s to a chic high-rise bar in modern Tokyo with effortless finesse.

P.S.: For examples of the photographs taken by Farsari, check out the authoritative and complete Photography in Japan 1853-1912

A word of warning: this production is not appropriate for children.

Posted in Performing Arts, See It! and tagged 1800s, 19th century, Brian Sidney Bembridge, Chicago Premiere, Concerning Strange Devices from the Distant Wester, Enron, Farsari, historical theater, Janice Pytel, Japan, Japanese photography, Japanese tattoos, Julia Eberhardt, lakeview, Lakeview East, Lisa Portes, Michael McKeogh, Mike Tutaj, Naomi Iizuka, paper lanterns, Rebecca Spence, Storefront City, theater, Theatre, Tiffany Villarin, TimeLine, TimeLine Theatre Company, Tokyo, Victorian, Victorian costumes, Victorian dresses

14 Jan 2013

The Paper Machete

WHAT: The Paper Machete (Variety Show)
WHEN: Every Saturday from 3pm
WHERE: The Green Mill (4802 N. Broadway Ave.)

OUR RATING:
Do It!–Our experience
Chance It!–Possible future performances

(thepapermacheteshow.com)

The Paper Machete is a town crier for the modern age, providing audiences with amusing, serious and diverse entertainment covering pop culture, current events and a good dose of musical interlude. Originally launched in 2010, and created and hosted by writer Christopher Piatt, The Paper Machete tickles nearly every fancy, and allows one to experience the iconic cocktail lounge The Green Mill (of Prohibition fame) in the same manner as generations past: with a complete variety show.

Christopher Priatt (thepapermacheteshow.com)

Every Saturday afternoon at 3pm, this “live magazine” offers patrons a chance to connect with stars from the likes of iO, The Second City, the Neo-Futurists and beyond. Named best comedy variety show of 2011 by the Chicago Reader, the show encompasses an array of performances that are sure not to disappoint regulars and newcomers alike.

(greenmilljazz.com)

This past Saturday, Storefront City had a chance to visit this historic location and listen along to this rapid-fire magazine of popular thought. Our afternoon began with a rather serious interlude into environmental protection by Rachael Mason of iO. What appeared at first to be a paean for environmental action, soon showed its true colours as an amusing reflection on her childhood poetry for Earth Day, that brought up important and pertinent issues related to the recent Hurricane Sandy and its effects on her family. Masterfully blending humor and reality, Mason kept our attention and made us appreciate the awesome destructive power of nature, and man’s influence on it.

The Green Mill (courtesy of Tom Gill)

In keeping with this serious nature, Lisa Buscani of the Neo-Futurists’ investigation into the sordid world of Sandusky, from the perspective of another inmate at the same prison, provided a reflective moment to appreciate the situation of those who are behind bars and the circumstances that lead society to imprison.

Ike Holter

But, let’s be honest, a magazine is never all about it’s newsworthy material, and we were treated to an inventive series of laughs as well. Ike Holter, popular playwright of Hit the Wall (first performed by The Inconvenience at Steppenwolf last year, and now moving to Off-Broadway), gave us an op-ed monologue musing on this year’s selection for the Academy Awards. Featuring quotes from “that owner of 7 Eleven who shouts at hipsters” to acceptances speeches themselves, Holter was full of ingenuity and verve.

NYC’s Reformed Whores (reformedwhores.com)

And what variety show would be complete without music? We giggled with NYC musical comedy duo Reformed Whores, and swung along to the dulcet tones of Bethany Thomas (of Porgy and Bess fame), who created an atmosphere entirely appropriate to such a venerated establishment as The Green Mill.

Chad the Bird (wbez.org)

A well-rounded current events publication needs a sports section, this one provided by resident puppet Chad the Bird (a Josh Zagoren creation). Staging in the venue was divided between the main stage towards the back, and the bar area, where Chad gave us his weekly sports roundup.

Matt Braunger (thepapermacheteshow.com)

Finally, Matt Braunger (love your website!) provided the capstone to the afternoon, also performing from the bar area. With topics covering Chicago staples such as certain kinds of people on the #22 bus, to tripped out nights dressed as clowns downtown, Braunger tapped into the audience and hit all the right notes. We highly recommend you see him if you can in the future.

Bethany Thomas (courtesy of Jeremy Rill)

Busy on Saturday afternoons? Not to worry! Every week The Paper Machete and host WBEZ create a podcast, also known as “The Paper Machete Radio Magazine,” with selections from the latest show.

The Paper Machete comes highly recommended from Storefront City. Best enjoyed with a couple of friends (the space is crowded) and a relaxed attitude, performances may vary week to week, but if the quality remains the same as last time, you will not be disappointed.

Posted in Music and Concerts, Performing Arts, See It! and tagged 30 plays in 60 minutes, Academy Awards, admission, admissions, advising, Al Capone, animation, best, best in Chicago, best of, Bethany Thomas, cabaret, calendar, career, careers, CDM, Chad the Bird, chicago, chicago improv, Chicago Public Media, Chicago Reader, Chicago's, chicago's best, chicago's best improv comedy, Christopher Piatt, cinema, comedy, comedy club, comedy club chicago, comedy club toronto improvisation, comedy clubs, comedy show, comedy shows, comedy tickets, computer, course, courses, CTI, current, degree, degrees, DePaul, DePaul CDM, DePaul CTI, digital cinema, distance learning, dramatic reading, Earth Day, exam, faculty, forum, global warming, graduate, Graduate School, Hit the Wall, Horseshoe, Hurrican Sandy, Ike Holter, Illinois, improv, improv comedy, improv olympic, improvisation, info, information, iO, io improv, itunes, java, Jazz, Josh Zagoren, lab, labs, largest, Lincoln Park, Lisa Buscani, live comedy, Live Magazine, masters, Matt Braunger, musical comedy, Neo-Futurists, neofuturists, online learning, Paper Machete, Paper Machete WBEZ, Personal Journals, personalized, picks, planning, podcast, podcast directory, podcasting, Porgy and Bess, programmers, programs, prohibition, questions, Rachael Mason, Radio Magazine, Reader, recommended, Reformed Whores, registration, requirements, research, revue, Richocet, Sandusky, schedule, scholarship, scholarships, school, science, search, Second City, see, services, Sketch Comedy, Society & Culture, speakeasy, status, Steppenwolf, students, study, summer, support, syllabi, systems, telecommunications, the, The Green Mill, The Inconvenience, The Paper Machete, The Reader's picks, The Second City, too much light, too much light makes the baby go blind, top, top-rated, tuition, University, Uptown, Variety show, video podcasts, videocasts, WBEZ, world

08 Jan 2013

The 12th Annual Chicago Sketch Comedy Festival

WHAT: The 12th Annual Chicago Sketch Comedy Festival (SketchFest) (Comedy)
WHEN: January 3-13, 2013 (see schedule here for specific start times)
WHERE: Stage 773 (1225 W. Belmont Ave.)
HOST: Stage 773

OUR RATING: Do It!

(chicagosketchfest.com)

Chicago is famous for its comedy, and especially its sketch comedy. Since the birth of Second City, the nation’s second city has become a magnet for all comedic types, from the guy performing at the bar right down to Jeff Garlin of Curb Your Enthusiasm fame. However, rarely does all this great talent coalesce in one place. The (12th Annual) Chicago Sketch Comedy Festival (aka SketchFest) at Stage 773 is one such rare place where troupes from around the country (and globe) perform to audience after audience in an excited, electric atmosphere that only a theatre of Stage 773’s calibre could muster. Over just two weeks of performances, Stage 773 will probably be visited by over 10,000 patrons watching 169 performances featuring over 1000 artists. The nation’s largest sketch comedy festival. Astounding.

Stage 773 Lobby (stupidtimemachine.wordpress.com)

Stage 773 (stupidtimemachine.wordpress.com)

When you enter SketchFest, you might be a little confused. There are people everywhere you look, some dressed as lobsters, another as a very demonic looking Winnie the Pooh. Beer is flowing from the bar, a woman stands atop an ice chest selling $4 PBR Tall Boys, as laughter is escaping from the theatres into the lobby. The awesomely-decorated space is pulsing with energy.

But don’t be fooled. This is organized chaos. After you pick up your ticket from the desk to the left of where you enter, you can mill around and have fun until your show is called. There is a really fun raffle going on, where you can win anything from some fun trinkets to a Guinness, and even free tickets, for only a buck. And once the hour comes around, every single theater in the space opens, and guests are ushered into their respective shows.

Once your show is done, you are led out of the theatre via an alternative route than those coming in, providing a constant flow of comedy-goers that prevents traffic jams and speeds transitions. And if you’re up for the challenge, you can go right back into the throng of enthusiastic lobby-dwellers and await the next show.

Stage 773 has four distinct theatres (proscenium, thrust, black box and cabaret), each featuring different comedians and troupes every hour. We didn’t manage to get into all four spaces last weekend, but we’re going to try to this weekend when the Fest continues.

The Cupid Players (cupidplayers.com)

Our night started off with The Cupid Players, who actually perform outside of SketchFest every Saturday night at Stage 773. If you’ve never seen Chicago sketch comedy before, this is where you should start. It’s better than any Second City show we’ve seen. Ensemble-driven, The Cupid Players create original and intelligent musical sketch comedies, rooted in social and political satire. They sing, they dance (well, sorta), they play musical instruments and, more importantly, boy do they entertain. It’s a wild and hysterical roller coaster, and when you get off the ride you’ll be high on laughter and your cheeks will hurt from smiling so hard.

Boat (boatcomedy.com)

Next up was Boat, a Brooklyn (NY) based trio with a hyper-satirical and rather surreal go at sketch comedy. These three boys are not afraid of the dark-side of comedy. If you aren’t into jokes about pedophilia, death and homosexuality, this may not be for you. But if you’re a little more open, Boat is definitely a unique and risk-taking bunch.

Missing Earl (missingearl.com)

As with any comedy festival, each show you will see is different, and has a chance of being excellent or not to your liking. Such is the nature of comedy, after all. One show that we would not recommend was by Missing Earl from New York City. While a wide array of themes and ideas were put forward, none made these reviewers laugh in the way one would want. Overwhelmingly dark themes that didn’t seem to be derived from much more than grotesque or toilet humor (fancy eating a pilot’s privates after a serious plane crash?), we believe this group needs to focus on more accessible laugh, rather than fringe material whose goal is to shock rather than entertain.

Uncalled For (weareuncalledfor.com)

However, apart from this slight blemish, the other shows we saw were timely and amazing. Canadian group Uncalled For produced a work reminiscent of the Monty Python good old days, complete with BBC news reports, time travel, CERN, the theory of evolution and free birthday cake. We would describe it as stream of consciousness humor that is hilarious in its absurdity, yet thoughtful in its content and delivery. A sensitive, side-splitting experience!

(chicagosketchfest.com)

We suggest the best way to experience SketchFest is to go with a few friends and purchase a one-night pass this Saturday, and go from show-to-show (and make sure to see Cupid Players at 8PM on The Pro Stage). Buy a few raffle tickets and you’re practically guaranteed a lovely Guinness or two to accompany you throughout the night (a drink tends to make everything funnier, obviously). If this review isn’t quite enough to convince you to take part in this amazing experience, we think the promo image does the rest of the talking for us.

Posted in Do It!, Festivals, Performing Arts, See It! and tagged 00, 2013, 773, Boat, Brooklyn, Canada, Chicago Sketch Comedy, Chicago Sketch Comedy Festival, comedy, comedy club, comedy club chicago, comedy club toronto improvisation, comedy clubs, comedy festival, comedy show, comedy shows, comedy tickets, improv, improv comedy, live comedy, Missing Earl, Montreal, musical sketch comedy, New York, New York City, one night pass, Second City, Sketch Comedy, SketchFest, stage, Stage 773, the Cupid Players, The Second City, Uncalled For

07 Jan 2013

The Motherf**ker with the Hat

WHAT: The Motherf**ker with the Hat (Theater)
WHEN: December 28, 2012 – March 3, 2013
WHERE: Downstairs Theatre, Steppenwolf (1650 N. Halsted Ave.)
RUN TIME: 1 hr and 40 minutes, no intermission
HOST: Steppenwolf Theatre Company

OUR RATING: Do It!

"The Motherf**ker with the Hat" (courtesy of steppenwolf.org, Photo by Sandro)

“The Motherf**ker with the Hat” (steppenwolf.org, Photo: Sandro)

With a head-turning title that will leave some desperate to see Stephen Adly Guirgis’ newest Chicago production–and make more conservative types turn their noses up–The Motherf**ker with the Hat exudes the fury imbedded in its title and confronts us with the morally tangible nature of love, lust and loneliness. With an utterly stark and beautifully intricate set, all-star talent and layers of profanity, the fast-paced and darkly comical Motherf**ker is not a play to be missed.

John Ortiz as Jackie — Photo: Michael Brosilow

The Motherf**ker with the Hat originally premiered on Broadway back in 2011, starring Chris Rock and directed by Steppenwolf ensemble member and Tony Award-winner Anna D. Shapiro. While the cast is entirely different in this Chicago production, Shapiro again directs and is accompanied by some of the same designers from the Broadway production, making this Chicago production a unique reincarnation. Even more unique (and refreshing) is that the cast features no Steppenwolf ensemble member, which separates this show from the usual ensemble-based works by STC.

(right to left) Couson Julio (Gary Perez) cooks breakfast for Jackie (John Ortiz) -- Photo: Michael Brosilow

(right to left) Cousin Julio (Gary Perez) and Jackie (John Ortiz) — Photo: Michael Brosilow

This is a story of many angles and perspectives, to say the least. Love triangle is not a sufficient expression to describe the deeply flawed and entwined relationships on show, between an ex-con turned janitor, his girlfriend, his sponsor from Alcoholics Anonymous, that man’s wife and the ex-con’s cousin. The complexity is accentuated by the underlying deceit that colours the entire work.

Sandra Delgado as Veronica -- Photo by Michael Brosilow

Sandra Delgado as Veronica — Photo: Michael Brosilow

The protagonist, Jackie (John Ortiz), has just been released from prison and is thrilled to be returning home to his high school sweetheart Veronica (Sandra Delgado)–who is anything but sweet. The chance discovery of the eponymous Motherf**ker’s hat leads to an unfolding of the truth that leaves practically no character untainted by the stain of infidelity and addiction.

(right to left) Jackie (John Ortiz) takes his sponsor, Ralph D. (Jimmy Smits) to visit his Cousin Julio -- Photo by Michael Brosilow

(right to left) Jackie (John Ortiz) and Ralph D. (Jimmy Smits) — Photo: Michael Brosilow

Protected by his mentor Ralph (Jimmy Smits) from the AA, and taken into his home along with his unhappy wife Victoria (Sandra Marquez), Jackie bounces around from his mentor, to his cousin Julio (Gary Perez) and back to his girlfriend. We follow Jackie on this journey, and share in hilarity and intensity of his relationships, which make one both laugh and reflect on the more serious consequences of human emotion.

Todd Rosenthal's scenic design for "The Motherf**ker with the Hat" -- Photo by Michael Brosilow

Todd Rosenthal’s scenic design for “The Motherf**ker with the Hat” — Photo: Michael Brosilow

This superb acting is framed amongst scenic designer Todd Rosenthal’s fantastical cogwheel set, which is perfectly utilized to showcase three distinct scenes, each with its own character. We are even treated to views of some characters living within their homes/sets during scene changes, which lends to the realism captured in both script and set.

A script that makes us consider the values of others in comparison to our own, no matter how unattractive those values may be, plunges the audience into a conundrum worth cogitating on, and a play definitely worth seeing.

P.S. Check out Steppenwolf’s interview with playwright Stephen Adly Guirgis.

Posted in Performing Arts, See It! and tagged AA, addiction, Alcoholics Anonymous, Anna Shapiro, Broadway, Chris Rock, comedy, dark comedy, Dexter, dramatic comedy, Gary Perez, Jimmy Smits, John Ortiz, love triangle, Sandra Delgado, Sandra Marquez, Stephen Adly Guirgis, Steppenwolf, Steppenwolf Theatre, Steppenwolf Theatre Company, The Motherf**ker with the Hat, Todd Rosenthal, Tony Award

19 Dec 2012

Broadway’s Sister Act

WHAT: Sister Act: A Divine Musical Comedy
WHEN/WHERE: Check the Tour Map!
HOST: Broadway

OUR RATING: Do It!

The company of “Sister Act” (courtesy of sisteractbroadway.com)

It was a blast from the past: Sister Act — that classic 90’s feature — was back in full force on the Chicago Broadway stage in this one-of-a-kind musical adaptation that will leave you dancing in your seat. The fresh, hilarious performances, combined with excellent staging and direction, made Sister Act (a divine musical comedy) at the Auditorium Theatre a saintly diversion for young and old alike.

Based on the 1992 comedy starring Whoopi Goldberg, and featuring original music by 8-time Oscar® winner Alan Menken, Sister Act follows the story of Deloris Van Cartier, a club singer who goes into hiding as a nun after she witnesses a murder. While attempting to maintain her cover, Deloris can’t help but share her passion for music with her fellow sisters, helping them to find their voice while also fighting to save their church.

The joy of Sister Act is perhaps its ability to make you laugh at the littlest of things. This isn’t crude humor (they’re nuns after all), but still manages to create sideslipping fun which becomes habit-forming.

New songs with old faces make the audience comfortable with the changes that might not be welcome to some die-hard fans of the classic. However, everyone is soon grooving along, and on the night we attended the performance we noticed a couple of people even get up from their seats mid-way through and dance in the aisles!

We saw strong performances from Ta’rea Campbell (Deloris) and Hollis Resnik (Mother Superior), who bring some of the exceptionality to the production. We alternated from belting ballads to soulful serenades as we followed Deloris’ transformation from club singer to nun, and then the transformation of the nuns themselves. We even got a special guest appearance of the Most Holy type, an unexpected surprise.

Sister Act comes highly recommended by Storefront City, even if it has taken over 20 years to get it from screen to stage. It may no longer be on the Auditorium Theatre stage, but check it out if it makes it way back to the city. Alicia will even be seeing it again (purely by chance, however) on the Fort Lauderdale Broadway stage in the coming week!

P.S.: Can’t make it to the theatre? Then you can watch the original right here: Sister Act / Sister Act 2 – Back in the Habit

Posted in Performing Arts, See It! and tagged 90's, 90's comedies, 90's movies, Alan Menken, Auditorium Theatre, Broadway, comedy, convent, Hollis Resnik, musical, National Tour, nuns, Sister Act, Ta'rea Campbell, Whoopi Goldberg

12 Dec 2012

Chicago Shakespeare Theater: The School for Lies

WHAT: The School for Lies
WHEN: December 4, 2012 – January 20, 2013
WHERE: Chicago Shakespeare’s Courtyard Theater (800 E. Grand – Navy Pier)
HOST: Chicago Shakespeare Theater

OUR RATING: Skip It!

If there is one production that it is not vital to see this winter, it’s The School for Lies, at the Chicago Shakespeare Theater. In this little jaunt directed by CST’s artistic director Barbara Gaines, Molière’s Misanthrope is adapted by playwright David Ives for the modern audience, with less than impressive results.

The School for Lies (photo courtesy of Chicago Shakespeare Theater)

Adam: I almost don’t want to confuse you with the over-complicated plot, but in a nutshell, Frank, French but recently returned from England, has adopted the habit of always telling the truth and in order to dissuade his friend from lying, spreads rumours about him. This method backfires, when untruths are thrown his way, casting him into the romantic clutches of Celimene, a wealthy gossipess. Needless to say the story develops along most Shakespearean lines, and yet I suspect the Bard and even Molière would find its pandering, Millennial-centric dialogue, and serious unfunny twists quite revolting.

Don’t get me wrong, we had a few chortles, but nothing that I would come back for. It’s a shame really: Daniel Ostling’s set was ravishing and really built your hopes up (just check out the massively intricate chandelier that looms over every scene). The male costumes were also well thought out, and placed you in those foppish French times so long past.

Alicia: Adam’s synopsis is pretty much on the dot. However, I must parse out his review of Susan E. Mickey’s costumes. Their construction was impeccable and they were absolutely stunning overall, both the men’s and the women’s. However, I think the costume designer had some conceptual problems. I got it, Arsinoe is a spider, right? Spinning her web of lies and chaos. So put her in a big dress that’s black and purple and amazingly reminiscent of a spider. I think the same kind of tangential thinking went into the other female costumes. Worst of all, I saw very little thought in how the females were in relationship with the males in terms of their costumes, and ultimately it seemed like the costumer’s imagination got a little ahead of them. Beautiful, but a bit un-entertainingly ridiculous. And then there was Acaste…I don’t even know what I thought of that 70’s take-back of a costume. Except that my mother has those exact same glasses, which is terrifying.

Other than that, I felt relatively lukewarm about everything else. Ben Carlson (Frank) was perhaps the strongest actor of the bunch, but I enjoyed seeing Samuel Taylor (Lookingglass Alice at Lookingglass Theatre Company), Sean Fortunato (Enron at TimeLine Theatre Company) and Heidi Kettenring (Season’s Greetings at Northlight Theatre) on stage again. I love Samuel Taylor (Dubois/Basque) so much that I tried my darndest to laugh at his canapé bits, with only limited success. I’ll admit his fire-orange quaffed wig had me almost in tears with laughter, though. Meanwhile, Fortunato (Philante) sports an impressive attire that will certainly elicit quite a few giggles. Cinderella may have met her match.

And I will never bad-mouth the naked enchantment of the intimate CST Courtyard Theater.

The final say: Probably not worth your time or money. Give it a miss, but make sure to look at those photos of the chandelier that are circulating on Facebook and in various reviews from critics. Breathtaking.

P.S.: If you want to pick up the script for further reference, here is a really complete edition from Northwestern University – The School for Lies: A Play Adapted from Moliere’s The Misanthrope

Posted in Performing Arts, See It! and tagged Chicago Shakespeare Theater, comedy of errors, CST, David Ives, Moliere, Navy Pier, Shakespeare, The School for Lies, theater

05 Dec 2012

Jeff Garlin: Closer Than I Appear

WHAT: Jeff Garlin: Closer Than I Appear (Stand-Up Comedy)
WHEN: Running December 4 – 16, 2012
WHERE: Steppenwolf Theatre Company (1650 N. Halsted)
HOST: Jeff Garlin and Steppenwolf Theatre Company

OUR RATING: Do it!

–(photo courtesy of jeffgarlin.com)

We had the amazing opportunity to see the first preview of Jeff Garlin: Closer Than I Appear, a limited engagement stand-up comedy routine in Steppenwolf’s intimate Upstairs Theatre.

While perhaps most known for his role in HBO’s Curb Your Enthusiasm (of which he is also the executive producer), Jeff is also an alum of Chicago’s Second City, wrote/directed/starred in the film I Want Someone to Eat Cheese With, has lent his voice to numerous Disney movies and has a local show based in LA called By the Way – Conversations With.

Here’s our two cents on his newest show, Jeff Garlin: Closer Than I Appear.

Alicia: Unlike Adam, I am not a die-hard fan of Curb Your Enthusiasm, nor as familiar with Jeff’s comedy in general. Nevertheless, I went into the performance ready and willing for anything he might throw at me. I was not dissatisfied.

I won’t lie and say Mr. Garlin was flawless. His strength is clearly in scripted (or slightly structured) material, rather than stand-up. While the middle of his performance was shaky (he kept going back to a list of possible stories/angles he brought with him and trying out some new things, many of which only elicited a single laugh or two from the audience before descending into silence), the beginning and end of the show were really strong, and he was a pro at recovering from some of his dead-end attempts.

Perhaps what made this show so appealing was Jeff’s familiarity with Chicago (he’s a native of the city and owns a place up in the Gold Coast). Many of his jokes were based on things I knew from merely walking along the intersection of Chicago and Michigan, or passing the Lou Malnati’s in the Gold Coast. Jeff knows what a Chicago audience can relate to, and how to make it funny. His childish charm and curiosity are really unique staples in his routine. In summary, I found it extremely enjoyable, and I laughed a lot…which is the point, right? I’d go again, even if only to see his jack-o-lantern prop and hear a re-hash of his story about a man and his lotions and creams. I won’t expound or clarify…what would be the fun in that?

Adam: You can’t imagine how thrilled I was to able to see the legendary Jeff Garlin at Steppenwolf, practically right in my backyard. I have a long association with Curb Your Enthusiasm, and remember clearly first seeing the advertisements for it, starring Jeff, about ten or eleven years ago on British television. More than just a comedy series, the show resonated for me at another level, as I saw myself and antics (albeit exaggerated) reflected in those of the characters more often than not.

Jeff Garlin is truly a master of observational comedy. Whether it’s slightly touchy subjects like the obese and their scooters (and who hasn’t wondered about this) or the infamous “lotions and creams” man, Jeff literally makes you laugh out loud. And I mean LAUGH out loud, as in, I was laughing so much I could barely contain myself, which certainly can’t be said of any run-of-the-mill comedian.

His deep knowledge of Chicago and relatability to the audience created a relaxed atmosphere more akin to a conversation with Jeff than a show. While I would ordinarily find audience participation and shout-outs rather annoying, they were entirely appropriate here, and lent to the lovable sense of collective friendship Jeff created.

Jeff’s greatest strength is perhaps a total willingness to say what everyone else is thinking. He doesn’t do this maliciously or with intent to offend, but in the manner of the genuinely interested, which makes us evaluate why we are so introverted in our everyday lives as to never ask these questions. Perhaps what makes him so appealing is his ingenious ability to turn uncomfortable subjects into feather beds.

If you can make it to this show GO! Please, please go! It is the perfect antidote to the impending winter and might, just might, give you a little more faith in the human condition. (Additionally, this is a great opportunity to meet and greet with Jeff after the show, with a variety of merchandise for sale and signing by the man himself).

P.S.: Jeff has a fab new autobiography out that’s worth a read, if you can continue coherently between the laughs – Curbing It

Posted in Performing Arts, See It! and tagged chicago, comedy, Curb Your Enthusiasm, ensemble, Jeff Garlin, Second City, stand-up, Steppenwolf, theater, Theatre

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