Storefront City Chicago

Archive for the category “See It!”

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

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 , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,
04 Jan 2013

The Devil’s Carnival (2012)

WHAT: The Devil’s Carnival (2012)
RATING: NR
DIRECTOR: Darren Lynn Bousman
LANGUAGE: English
RUN TIME: 56 Minutes

OUR RATING: Do it!

A few nights ago, Storefront City had the privilege to watch the new dark musical The Devil’s Carnival, brought to you by Terrance Zdunich and Darren Lynn Bousman, the creators of the cult hit Repo!: The Genetic Opera.

(dailydead.com)

(dailydead.com)

The story follows three sinners condemned to Hell, which takes the form of a traveling musical carnival where they must perform highly ironic versions of Aesop’s Fables as punishment. It’s a short film (56 minutes) and is the first part in a series, the second of which will be released in 2013. With amazing sets and costumes that are gorgeous, The Devil’s Carnival looked as if it would be as good, if not better, than Repo!. Unfortunately, Storefront City was left sadly disappointed in many ways, but at the end of it all, it was definitely an experience they’d do all-over again.

(bloody-disgusting.com)

One of the primary problems with the film is the casting. While the amazing voice talents of Emilie Autumn (Painted Doll), Paul Sorvino (God) and Terrance Zdunich (Lucifer) are featured in an excellent array of songs, most of the musical is dominated by mediocre voice talent that leaves you wondering who the hell (no pun intended) the casting agent was for this production. If you can afford excellent singers like Emilie Autumn, why would you make the likes of Dayton Callie (The Ticket Keeper) sing a song (“666”)? And why anyone continues to think that Alexa Vega is extremely talented enough to put her in all these movies is beyond us (but her costume and makeup were perfection).

(fanpop.com)

(fanpop.com)

On top of that, we cannot say that there was a single memorable song throughout the entire musical, which is extremely surprising as all the songs in Repo! are memorable in one way or another. We are not sure why this is, only that Repo! had a stage run during which some of the music may have been fine tuned (although this is purely speculation). Unfortunately, the best song, “In All My Dreams I Drown”, which has a hauntingly beautiful melody (sung by Terrance Zdunich and Jessica Lowndes) is relegated to a post-credits scene! Zdunich’s “Grace for Sale” and Autumn’’s “Prick! Goes the Scorpion’s Tale” were strong, but purely because they are talented performers, not because of the strength of the songs themselves.

(bloody-disgusting.com)

(bloody-disgusting.com)

All this being said, we still think it’s worth watching (and hell, we even bought the DVD). Alicia is still salivating after the swingset scene in “Grief” and after seeing Maggie Lally (ie. Captain Maggot) alongside Autumn in the film. Here at Storefront, we think that Zdunich and Bousman have done a great job at creating cult classics that America hasn’t seen the likes of since Rocky Horror. We need more people like them in Hollywood.

(allthingshorroronline.net)

(allthingshorroronline.net)

Order this film on Netflix or buy the DVD–you will be supporting independent artists who have proven themselves extremely capable in the past. And after you’ve done so, check out the teaser trailer for the second episode, which was released on December 25, 2012, and prepare yourself for the next trailer, coming out on January 10th! The second episode is slated to come out sometime this year.

P.S. And if Terrance, Darren, Emilie or anyone else from this production is reading this, please don’t hate us. We love you so much and would be thrilled to work with you in the future on anything!

P.S.S. If you enjoy Autumn’s performance, you should catch her at the Metro on February 15th. We’ve seen her perform live before (not to mention Alicia studied her for her BA), and she’s incredible. If we weren’t working that night, you’d see us in the audience, front and center, probably covered in tea and cake.

Posted in See It!, Watch it Now and tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,
28 Dec 2012

Elbo Room

WHAT: Elbo Room (Music Venue)
WHERE: 2871 N. Lincoln Ave

OUR RATING: Do It!

The Elbo Room, located in the up-and-coming Lakeview neighborhood, offers live music and an enormous array of drinks for relatively affordable prices.

(Courtesy of indie-music.com)

(Courtesy of indie-music.com)

On the upper level, the cocktail lounge is composed of a small bar, a very tiny stage and a few booths. Meanwhile, downstairs (where the larger bands play) is accessed by a rickety staircase leading to a basement with a larger (but still rather small) stage, another small bar, and a few booths, tables and hi-boys. The entire downstairs area is decorated in bright neon spray, which lends to an underground music feel, most welcome for those of us who relish the other side of the music industry.

Upstairs stage (courtesy of vocalillusion.com)

Upstairs stage (courtesy of vocalillusion.com)

Perhaps the most frustrating aspect about the downstairs space is a large load-bearing pole practically right in front of the stage in the center of the room, which partially blocks your view from many vantage points. However, this is mitigated by the wide array of original musical styles on offer, whether you fancy rock, experimental or something completely different. Be aware that seating is limited and your ticket does not guarantee you a stool or booth, so arrive early to snag a few chairs if you would rather sit than dance.

Upstairs bar (Courtesy of chicagospaces.org)

Upstairs bar (Courtesy of chicagospaces.org)

Some other fun aspects about the venue are the board games that are around if you need to kill time before or between acts, and even a pacman table at one of the booths! Another cool feature are the delivery menus from local restaurants if you would like to order food or place an order for pickup. As for drink specials, they usually offer a featured drink, a draft beer, a beer of the month and a can special nightly.

For those of you who need to consider accessibility there are several stairs leading up to the cocktail lounge and then down to the venue, which really do hinder those with limited mobility.

By law, all of their shows are 21+ (sorry for this, we’re sure they would prefer to admit anyone, but the law is the law, even if it is a stupid one). They stream all of the performances live from their website at http://www.justin.tv/elboroomchicago so anyone can still see the show from the comfort and safety of home.

Definitely a venue to be recommended if you have a particular band or musical taste in mind and perfect for a group of friends to listen to some beats, play some games and drink some brews.

Posted in Music and Concerts, See It! and tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,
26 Dec 2012

Hitchcock (2012)

WHAT: Hitchcock (2012)
RATING: PG-13
DIRECTOR: Sacha Gervasi
LANGUAGE: English
RUN TIME: 98 Minutes

OUR RATING: Do it!

If you’re looking for a movie you may not have heard of, why not try out Hitchcock, a biographical drama of Alfred Hitchcock’s process of making the classic horror film Psycho. Made truly great by inspired performances from Anthony Hopkins (Alfred Hitchcock) and Helen Mirren (Alma Reville), the film explores the complex romance of Alfred and Alma against the backdrop of the mayhem and pitfalls of adapting, producing, directing and filming a film all by oneself in the middle of Hollywood.

Hopkins’ performance is masterful, and allows us to view his creative process in a step-by-step manner, accompanied by the macabre humor of someone obsessed with getting back in the game. Even in makeup, he makes us believe he is Hitchcock, a feat lesser actors would not have been able to achieve so admirably. Mirren balances this with a strong determination that reflects well on the film as a whole and the Alfred/Alma relationship in particular. And then there is the constant presence of the serial killer Ed Gein (Michael Wincott) in the mind of Hitchcock that provides both comic relief and serious analysis of Hitchcock himself.

(courtesy of imdb.com)

(courtesy of imdb.com)

Unfortunately, supporting roles were weak, and Scarlett Johansson can never hope to live up to the likes of Mirren and Hopkins. While true to her role, her tendency to be modern was distracting, and made one wish an unknown had been cast instead of a pseudo-star. But, the quality of the starring roles, the interesting story, raw humor, and a great score by Danny Elfman, make this movie a must-see.

P.S. Sorry we missed you on the 25th, but we were taking a break from posting to enjoy the holidays with our families. Happy Boxing Day to all our Commonwealth friends!

Posted in In Theatres..., See It!, Watch it Now and tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,
21 Dec 2012

First Fridays at the MCA: December’s ‘White Out’

WHAT: First Fridays at the MCA: December’s ‘White Out’
WHEN: First Friday of every month
WHERE: Museum of Contemporary Art, Chicago (22 E. Chicago Ave)
HOST: Museum of Contemporary Art, Chicago

OUR RATING: Chance/Skip It!

Guests were encouraged to wear white at this month’s “White Out” First Fridays at the Museum of Contemporary Art, Chicago. For those of you who may not be familiar with this program, First Fridays is hosted by the museum on the first Friday of each month for anyone 21+. It’s meant to be a social-networking and cultural event and tickets ($14 advance, $18 at the door) include admission into the museum (and all of its galleries), live entertainment, complimentary hors d’oeuvres, and usually some games or crafts. There is also a cash bar for those who wish to imbibe.

Having some fun (courtesy of mammothbooth.com)

Having some fun (courtesy of mammothbooth.com)

This month’s event featured DJ Kid Color, MammothBooth photo and Swirlz Cupcakes. Guests were invited to make garlands at their holiday decor creation station and to search for white works of art for a chance to win prizes. There were also a few ‘white’ hors d’oeuvres passed around, including goat cheese and pomegranate seeds on small bites of toast, and chicken salad bites.

We have gone to quite a few of these events in past months, but it seems just as the economy has worsened, so have the offerings at First Fridays. There used to be a few tables of fresh veggies and dips, and other tables of hot and savory goodies and desserts, but this year there were two (or three?) not-so-hot appetizers and a table full of dry macaroons and brownies.

Alicia's sad cupcake

Alicia’s sad cupcake

Adam's sad cupcake

Adam’s sad cupcake

We hoped Swirlz Cupcakes would salvage the night. Instead, they offered three mini cupcakes that were all dry and totally boring. Alicia think’s she was supposed to have the vanilla twixie (vanilla cake, chocolate covered shortbread, salted caramel buttercream, caramel).  Not as exciting as it sounded. The other two were even less memorable.

One slight upside to the event was MammothBooth!, a photobooth of sorts where you take your own photos with a tiny remote and watch as the photos pop onto a screen in front of you. We took a few against a dizzy-ing black and white fun background. Pretty cool actually.

Kara Walker's "Presenting Negro Scenes Drawn Upon My Passage through the South and Reconfigured for the Benefit of Enlightened Audiences Wherever Such May Be Found, By Myself, Missus K.E.B. Walker, Colored", 1997Watercolor and paper on paper

Kara Walker’s “Presenting Negro Scenes Drawn Upon My Passage through the South and Reconfigured for the Benefit of Enlightened Audiences Wherever Such May Be Found, By Myself, Missus K.E.B. Walker, Colored”, 1997
Watercolor and paper on paper

Then there’s the museum itself, which as usual has a few exhibitions going on. Our favorite was probably the Ronan and Erwan Bouroullec: Bivouac exhibition, which brings strange and technical manufacturing structures to your everyday furniture and designs. A memorable piece was Clouds, pressed pieces of felt that were attached together to make multifaceted colorful walls.  Alicia was also a big fan of Kara Walker’s cut paper installation on the second floor, which measures 13 by 150 feet!

If you want to go to the museum anyways and have to pay an admission fee, go on First Fridays instead and mix some food, music and socializing into your night. Otherwise, this event is probably not worth the ticket price nor your use of a Friday night.

Posted in Do It!, Eat It!, Tours and Museums, Visual Arts and tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , ,
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)

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 , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,
13 Dec 2012

The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey (2012)

WHAT: The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey (2012)
WHEN: In theatres starting Friday, December 14
DIRECTOR: Peter Jackson
LANGUAGE: English
RUN TIME: 169 Minutes

OUR RATING: Do it!

Last night, we were invited to the special pre-screening of The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey and began our own overwhelming journey into the world of Middle-earth once more. For those of you who did not read the book (and shame on you for missing such a classic — go buy it now!), The Hobbit is set before The Lord of the Rings trilogy and is centered around Bilbo Baggins, a home-loving Hobbit who is unwillingly drawn into a quest led by a Dwarf band seeking to reclaim their gold and home from the evil dragon Smaug. Of course, with this film being in a trilogy, we only get the first segment.

The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey (photo courtesy of thehobbit.com)

The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey (photo courtesy of thehobbit.com)

Our immediate impression of the film was a sense of comfort: here we were, back in the Shire, listening the the story of Bilbo’s first adventure. Action soon follows, as you are plunged into the map beyond the Shire, were Bilbo must face all manner of foes, from the brutish Orcs, to the conniving Goblins and even living mountains themselves. Peter Jackson also manages to deliver us a healthy serving of humor throughout the adventure, more than enough to satisfy the most Dwarven of appetites.

Adam: The two star performances certainly come from Sir Ian McKellen (Gandalf) and Martin Freeman (Bilbo Baggins). Sir Ian’s marvelous good humour smattered with his wise and measured acting create the image of the archetypal wizard, who is both friend, grandfather and sage all in one. Freeman acts in his usual Freeman-esque style, with observations and exclamations in that tone of Watson we have become so familiar with during Sherlock. However, this translates well into the character of Bilbo, who somewhat mirrors Freeman’s transition from the Shire of the small screen to the Middle-earth of the big time.

I know a lot has been said about the choice to use 48-frames per second instead of the standard 24 frames per second, but I would like to get my two cents in briefly. It was certainly a daring move and one that should be applauded, for we must always experiment to move forward. Nevertheless, I felt that it removed from the epic nature of the film in some ways, and perhaps highlighted certain elements too much (such as make-up and sets).

Overall, the film was very good and I would highly recommend it. Go for it and have fun!

Alicia: If you really want to see this film, do it. I am so very glad I did, and I don’t want to ruin anyone’s expectations or desire to see this movie. However, ultimately, I was a bit disappointed, but I think that’s because my expectations were set so high because of how amazing the book was and how epic the LOTR film trilogy was.

Adam and I had the opportunity to discuss the film last night on the way home, and it was crazy how similar our reactions were to the film. There were two key elements that really degraded my experience. The first was what Adam mentioned: the choice to use 48-frames per second. Everyone is talking about it, but I have to admit I fully agree with A. A. Dowd from Time Out Chicago:

Long touted as the next frontier in filmmaking, the choice is meant to amplify the clarity of the 3-D effects. What 48fps mostly does is give the entire picture the too-smooth, hyperreal luster of a daytime soap.

For me, much of the magical fantasy (especially of the Shire scenes) was ruined because of these effects. I felt totally taken out of the movie in a very uncomfortable way. But not only was the film reminiscent of a soap opera, at the same time it was alarmingly similar to the world of, dare I say it, Harry Potter. The dwarves, the set, the filming. I wasn’t in the Tolkien universe anymore, but rather that of Rowling’s, especially with the comical nature of the Dwarven makeup and the Weasley-esque looking home of Radagast the Brown.

It’s much too painful to go further into this film’s ailments. I’ll stay on Jackson’s journey through the next two movies out of my nostalgic love for the story of The Hobbit, out of loyalty to the LOTR books and films, and of course the sheer desire to watch Sir Ian McKellen et. al. on screen.

The final say: Do it, no matter what we say.

Our ticket and special 3D glasses for the pre-screening!

Our ticket and special 3D glasses for the pre-screening!

P.S. We saw the screening for The Hobbit at the Kerasotes ShowPlace ICON Theatre in the South Loop. A very disappointing venue with extremely rude staff. Great seats with amazing armrests, but overwhelmingly a terrible experience due to poor management. Skip it and see The Hobbit elsewhere. This theater simply doesn’t deserve your patronage.

Posted in In Theatres..., See It! and tagged , , , , , , , , , , ,
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

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 , , , , , , , ,
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 , , , , , , , , ,

Post Navigation

Newer Entries →