Critic's notebook
Here is a look at currently running plays recently reviewed by the Daily Herald.
"Between Barack and a Hard Place," Second City Theatre, 1616 N. Wells St., Chicago. Second City sends up Illinois' junior senator in its 94th revue featuring requisite jabs at pop culture and politics. Showtimes: 8 p.m. Tuesdays through Thursdays, 8 and 11 p.m. Fridays and Saturdays, 7 p.m. Sundays; open run. Running time: About 1 hour, 45 minutes, including intermission. Parking: Paid lots nearby. Tickets: $17-$25. Rating: For adults. Box office: (312) 337-3992 or www.secondcity.com. Reviewed by Scott Morgan. ..½
"The Color Purple," Cadillac Palace Theatre, 151 W. Randolph St., Chicago. The musical homage to female empowerment adapted from Alice Walker's Pulitzer Prize-winning novel -- with a pastiche of a score featuring pop, blues and gospel -- is masterfully executed by director Gary Griffin and wonderfully entertaining thanks to knockout performances by Jeannette Bayardelle as Celie and Chicago's own Felicia P. Fields as Sofia. Showtimes: 7:30 p.m. Tuesdays and Thursdays, 2 and 7:30 p.m. Wednesdays, 8 p.m. Fridays, 2 and 8 p.m. Saturdays, 2 p.m. Sundays; through Sept. 30. Running time: About 2 hours, 40 minutes, including intermission. Parking: Paid lots nearby. Tickets: $28-$85. Rating: Suitable for teens and older. Box office: (312) 902-1400 or www.broadwayinchicago.com. Reviewed by Barbara Vitello. ...½
"Fool for Love," Chopin Theatre, 1543 W. Division St., Chicago. Sam Shepard's taut, foreboding drama about impossible love, sexual attraction, betrayal and abandonment gets a streamlined revival -- relentlessly performed per the playwright's directions -- courtesy of Signal Ensemble Theatre. Director Ronan Marra's lean, unfussy production is immensely satisfying and reflects a world-weariness that suits sometime lovers Eddie (a shrewd, sincere Aaron Snook) and May (Simone Roos, who reveals the tough core beneath the character's vulnerable exterior). Showtimes: 8 p.m. today and Saturday. Running time: About 55 minutes, no intermission. Parking: Street and metered parking nearby. Tickets: $10-$20. Rating: Suitable for adults, includes strong language, violence, sexual situations, incest. Box office: (773) 347-1350 or www.signalensemble.com. Reviewed by Barbara Vitello. ...
"The Fool (Returns to His Chair)," The Neo-Futurarium, 5153 N. Ashland Ave., Chicago. Don't look for a profound meaning in the Neo-Futurists unique and oblique examination of fools in their various social and historical incarnations. Just enjoy the ride, which unfolds as a series of quirky and imaginative vignettes. Showtimes: 8 p.m. Thursdays to Saturdays; through Sept. 29. Running time: About 90 minutes, no intermission. Parking: Street parking available. Tickets: $10-$15. Rating: For adults, contains violence, mature subject matter, sexual situations. Box office: (773) 275-5255 or www.neofuturists.org. Reviewed by Barbara Vitello. ..½
"Lookingglass Alice," Lookingglass Theatre, Water Tower Water Works, 821 N. Michigan Ave., Chicago. The captivating Lauren Hirte reprises her role as Alice in Lookingglass Theatre's remount of its fanciful and physical 2005 collaboration with The Actors Gymnasium incorporating circus arts and Cirque du Soleil-inspired stunts. Inspired by Lewis Carroll's "Alice's Adventures in Wonderland" and "Through the Looking Glass," this meticulously conceived (by director/adapter David Catlin) and magnificently executed (by a gifted cast) show is not to be missed. 7 p.m. today, 3 and 8 p.m. Saturday and 3 p.m. Sunday. Running time: About 95 minutes, no intermission. Parking: Paid lots nearby. Tickets: $20-$58. Rating: For all ages. Box office: (312) 337-0665 or www.lookingglasstheatre.org. Reviewed by Barbara Vitello. ....
"Measure for Measure," Elgin Art Showcase, 164 Division St., Elgin. For its first foray into Shakespeare, Janus Theatre tackles this problem play, a contrary comedy about morality, justice, hypocrisy and the exercise of power. Effectively staged by Terry Domschke, Janus' production measures up thanks to first-rate work from supporting players Scott Mills and James Lundstrom and principles able to wrap their minds and tongues around Shakespeare's language. Showtimes: 8 p.m. today and Saturday and 3 p.m. Sunday. Running time: About 2 hours, 30 minutes, including intermission. Parking: Street parking and nearby lots. Tickets: $15, $12. Rating: Suitable for teens and older. Box office: (847) 931-0637 or www.janustheatre.org. Reviewed by Barbara Vitello. ...
"The Odd Couple," Drury Lane Oakbrook, 100 Drury Lane, Oakbrook Terrace. Drury Lane delivers a safe, respectable revival of Neil Simon's 1965 comedy about a pair of divorced men -- a neat-freak and a slob -- trying to co-exist without driving each other crazy. Director Greg Kolack and leads Norm Boucher and Dan Rodden make the most of this comic chestnut. Showtimes: 1:30 p.m. Wednesdays, 1:30 and 8 p.m. Thursdays, 8:30 p.m. Fridays, 5 and 8:30 p.m. Saturdays, 2 p.m. Sundays; through Oct. 7. Running time: About 2 hours, 30 minutes, including intermissions. Parking: Free lot adjacent to theater. Tickets: $25-$50. Rating: For most ages. Box office: (630) 530-0111 or www.drurylaneoakbrook.com. Reviewed by Scott Morgan. ..½
"Three Sisters," Gift Theatre, 4802 N. Milwaukee Ave., Chicago. Gift Theatre makes the most of its intimate space, delivering a solid, resourcefully staged production of Chekhov's drama about well-educated, once-privileged young women unhappily living in the Russian countryside who long to return to their beloved Moscow. Showtimes: 8 p.m. Thursdays to Saturdays, 3 p.m. Sundays; through Sept. 30. Running time: About 2 hours, 40 minutes, including intermission. Parking: Street parking. Tickets: $20-$25. Rating: For teens and older. Box office: (773) 283-7071 or www.thegfittheatre.org. Reviewed by Barbara Vitello. ...