Musical | The Hanslick Girls

October 24, 2019

Burying The Lead: Underscore Theatre Company’s “Proxy”

The author wishes to disclose that they will be directing for Underscore’s upcoming Chicago Musical Theatre Festival. However, they have had no involvement in the production of Proxy.

“So it’s based on the Slenderman stabbing, right?”

Gwen gave a non-committal shrug. “They never outright say that. It could be any attack between two kids.”

“But they talk about the faceless man and everything,” Eleanor added. “The painting Ronnie shows off definitely looks just like him.”

“I was convinced he was going to show up outside the door at some point,” said Dania. “Like, if you keep setting up that the door can open magically, you throw that haze in the second time it happens…I mean, maybe it’s just me wanting spectacle…”

September 30, 2019

Light On Her Feet: Honolulu Theatre for Youth’s “A Korean Cinderella”

Dania turned the CD over, reading the track list on the back. There had been so many catchy moments in the show, and she was debating how well she wanted to remember them.

“Should I buy a CD?” she asked Eleanor, standing nearby with her nose in a season brochure.

“I mean, sure?” Eleanor barely looked up. “It’s your money.”

September 16, 2019

Sorrow At The Heart: Three Brothers Theatre’s “Spring Awakening”

Gwen was not a fan of Spring Awakening –– and she readily admitted that it was her fault, not the show. She’d burned out on the musical, ever since its 2006 Broadway production caught fire among the teen theatre set, with endless repetitions of its inanely pop-punk score dredged up at more cabarets than she could count. The lyrics were poetic enough on their surface that no one Gwen knew had needed to dig any deeper into them to find meaning. An angsty screed against uncaring parents, for a generation slowly acclimating to an uncaring world. A string of regional productions after performance rights were released in 2011, while the tide of interest was still high, had afforded her numerous opportunities to see a gaggle of Wendlas and Melchiors partake in enough hayloft intimacy to make the cast of Equus blush.

Gwen was, to put it mildly, over it.

February 25, 2019

The World On Fire: Haven Theatre’s “The Total Bent”

Compared to the raucous live performances throughout the evening, Dania couldn’t help but feel the slightest tinge of letdown when the pre-recorded 1960s hits came through the speakers as the house lights rose. She longed for a version of the songs with the same raw power as the songs in The Total Bent had possessed –– but admitted to herself that perhaps that was impossible to capture on record.

“What a gutpunch,” Dania said, glancing up to the illuminated cross at centerstage. Around the stage, musicians were just packing up their instruments, scattered around the stage. Only the two keyboard players –– Frederick Harris and Jermaine Hill –– were listed as members of the cast, but it has been difficult to divorce the remaining quartet of band members from the narrative.

Category / Musical