Chicago tips

You Absolutely Must See "The Sparrow"

theater

Normally I never patronize the Apollo Theater on Lincoln Avenue since to my mind it's synonymous with commercial theater and therefore its productions are not likely to coincide much with my taste.

But we'd heard about "The Sparrow" and missed it at its original Viaduct Theater venue, then messed up again when it was invited to the Steppenwolf Garage.  This is a work by the talented House Theater of Chicago and not to be missed theater.

The story was written by House members Chris Mathews, Jake Minton and director Nathan Allen. The choregraphy of the ensemble is in tune with the plot and a compelling video component expands upon it.  The staging is properly minimal.  The cast works beautifully together and the talented Carolyn Defrin is a likely unlikely "sparrow."

It's your job to unravel the story which is contemporary and timeless simultaneously and set in a small town in Illinois.

I'm guessing this production will be headed for New York once it completes its run here.  So far it's scheduled through December.

The Apollo Theater is at 2540 N. Lincoln and, you guessed it, tickets are available through ticketmaster.

"Tranquillity Woods" Is A Real Must At Steppenwolf Garage

theater, current calendar

Tranquillity Woods is the new play by one of my all time favorite playwrights, Chicagoan Joel Drake Johnson.  It is directed by Sandy Shinner.  If you've heard that Chicago can be home to some of the best original theater in the country, and I think that's the truth, here's a chance to experience something very special in its' workshop version.

The play is on the boards right now, for a very short time, in rotating repertory at Steppenwolf's Garage Theater and part of its' 3rd Annual First Look Repertory of New Work there. 

Personally I don't applaud all Steppenwolf plays since many are mainstream efforts geared to mainstream audiences and, let's not kid ourselves, that kind of thing keeps S afloat.

Johnson's work, however is definitely not mainstream.  The characters at first seem bizarre and off the wall but suddenly you realize they are meant to depict a world we all know but often fear facing.  So, I'd say this work is all about honesty, often jarringly so.  You can always count on comedy and tragedy in Johnson's work.  He has an uncanny ability to search out the hidden truth in life's dramatic and everyday moments.

Joel will have a new play premiering at Victory Gardens in the spring of 2008 also directed by Sandy Shinner and another play, The End Of The Tour will be presented by the Road Theater in Los Angeles in January.  He recently retired from Stevenson High School in Lincolnshire where he taught theater and playwriting classes.  As a farewell gift, his students presented him with a Shi-tzu named Adlai, a favorite gift.

After you've seen the play, send me your comments.  That way Joel can see them too.

I should add, there are two other plays in this festival of developing productions.  Tickets are $15 each.  For more info, access www.steppenwolf.org/boxoffice and click on Joel Johnson's photo, just like the one above, courtesy Steppenwolf.