Review: COMPANY at Venus Cabaret Theater at Mercury Theater Chicago
The theater community is demanding a new standard of purposeful storytelling, a stronger call to answer the question “Why now?” — particularly when mounting a revival. Musical theater, with its fandom and nostalgia, is precious to audiences in a way that other forms are not, and so has often been exempt from engaging in deeper conversation with the real world.
SKIN FOR SKIN Tackles Post 9/11 Military Chaos and Muslim-American Fear
Paul Pasulka’s SKIN FOR SKIN takes us to Iraq where the search for members of Al-Qaeda is fierce and the US military is hungry for answers. On a set that is decorated with pictures of George W. Bush on one side and the other side a chicken-wired box, which will later be used to imprison someone, we are reminded of a time when fear was used to as a tool by the government to get what they wanted.
MOSQUE ALERT is Undeniably Pertinent
The production’s timing is undeniably pertinent and if the execution can gain some unapologetic confidence in its message, it can hopefully start opening some closed minds.