items tagged with Patti Flaherty

As we’ve come to annually expect, there was practically no end to the highlights from this past year in area theatre.

The language of playwright Tracy Letts’ August: Osage County is loaded with layers of emotion underneath its dialogue. During New Ground Theatre’s opening performance on Friday, a few actors neglected the dark undertones, reciting their lines as if Letts’ words held nothing below the surface. Most, however, got to the heart of the script, impressively revealing the richness of the work through performances that ranged from subtle to over-the-top. While not perfect, the show deserved the standing ovation it got from the audience.

Genesius Guild's Ecclesiazusae is perhaps the most ridiculous thing I've ever seen on a local stage, and that's what I found so charming about it.
Read More About Jokers! Wild!: "Ecclesiazusae," At Lincoln Park Through August 8...

I arrived at Genesius Guild's Friday-night performance of A Midsummer Night's Dream 10 minutes prior to the start of the show. What would otherwise be adequate arrival time for most of the Guild's performances proved a problem for this one - I could not find a seat. Other than a few spots on the not-comfortable-enough-for-more-than-two-hours bleachers, the seats were filled. With patrons already staking out spots on the surrounding lawn, I was forced to return to my car, grab a lawn chair, and jockey for a position to best view the night's performance.
Read More About Puckishness: "A Midsummer Night’S Dream," At Lincoln Park Through July 11...

Attending the theatre is typically a form of escapism, a chance to get lost in the magic of the staging and performances. And then there's Moon Over Buffalo, one of those shows that doesn't just let you escape into it, but lets you in on the antics of what's going on off stage. It's a show about actors and their messed up, dramatic lives.