I had a novel idea. A friend of mine is on a vacation to Europe. One of her first stops was Dublin, in part to celebrate Bloomsday, June 16. The single day in 1904 on which James Joyce’s set Ulysses. All 265,222 words of it. Of course, it took Joyce about 7 years to write… Continue Reading
In time for Valentine’s Day, Steppenwolf Theatre Company recently opened its run of August Strindberg’s “The Dance of Death.” As the J Geils Band put it way back in 1980, love stinks. It’s a battlefield. In this case, it smells a bit Irish, too. Written in 1900, Strindberg’s play involves Edgar, a rapidly… Continue Reading
Amadeus is mostly BS. That may be the point. Sure, the production playing at the Steppenwolf through Sunday, Jan. 25 is well-staged. The acting’s topnotch in that meat-and-potatoes way that’s earned the troupe its solid reputation. My Irish buddy Shay and I took in a recent Sunday matinee of Amadeus. Understudy and fight… Continue Reading
Fool for Love at the Steppenwolf ain’t exactly a romantic play to take your date to see on Valentine’s Day. If you do that, you and your date might wind up asking each other to take a DNA test before proceeding any further with the relationship. See, Fool for Love involves a cowboy… Continue Reading
There aren’t any bears living along Little Bear Ridge Road, the new play by Samuel Hunter running at the Steppenwolf through Aug. 4. I was disappointed. Bears are having their pop culture moment. Of course, here in Chicago, the Bears are basically the Taylor Swift of sports. There’s The Bear on Hulu. I haven’t… Continue Reading
Holidays are pretty damn weird. Let’s start with the most recent one, Memorial Day. Sure, there were plenty of events held to honor soldiers who died in battle. I attended one myself. Then I went shopping at Kohl’s, lured into the store by emailed coupons, promises of discounts and the chance to obtain… Continue Reading
After a two-year, COVID-19-related hiatus, Irish Theatre of Chicago recently returned to the stage with Brian Friel’s Molly Sweeney. The drama runs now through May 8 at the Chopin Theatre in Wicker Park. Mounting a show in what are sort-of post-pandemic times has been amazing and terrifying, said the show’s director, Siiri Scott. “We test… Continue Reading