Stephen Sondheim and James Lapine’s musical Into the Woods premiered three years before Robert Bly’s Iron John sent men into the wilderness as part of the “mythopoetic men’s movement,” complete with sweat lodges, drum circles, chanting, and other rituals designed to restore a pre-industrialization notion of masculinity, combined with Joseph Campbell’s “hero’s journey” narratives. The […]
Tag: Larry Yando
Posted inArts & Culture
Beyond the mustache
Larry Yando has been a prominent presence on stages in Chicago and beyond for many years, including as Ebenezer Scrooge in the Goodman’s annual production of A Christmas Carol (this year marks his 15th outing). He plays Hercule Poirot in Agatha Christie’s Murder on the Orient Express at Drury Lane Theatre through October 23. (Read […]
Posted inTheater Review
Mystery train
It is 2022 still, so . . . a nostalgic romp through a bygone era with a whodunit twist? Bring it! Ken Ludwig transformed Agatha Christie’s novel into a riveting stage text. This timeless mystery is an examination of the limits of a justice system, which may account for its eternal appeal. I will say […]
Posted inArts & Culture
Emma has its charming moments, but little staying power
This musical take on Austen’s oft-adapted tale skims the surface.
Posted inArts & Culture
A famous French actress wears the pants onstage in Bernhardt/Hamlet
Theresa Rebeck’s comedy of sexual politics tests the limits of women in power.
Posted inArts & Culture
Writers Theatre’s Buried Child sacrifices Sam Shepard’s ghoulish humor for tragedy
But the performances are stellar in Kimberly Senior’s monumental staging.
Posted inArts & Culture
Thirteen holiday shows that will delight (or disgust or bore or just entertain) you
Hell in a Handbag’s 20th annual production of Rudolph the Red-Hosed Reindeer is among the yuletide highlights.
Posted inArts & Culture
Barney the Elf, Hellcab, and ten more new stage shows
The best-ever explanation for what makes reindeer fly and the 25th anniversary of a Chicago classic are among this week’s best bets.
Posted inArts & Culture
From Scrooge to the Snow Queen: eight stage shows for the holidays
The Goodman’s A Christmas Carol leads the seasonal onslaught.
Posted inArts & Culture
Chicago Shakespeare’s Tug of War: Civil Strife is a battle to engage in
The second half of Barbara Gaines’s epic adaptation compels—never mind the guitars or blood dripping from the wall.
Posted inArts & Culture
Fifteen holiday shows to see now
There’s a lot more out there than A Christmas Carol.
Posted inArts & Culture
Ain’t Misbehavin’, Arthur Miller’s Incident at Vichy, and 11 more new reviews
Ain’t Misbehavin’, Arthur Miller’s Incident at Vichy, and 11 more new reviews
Posted inArts & Culture
The Tempest works some real magic
Chicago Shakespeare’s star-powered production is even more than its celebrated parts.
Posted inArts & Culture
The silent half of Penn & Teller adds some magic to Shakespeare’s Tempest
Commonly interpreted as Shakespeare’s farewell to theater, The Tempest is the tale of a magician performing his final and greatest feat. Prospero plans to use skills acquired over a lifetime to put his wrecked world back together. When that’s accomplished, he promises, “I’ll break my staff, bury it certain fathoms in the earth, and deeper […]
Posted inColumns & Opinion
How to win at box-office bingo
Now that dynamic pricing has come to the arts, you can score cheap seats—or get priced out.