WHAT: Pizzeria Via Stato (Part of Osteria Via Stato) WHERE: 620 North State St.
OUR RATING: Do it!
(photo courtesy of osteriaviastato.com)
If you want to enjoy a casual meal in an intimate and traditional setting, Pizzeria Via Stato, the lunch section of Osteria Via Stato, is the perfect combination of downtown dining at lunchable prices. From delicious pizza to healthful salads, we’re sure this pizzeria will pique the fancy of even the most seasoned traveler of the Italian peninsula (and, trust us, we’ve both trekked through it).
The room was a bit dark, but tread a nice border between being intimate and fun, almost with an upscale tavern feeling. Your table, made from recycled wine boxes, is laid in a simple style, with the essential Mediterranean garnish of bread (crusty and warm!) and olive oil. As far as prices go, salads averaged at around $8, sandwiches around $10 and pizzas around $12.
Adam chose to order the simple mushroom tavern pizza. Topped with tomato sauce, mushrooms, vidalia onions, and mozzarella, this pizza’s crisp and light crust proved a welcome change from the heavy (and, might we say, stodgier) offerings of the deep dish available elsewhere in town. Although not identified specifically, the mushrooms seem to have been the common white variety and added an earthy level to the overall flavors. This was complemented by the sweet vidalias that lent this uniquely Italian dish a hint of the American. The mozzarella brought the whole confection back to its Italian routes. Overall the pizzas were generously sized and more than enough for one person (we would consider either splitting or taking some home in the future).
(photo courtesy of osteriaviastato.com)
Meanwhile, Alicia ordered the chopped salad with romaine, roasted chicken and a sweet mustard vinaigrette, which was amazingly delicious. The salad was gigantic and the roasted chicken practically melted in your mouth along with the sweet mustard vinaigrette, which fortunately did not overdress the romaine. All of this was complemented by the lovely crunch of fresh celery. They went a little heavy on the parmesan cheese, but other than that, it was definitely a must-order.
Experience an Italy more intimate than Little Italy and try Pizzeria Via Stato!
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)
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
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”, 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.
OURRATINGS: Drumbar – Chance It!
Glenfiddich Single Malt Scotch Whiskey – Do It!
more cupcakes – Do It!
A few weeks ago, Storefront City attended CheekyChicago’s “Sweet on Scotch” at Drumbar Chicago in the Raffaello Hotel and sampled several of Glenfiddich’s finest single malt Scotch whiskeys while consuming perfectly paired cupcakes from more cupcakes (located at 1 East Delaware Place) with each draught.
Drumbar is a secluded and elegant locale that seems to perfectly blend the elements of a speakeasy and lounge all wrapped up with the silver bow of having skyscraper views. Very nice indeed!
Drumbar (courtesy of drumbar.com)
After checking our coats at the door, the chaos began. It seemed everyone was invited and it took some time to find our places. We tried the mixed drink of the night, “Sweet Cheeks,” a mix of the Glenfiddish 12 year, pineapple, acai, lime and angostura bitters. Adam was unimpressed: low alcohol, low flavor and highly carbonated–if he wanted to drink college punch, he’d not be attending a swanky bar downtown. Alicia was of a different opinion, and found the drink refreshing without filling her with too much alcohol before the whiskey flight to come.
“Sweet on Cheeks” (courtesy of cheekychicago.com)
Even if the drink was a bit disappointing overall, this was not a good representation of the night to come. Glenfiddich did a great job at presenting each scotch and cupcake in an interesting and amusing manner. Our truly Scottish host taught us how to “nose” the scotch (aka take a sniff) and savor the many and varied flavors of the delightful tumblerful. The cupcakes were an interesting combo–we’re doubtful if a Scotsman would approve–but they seemed well matched and perhaps create an interesting concept for future food-scotch pairings.
(Courtesy of cheekychicago.com)
The flights started off with the Glenfiddich 12 year and more’s caramel cupcake. Glenfiddich’s signature malt, the 12 year was surprisingly fruity, and balanced a complex taste of pear and a mixture of butterscotch and oak. We were disappointed by the vanilla cake and caramel frosting cupcake though, which neither tasted extraordinary on its own, nor paired well with the 12 year.
Next was the 15 year and more’s chocolate orange cupcake, our favorite duo of the night. The honeyed single malt was composed of whiskies matured and bourbon, sherry and new oak casks in a Solera vat, which, according to our host, is always kept at least half full. Honey and vanilla came through, along with a little cinnamon. It went amazing with the cupcake, which was light, moist and creamy, with a chew of candied orange.
Our Host from Glenfidditch (courtesy of cheekychicago.com)
Decadence ensued with the Glenfiddich 18 year (matured in Oloroso sherry and bourbon casks and tasting of baked apple with an aroma of oak) and more’s Valrhona cupcake (dark chocolate cake filled with Valrhona chocolate mousse and topped with a rich Valrhona ganache and gold leaf). The pairing went nicely, and by now we were enjoying a slight swoon from the whiskey and chocolate.
“Sweet on Scotch” flight (courtesy of cheekychicago.com)
We ended the night with the Glenfiddich Malt Master and more’s coconut cupcake. The Malt Master is double matured in two types of oak casks, creating an earthy and smoky aroma with a smooth spicy and fruity taste. The coconut cupcake was topped with a generous and lovely coconut cream frosting — delicious!
All in all, we would go to Drumbar again for the atmosphere, but only for a free event. Drinks overall were watery and overpriced. We would always buy a bottle of Glenfiddich anyway, so no change there, but Cheeky did do a good job of introducing us to a new way of enjoying the water of life for the modern cosmopolitan soul.
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!
WHAT: Forever Yogurt‘s Froth (Hot Chocolate) Station WHERE: Lakeview’s Forever Yogurt (931 W. Belmont Ave)
OUR RATING: Do it!
Lakeview’s Forever Yogurt (courtesy of foreveryogurt.com)
Feeling the cold and (upcoming) snow this winter? Need a moment to relax, rejuvenate and warm up? Look no further than Forever Yogurt Froth Hot Chocolate station at the store’s Lakeview location on Belmont. We love this location generally, as it is perfectly designed to mimic the interior of a CTA underground carriage, seats and all. Not too glamorous you say (we know, the CTA is rather terrible lately), but somehow it works. Froth stations are also available at Forever Yogurts in Wicker Park (1924 W. North Ave.) and the Gold Coast (42 E. Chicago Ave.).
Friendly staff will give you a wide range of options for your Froth Hot Chocolate, including the Steam Engine with Hershey’s chocolate, the Cliffhanger with Andes mint and PB Confidential with Reese’s peanut butter cups. The fun names are just half of it.
The quality of the hot chocolate is superb. You won’t see any hot chocolate powder mix or flavoured syrups here. Your steamy cup of hot chocolate is made with the pure melted chocolate of your choice along with either whole, two percent, soy or skim milk. After we ordered our chosen manner of death-by-chocolate, we took a seat as the staff created our drinks.
Froth topping station
Once our cocoa was mixed and melted into our generous-sized cups, we took a trip to the topping station. If we were overwhelmed with the chocolate choices before, the toppings just blew our world. Toppings included different types of candy including reese’s pieces and butterfingers, nuts, marshmallows, various spices, and chocolate and caramel syrups. Our only disappointment was the distinct lack of whipped cream, which we hear is present at other locations. Perhaps they will order it in soon.
Hazelnut Boulevard & Abuelita hot chocolates
Adam ordered the Hazelnut Boulevard with Nutella, topped it off with marshmallows, cinnamon and even salt! Meanwhile, Alicia ordered the Abuelita Mexican hot chocolate and topped it with cayenne pepper, cinnamon, sea salt and a healthy dose of marshmallows. We settled down to a pleasant sipping that the CTA certainly wouldn’t allow on its carriages. All we can say is that the Mayans would be super stoked to imbibe these sweet treats!
Maza Lebanese Cuisine provides a pleasant diversion from the general rush of life in the city and allows one to slow down in the lazy Levantine coffee houses of the Near East, complete with the dulcet tones of the Egyptian Hakim blaring from a stereo with no discernible iPod deck. With an extensive menu featuring staple delights from Falafel to baklava as well as some strange additions (why would you ever order filet mignon at a Lebanese restaurant?), Maza is sure to please some, but portion sizes and preparations leave a lot to be desired.
Imam Bayaldi
We started our meal with a cold appetizer of Imam Bayaldi (braised eggplant with shallots and chickpeas in tomato and pomegranate sauce), which was delightfully delicate, but unfortunately small, with little to no pomegranate sauce, chickpeas or shallots. In fact, it was pretty much just eggplant in tomato sauce. They also brought a little plate of pickled vegetables, which were quite lovely.
Lentil Soup
We followed this with the best dish of the night: a tomato-based lentil soup. The soup was on the ‘almost too salty/just right’ border, but really was music in our mouths. We could definitely have eaten a few bowls of it, called it a night, and been perfectly happy.
Instead, for the main course, Adam tried the baked kibbeh (baked mixture of wheat and chopped sirloin of beef layers stuffed with minced sirloin of lamb, shallots, spices and pine nuts, with a side of yogurt). It was a good size for a main course, compared with other dishes at this restaurant and left one full afterwards. However, the meat was sorely disappointing and not consistently cooked throughout, leaving parts of it unbearably tough. While it may have been an off night, as the properly cooked areas were delicious, the overcooked portions truly degraded the nature of the food.
Baked Kibbeh (top) and Seafood Couscous (bottom)
Meanwhile, Alicia tried the seafood couscous (a combination of marinated jumbo shrimp, scallops and salmon fillet, grilled and set over couscous, topped with the chef’s sauce, complimented with braised vegetable). The plating portion in its entirety was quite generous. Unfortunately, while many of the components of the dish were well cooked (particularly the braised potatoes and carrots), this dish was disappointing because it consisted of a mere single shrimp and single scallop, and the couscous was a bit dry. The chef lovingly placed about 4 ounces or-so of melt-in-your mouth salmon, and the single shrimp and scallop were delicate and delicious, but that didn’t forgive the limited amount of shellfish on the plate. The menu promised scallops, plural. Overall, the dish was acceptable, but Alicia suggests you skip it if you’re in it for the shellfish.
Baklava and Lebanese Coffee
We finished the night with a traditional baklava – two delicious and not too sweet pieces. Although absolutely tiny for $3 (especially at a Middle Eastern restaurant), they had a unique taste, and if you have more money try a double order to really get your tongue singing. We also had two dark and sumptuous Lebanese (Turkish) coffees, which we would recommend you dump at least one Splenda packet into in order to enjoy in the traditional style.
What’s so unique about this restaurant is that Joe (the owner) is also your waiter. He was assisted by another waiter/busboy who was always waiting nearby to satisfy your every need in a non-intrusive, but immediate, manner. Maybe it was because we had a Groupon, or maybe because we didn’t order any alcohol, but we felt that Joe was much more amenable to the other customers in the restaurant than he was to us. While he was polite, he was also very short, and awkwardly looked into the distance when he spoke to us, as if he had better things to do. Yet at other tables he joked, talked to customers about what dishes he would recommend, etc. Overall, while we didn’t feel unwelcome, we also didn’t really feel welcome either. Which is unfortunate. You’d think the owner would want to give his customers the best of experiences to make them come back again and to spread the word…but I don’t think Joe really cared what we thought.
If you want a leisurely meal (be prepared to wait awhile for your food) at a reasonable price with some pretty-good/alright food in an intimate space, you can chance it!
WHAT: ZooLights WHEN: Nov 23–25, 30; Dec 1–2, 7–9, 14–16, 21–23, 26–31; Jan 1–6 from 5-9pm WHERE: Lincoln Park Zoo (2001 N. Clark St.) HOST: Lincoln Park Zoo (Presented by ComEd and Charter One)
OUR RATING: Do It!
ZooLights at Lincoln Park Zoo
When Lincoln Park Zoo does something, it goes all out! This year’s ZooLights at the Lincoln Park Zoo is a free and fun way to spend your evenings during the holiday season that will literally light up your night. With thousands of lights and displays illuminating every tree, building and branch in the zoo, and the care a precision taken to mount them, this attraction is one of Chicago’s finest, and highly recommended for families and kids of all ages.
We entered the ZooLights knowing what to expect, but were even more amazed than we could have imagined: lights everywhere, the smell of spiced wine, and the cry of the black howler monkeys hit you in a succession of waves. In a way, you might think that the jungle meets Christmas schtick is a little bizarre, but it works just as well as George of the Jungle on a snowy night, which means fun for everyone.
Lincoln Park ZooLights (courtesy of lpzoo.org and Todd Rosenberg Photography)
And there really is plenty to do: kids can have their picture taken with Santa until December 23rd, before he has to jet off around the world delivering presents. Holiday crafts and demonstrations are everywhere, with professional ice sculptors showing you every detail of their craft. There are also alcoholic holiday favourites for the grown-ups and plenty of food for sale.
The focal point of ZooLights is probably the musical light display, which changes soundtracks every 30 seconds or so, going from your more dreamy “White Christmas” to the holly jolly “Rudolph the Red-nosed Reindeer,” all synced with lights at the south end of the park. Other light highlights include light tunnels (where you are surrounded by over 100 feet of lights), a beautiful tree with LED lights that look like dripping icicles and some pretty awesome neon zebra. Apparently, the first 1,000 guests each night also receive their cool holiday specs to check out the lights.
ZooLights at Lincoln Park Zoo
The magic of the ZooLights never seems to diminish and this might be related to the human fascination with the conquest of nature: bringing light to the dark, the otherworldly glow dispelling our fears of the dark. But, at Lincoln Park Zoo, human ingenuity and natural beauty complement each other in an almost symbiotic relationship: the lights simply would not be special without the majesty of the zoo backing them.
So, grab a loved one, your family or just a pack of friends and head to Lincoln Park Zoo tonight for an unforgettable holiday staple of the Chicago winter season.
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)
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!
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.
In the spirit of the season, we ventured to the centre of Chicago and explored the institution that is the Christkindlmarket. For those of you who don’t know, Christkindlmarket is a traditional German-American outdoor market that appears every year on the Daley Plaza in Downtown Chicago. Inspired by the Christkindlesmarkt in Nuremberg, Germany, which began in 1545, Chicago’s version of the market was first held in 1996, and has been held every year since. Bringing the European tradition of Christmas to the bitterly cold Midwest, such a market is not out of place in this wintery city.
Photo courtesy of Christkindlmarket Chicago
Adam: As we wandered through the quaint little town of temporary stalls and heated cabins, one cannot help but be transported to the heart of Europe, full of traditions of all sorts, from the beers of Schonwald and the Gluhwein of Nuremberg, to the stollen of Dinkel’s Bakery (which Alicia insists we go back for, particularly the Pecan strudel the Chicagoist raves about), Chicago and onto the more exotic heights of Nepal and Ecuador for some warm native goods. You don’t have to be German or even Christian to appreciate the artistry of some of the products on offer here, with entire stores dedicated to holiday ornaments that vary from the everyday (reindeer and stars) to the slightly bizarre (hamburgers and fries). While prices are steep, with ornaments setting you back at least $5 for the smallest of pieces, enthusiasts will revel in the sheer variety and quality offered.
Some of the more notable vendors included Honey Bee Enterprises, selling a variety of bee-based goodies, Fehrenbach Family Cuckoo Clocks, Dinkel’s Bakery (slices of stollen or strudel at $3–a great deal!), Teagschwendner, and, of course, the numerous stalls wafting delicious scents our way.
Alicia: And who can travel their way through this German market without grabbing a boot full of glühwein (hot mulled wine) or cold German beer? We could, but that doesn’t mean you should. You might want to grab a pint to go with those steaming hot plates of sauerkraut you just can’t take your eyes off of.
For the little ones, staff hand out Christkind Crowns and Passport activity books everyday to provide some extra entertainment. Or, visit Santa’s House (Fri, Sat & Sun until Dec 23, and X-Mas Eve). Plus, you can’t miss the giant Christmas tree, perhaps the most spectacular focal point of the market.
Yes, everything is overpriced and just not quite up to par with my family’s German cooking, but it really does hit the spot and bring back memories of my Grandfather’s sauerkraut and weißwürste, and of the beautiful glass-blown and hand-carved wood ornaments we placed on the tree every Christmas when I was growing up. I go back to Christkindlmarket every year and it only serves to ignite my passion for my heritage and my family traditions.
Photo courtesy of Christkindlmarket Chicago
The final say: Need we say more? Grab a friend or loved one and share in the holiday spirit. The warm weather is calling to you.
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.
