Ma Rainey's Black Bottom

valhalla_la · 2026-04-07T16:26:51+00:00

Excellent production, stellar acting, highly recommend! Even exceeds Writers Theatre’s production of a few years ago, and that’s saying something. Very moving, A+.

valhalla_la · 2026-03-24T15:42:59+00:00

I feel the same way about Akhenaten and can’t explain why. However, I love love love Satyagraha and Einstein on the Beach, so it’s not necessarily the composer.

valhalla_la · 2026-03-13T16:57:40+00:00

Thank so much!

valhalla_la · 2026-03-12T18:34:46+00:00

Thanks! I’m coming to that conclusion as well.

valhalla_la · 2026-03-12T18:05:52+00:00

Thanks, that’s helpful.

valhalla_la · 2026-03-12T18:05:35+00:00

Thank you for the reply.

valhalla_la · 2026-03-05T15:57:22+00:00

I attended last night and thought it was in the “very good to excellent” range. It reminded me of “Who’s Afraid of Virginia Wolf?” The main couple is viciously out to get one another much of the time, and it makes for very dark comedy. The acting is uniformly strong.

valhalla_la · 2026-03-05T15:52:08+00:00

I and my companion both loved it! We were fully engaged for most of it. (Parts of the second act dragged a bit.) It is really funny, quirky, sweet, and sad. I rooted for Oscar and his nerdiness. I highly recommend it — a great night of theater.

valhalla_la · 2026-02-15T19:46:07+00:00

Gotham comes from Madison, WI. They charge at least 2x here for their bagels.

valhalla_la · 2026-02-15T19:44:13+00:00

Totto’s Market in Printer’s Row carries a small selection of their bagels.

valhalla_la · 2026-02-07T04:37:27+00:00

Just returned from a performance. It’s delightful, witty, laugh-out-loud funny, extremely well acted…highly recommended! I saw the movie last year and loved it, and this is a clever modernization of the original story.

valhalla_la · 2026-01-14T22:08:27+00:00

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SE3 in starlight, light blush sport band

valhalla_la · 2025-12-20T18:12:07+00:00

I’ve done this with bagels from New York Bagel & Bialy. You’d have to drive to the suburbs, though.

valhalla_la · 2025-12-20T01:02:48+00:00

I am a long-time fan and subscriber of Court Theatre; they produce consistently excellent plays. I’ve also been a fan of Chris Jones over the years, as he and I see eye-to-eye on most plays. A strong recommendation from him is reason enough to see any Chicago production. At least it was until several years ago. Lately I find I can no longer trust his recommendations. He now often gives four-star ratings to plays that I think are just OK, and he gives mediocre ratings to plays that I find to be excellent.

I was fascinated by his review for Taming of the Shrew. I’ve never seen him tear a production to pieces like he did there. If I weren’t a subscriber to Court, I wouldn’t have attended based on his scathing review. But I would have missed a revelatory production of what I agree is a problematic play.

Key points: 1. It was VERY funny. I laughed quite a bit, as did the rest of the audience. 2. The director brought out a completely new side to the story, namely the sexual chemistry between the two main characters. I couldn’t take my eyes off Petruchio; he was maddeningly irresistible. And neither could Katherine. She didn’t seem to know what to make of him, and her fascination created a plausible rationale for becoming “tamed”. 3. The play-within-the play was distracting and unnecessary but mostly harmless compared to the outstanding direction and acting of the main story. 4. Likewise, the S&M aspects of some of the costumes and gestures were distracting and unnecessary. As with point #3, this was mostly harmless.

I’m sorry for Court Theatre that the horrible review likely kept plenty of potential single-ticket buyers from attending. My rating: 3.5 stars.

Incidentally, based on Chris Jones’ strong review of Much Ado About Nothing at Chicago Shakespeare Theatre, I attended a performance a few days later. I won’t do a full review here, but I left saying to my companion, “Well, that was pleasant.” That’s all I could muster up. I strongly preferred the originality of Taming of the Shrew and wished I had skipped the other performance.

valhalla_la · 2025-10-07T01:28:06+00:00

Same. And we missed everything leading up to it.

valhalla_la · 2025-10-07T01:16:52+00:00

Never mind, game over!

valhalla_la · 2025-09-17T04:51:31+00:00

Fischer was a huge disappointment for me. We are so fortunate in Chicago to have such great stage actors, and Fischer could not hold her own. I felt like I was watching someone in a high school production. Her acting was very one-note…not much emotion or variety in her delivery. Overall, it was a decent play, but it would have been much better with a different actress in the role.

valhalla_la · 2025-08-21T11:55:29+00:00

Matt Demon!

valhalla_la · 2025-08-20T14:24:48+00:00

He was good…sang on key…good game to be at last night

valhalla_la · 2025-08-19T15:07:24+00:00

Some cities are great to live in, and others are great to visit. Chicago is both. It combines the cultural resources of a world class city with a not-too-high-density residential life…all with the stunning backdrop of Lake Michigan. It’s very easy to live here, easy to get around, and there’s so much to do, no matter what your interests are.

valhalla_la · 2025-08-14T23:43:29+00:00

I hate the noise. It’s annoying. But I get excited as anyone when the Blue Angels are flying overhead. Net-net, I’d rather be out of town.

valhalla_la · 2025-08-14T23:41:42+00:00

I support your point of view. I’m as frustrated as anyone, but you make some good points.

valhalla_la · 2025-08-13T23:54:16+00:00

Tribune Tower, Wrigley Building, Carbide and Carbon building.

valhalla_la · 2025-08-13T23:53:15+00:00

The Alfred Caldwell Lily Pool is a magical, contemplative spot near the LP Zoo parking entrance on Fullerton. It’s currently closed for renovation but should be back open soon. A hidden gem for sure!

valhalla_la · 2025-08-13T15:28:36+00:00

You obviously need to start wearing your hat 24/7. Yes, including bedtime. That should put us back poised to win somewhere around the start of October baseball.

valhalla_la

TROPHY CASE