08 Jul 2019

Heart and Soldier: The Mississippi Bend Players’ “A Green River,” at Augustana College through July 14

By Madeline Dudziak

As a rule, I don’t give standing ovations. However, on Friday evening, I gave one of the most honest standing ovations of my life at A Green River, currently running at Augustana College care of the Mississippi Bend Players. Across the board, this show, directed by Philip Wm. McKinley, could have flown across a London sky via umbrella, because it was practically perfect.

08 Jul 2019

A Mile-Wide Grimm: “Into the Woods,” at the Timber Lake Playhouse through July 14

By Rochelle Arnold

What a magical Saturday afternoon I had at the Timber Lake Playhouse enjoying the company's latest summer production of Into the Woods, a storybook brought to life with fabulous fables and folk tales including those of Jack and the Beanstalk, Cinderella, Rapunzel, and Little Red Riding Hood.

08 Jul 2019

The Robe Warrior: “Joseph & the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat,” at the Clinton Area Showboat Theatre through July 21

By Pamela Briggs

If you know Joseph & the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat, you know it's a fun show. If you've seen the current troupe at the Clinton Area Showboat Theatre, you know how deep-down wonderful they are. And when this company took on this classic musical, I expected to be dazzled. I was, as was the capacity crowd for Saturday's opening matinée performance.

01 Jul 2019

Live and Let Dionysus: Genesius Guild’s “The Bacchae” at Lincoln Park through July 7

By Madeline Dudziak

Nestled between Lincoln Park’s tall, mature trees, a handful of patrons braved bugs and humidity to settle around the Don Wooten stage for Genesius Guild’s opening night performance of The Bacchae. It’s honestly a shame it wasn’t better attended, because director Patti Flaherty was at the helm of a glorious night of outdoor theatre.

24 Jun 2019

These Doors Are Made for Slamming, and That's Just What They'll Do: “Noises Off,” at the Timber Lake Playhouse through June 30

By Rochelle Arnold

Noises Off, by English playwright Michael Frayn, is a 1982 comedic farce of epic proportions, and you will likely either love this show or hate it. The guy sitting next to me, for instance, did not come back after intermission. The lady in front of me laughed hysterically. And an older fellow in the front row seemed to be dozing off. So there was definitely a wide range of audience reactions to this gag-filled production.

24 Jun 2019

Everything’s Swine: “The True Story of the Three Little Pigs,” at the Circa '21 Dinner Playhouse through July 6

By Madeline Dudziak

There are two sides to every story. And no matter what you think you know, the Circa '21 Dinner Playhouse’s delightful children’s show The True Story of the Three Little Pigs is here to lay the facts all out for you so you can decide for yourself.

24 Jun 2019

Ghostess with the Mostess: “Blithe Spirit,” at the Clinton Area Showboat Theatre through June 29

By Pamela Briggs

Noël Coward's 1941 comedy Blithe Spirit was adapted for film in 1945, as well as for television and radio and as a musical. It's been offered by multitudes of theatres, now including the Clinton Area Showboat Theatre – which proved, on Friday, that their production can stand with the best of them.

23 Jun 2019

Girls, Interrupted: “Little Women: The Musical,” at the Black Box Theatre through June 30

By Pamela Briggs

The opening-night, sell-out crowd filling the Black Box Theatre appeared engaged by, and mostly appreciative of, Little Women: The Musical. The talented cast performed with gusto, intelligence, and tenderness, as required. Unfortunately, however, the adaptation itself of the late-19th-century Louisa May Alcott classic left me disappointed overall.

17 Jun 2019

Be Their Guest: Quad City Music Guild’s “Beauty & the Beast” at the Prospect Park Auditorium through June 23

By Madeline Dudziak

Let’s just go ahead and say it: There was nothing inherently groundbreaking about director Bob Williams’ Beauty & the Beast at Quad City Music Guild. But, in this instance, saying that makes the show an unquestionable success.

17 Jun 2019

Grin and Barracks: The Mississippi Bend Players' “Biloxi Blues,” at Augustana College through June 23

By Rochelle Arnold

The Mississippi Bend Players' third season opened on Friday with Neil Simon's Biloxi Blues, a tribute to our military veterans and all the brave men and women who currently serve this great country. This second installment in Simon's semi-autobiographical comedic trilogy – one that begins with Brighton Beach Memoirs and concludes with Broadway Bound – had me rifling through my purse to find a tissue to dry my eyes, given that they were watering so much from laughter. Director and St. Ambrose University theatre professor Cory Johnson, who also gave us MBP's Brighton Beach in 2017, delivered a hilarious show that was not only extremely funny, but touched on some very serious subject matter.

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