13 Jun 2007

Making "Moon" Shine: "King o' the Moon," at the Richmond Hill Barn Theatre through June 17

By Mike Schulz

Angela Rathman, Chris White, Ryan Anderson, and Matt GerardI've seen plenty of stage sitcoms over the years, but based on Over the Tavern and its sequel, King o' the Moon - currently playing at the Richmond Hill Barn Theatre - Tom Dudzick appears to be that rare stage-sitcom creator with soul.

28 Feb 2007

Throne for a Loop: "King Henry the Fourth," at the Rock Island Masonic Temple through March 4

By Mike Schulz

Jeff DeLeon and Jeremy Mahr in King Henry the Fourth, the Prenzie Players' second presentation in their Henriad trilogy, opened on Friday, and let me preface by admitting that I have a tougher time composing reviews for this troupe's productions than for any other area organization. When faced, in show after show, with such imagination and daring and passion, where does one start?

08 Nov 2005

Making Fiction Out of Fact: New Ground Theatre's "Promise Ring"

By Mike Schulz
It's no newsflash that playwrights often find inspiration in their personal pasts, and use young leading characters as theatrical alter egos; if you want to better understand Tennessee Williams, listen to Tom's monologues in The Glass Menagerie, or watch Edmund's scenes in Long Day's Journey into Night for greater insight into Eugene O'Neill.
13 Sep 2005

"Noises Off," Ghostlight Is On

By Mike Schulz
As the adage goes, "Dying is easy; comedy is hard." Noises Off sure is. Saying that Michael Frayn's farce requires precision is like saying a fish requires water or Jennifer Lopez requires publicity; the show's very survival rests on the hairbreadth timing of its repartee and comic business. Frayn's work is so tightly structured and its momentum so dizzying that the slightest inappropriate pause can completely knock you out of the show's rhythm, and so I applaud Ghostlight Theatre for not only for tackling the script but often triumphing with it. Dying is easy, comedy is hard, and Noises Off is freakin' hard.

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