30 Aug 2005

R.I.P. B&V

By Mike Schulz

Everyone has movies they love, but you don't often have loving feelings toward movie houses.

30 Aug 2005

Involvement Leads to Opportunity with St. Ambrose Theatre

By Mike Schulz

For students at Davenport's St. Ambrose University, the end of summer brings with it the usual. Buying books. Attending classes. Preparing for Urinetown.

30 Aug 2005

A First-Class McAdams in a Second-Rate "Red Eye": Also, "Four Brothers" and "Valiant"

By Mike Schulz

Rachel McAdams and Cillian Murphy in Red EyeRED EYE

Wes Craven's Red Eye is the beneficiary of an original, intriguing leading character and, in Rachel McAdams, exactly the right performer to play her. A good thing, too, because the movie doesn't have a lot else going for it.

23 Aug 2005

New Ground Gives Junior Theatre a Facelift

By Mike Schulz

Chris Jansen, the artistic director of the New Ground Theatre, is a self-described "Junior Theatre kid," and has the pictures to prove it. She thinks.

23 Aug 2005

The Accidental Activist

By Mike Schulz
Activism can sneak up on you. One year ago, Bettendorf musician A.J. Haut couldn't have imagined being the initiator of a benefit performance involving dozens of performers and nearly a thousand dollars in raffle merchandise.
23 Aug 2005

The Summer's Best Surprise Is a "40-Year-Old Virgin": Also, "A League of Ordinary Gentlemen"

By Mike Schulz

Steve Carell, Paul Rudd, Romany Malco, and Seth Rogen in The 40-Year-Old VirginTHE 40-YEAR-OLD VIRGIN

Considering the film's title, this might sound ludicrous. But in The 40-Year-Old Virgin, Steve Carell, playing our hapless hero Andrew, gives what might become a legendary comedic screen performance.

16 Aug 2005

CAST Delivers a "Beauty"-ful Season Closer: "Beauty & the Beast" at the Clinton Area Showboat Theatre

By Mike Schulz
In the Clinton Area Showboat Theatre's ingenious new production of Beauty & the Beast, the first things to catch your eye are a small bench located stage right and a large screen - it's nearly half the length of the stage - hanging upstage. On that screen is a rear projection of a rose, and it has a haunting, rough-edged quality; it looks like something that French waif on the Les Miz poster should be holding.
16 Aug 2005

A Dysfunctional Family You'd Want to Join: "Over the Tavern" at the Richmond Hill Barn Theatre

By Mike Schulz

At Friday's nearly sold-out performance of Over the Tavern at Richmond Hill's Barn Theatre, I found myself seated next to a charming couple who engaged me in conversation. I asked whether they had heard of the play previously, as Tom Dudzick's comedy was unfamiliar to me. The gentleman responded that he'd read a little bit about it, but his wife said, "Not me. I like being surprised."

16 Aug 2005

Rob Schneider's Penis Envy: "Deuce Bigalow: European Gigolo," "The Wild Parrots of Telegraph Hill," and "The Skeleton Key"

By Mike Schulz

Rob Schneider and Eddie Griffin in Deuce Bigalow: European GigoloDEUCE BIGALOW: EUROPEAN GIGOLO

Some comedies are so colossally, ridiculously unfunny that you're left with no choice but to stare at them in abject bewilderment. To the surprise of probably no one, Deuce Bigalow: European Gigolo is such a comedy. Yet the movie - and I hesitate to call it one - is actually far more intriguing than "colossally, ridiculously unfunny" would indicate.

16 Aug 2005

One-Woman Show Second to Nun: "Late Nite Catechism 2" at the Timber Lake Playhouse

By Mike Schulz
In all honesty, it might not be appropriate for me to critique the new production at the Timber Lake Playhouse, considering that at Saturday night's performance I was in it. Then again, we all were.

Pages

Subscribe & Listen to Reader Podcasts

On Stands Now

 

Tagged Content

Two Ways to Subscribe

1. Subscribe to free weekly e-mail content updates.

You'll get both the current official narrative challenge and What's Happenin' in the Quad Cities.
(Did you know we publish a new Amy Alkon Advice Goddess, Real Astrology, Red Meat cartoon and RCR Crossword every week?) 

* indicates required

View previous campaigns.

2. Get 12 monthly issues mailed first class for $48

Get 12 issues mailed monthly for $48 per year.

Get the printed Reader edition mailed to you (or anyone you want) first-class for 12 months for $48.
$24 goes to postage and handling, $24 goes to keeping the doors open!

Click this link to Subscribe now.