Month: April 2025

Titanic the Musical

Sully Ratke’s perfectly dated costumes and finery (or lack of it) define their wearers’ status which in this period musical is important as they reflect the lifestyles of the passengers who promenade each of Titanic’s decks.
If you go, do glance up at the walls where an up to date time appears as the Titanaic moves toward the iceberg. Four days into her maiden voyage from Southampton, England to New York, the RMS Titanic sank April 15, 1912 in the North Atlantic Ocean. There were about 2,224 people on board of whom more than 1,500 died. 
DETAILS: “Titaanic the Musical” is at Marriott Theatre Lincolnshire, 10 Marriott Drive, Lincolnshire, IL, now through June 1, 2025. For tickets and more information visit  Marriott Theatre 0r call 847-634-0200.
Jodie Jacobs

Stingingly familiar peek at organizational leadership

The Whole Seamus Thing

Highly Recommended

The founder of a plucky not-for-profit who has been on administrative leave returns threatening to revert to the status quo and up end planned changes taking place in his absence.

This is a humorous take on a very real inflection point where an organization is moving beyond the skill set of the founder whose success has been largely due to an ability to engage others in their vision. At the same time those in administrative positions and others operating behind the scenes do not fully appreciate the value of charisma and passion.

Writers Ben Auxier and L.C. Bernadine seemed to have had a shared experience that has allowed them to capture, with one voice, the essence of the behind-the-scenes realities of typically underfunded, understaffed and overworked not-for-profits often surviving on dedication to make up for a lack of resources.

“The Whole Seamus Thing,” skillfully directed by Spencer Huffman is a perfect ensemble piece where each cast member is equally weighted. No one stands out as more important than anyone else in regard to telling the story. Each role speaks on behalf of one of the organization’s stakeholder groups.

The simple set design by Raquel Dwight combined with the effortless dialogue, in this intimate theater space, has a naturalness that puts you immediately at ease and feeling like you are a fly on the wall.

Seamus (Alexander Attea) is the affable, sometimes disingenuous, passive aggressive founder who feels his lofty position allows him the latitude to behave as he wishes, often with total disregard for the feelings of others.

Mel (Lydia Moss) is currently the communications manager, aspiring to become the new executive director who is feeling overwhelmed by having to cover for the founder’s short comings including his lack of attention to detail.

It is the tension between Seamus and Mel that drives the plotline.

Co-writer Ben Auxier plays Marty the laid-back confidante of Mel who represents the support staff that keeps the ship in balance. He works hard to relieve tension by running interference between the opposing factions. This job is his livelihood and his safe harbor. He does not seek personal attention and does not want to contribute to anything that rocks the boat.

Gabriel Fries offers a measured comic sensibility as Newton, the clueless board member who has stepped in as acting executive director until the situation regarding the “whole Seamus thing” is resolved. He has very little idea of the inner workings of the organization or what he is supposed to be doing so he busies himself as cheerleader-in-chief hoping to keep everyone motivated.

Olivia Lindsay is quietly hilarious as Kayla the industrious well-meaning volunteer who has a penchant for climbing ladders and zealously guarding the precious markers and tape. It is no surprise that Lindsay is also a professional clown incorporating every element of her being into the role.

Those who have any experience with working inside a grassroots not-for-profit will feel the sting of familiarity. For those without that experience it is a peek into an unknown word that smacks of a reality TV show or a mockumentary like “Waiting for Guffman” or “Spinal Tap.”

Details: “The Whole Seamus Thing” is at Bramble Arts Loft, 5545 N. Clark St, Chicago. through April 19, 2025. Running time is about 90 minutes with no intermission. Tickets are on sale at https://bit.ly/seamusthing

Reno Lovison

A very Sunny Afternoon

 

“Sunny Afternoon” brings The Kinks greatest hits to The Yard at Chicago Shakespeare Theater. (Photo credit: Carol Rosegg)

HIGHLY RECOMMENDED

The Shakespeare Theater at Navy Pier seems an appropriate site for a retrospective British invasion of Chicago.

This energetic jukebox musical, “Sunny Afternoon,” enjoying its North American premiere here in Chicago, is based on the story of the Kinks as told by lead singer and songster Ray Davies, filtered through the adept hand of playwright Joe Penhall.

Following on the heels of the success of The Beatles and Rolling Stones, another group of working-class lads from the outskirts of London called The Kinks made their mark on the history of Rock and Roll.

Their first big splash on both sides of the pond was “You Really Got Me” featuring an iconic fuzzy five chord guitar riff.

The fifteen-member cast of talented actor/singer/dancer/musicians, directed by Edward Hall, move seamlessly onstage and around the theater, through twenty-five musical numbers often playing multiple roles while switching instruments as necessary to provide the very appreciative audience with virtually nonstop entertainment.

The beginning of the second act is punctuated with an impressive solo by Kieran McCabe as drummer Mick Avory.

Danny Horn perfectly embodies the pivotal role of the depressive Ray Davies, plagued by his feverish mind and manic need to create.

Oliver Hoare plays Ray’s uninhibited and rambunctious brother Dave Davies a/k/a “Dave the Rave” whose sometimes comical and often boisterous antics take their toll on those around him.

Horn and Hoare are both imports from the popular West End production of the show.

The roughly seven-year storyline covering the rise of the group, their egregious record deal and arduous touring schedule, combined with strained personal relationships, is not much different from the experience of many rock and roll bands of the era, but it is enough to supply the narrative necessary to create an excuse to move from song to song.

“A Well Respected Man” is used cleverly to introduce the band’s self-described Torrey managers Larry Page (Sean Fortunato) and Grenville Collins (Will Leonard) whose uptight characters provide much of the comic moments in the show. “He’s a well-respected man about town – – Doing the best things so conservatively.”

Horn sings a beautifully harmonious duet of “This Strange Effect” with Anna Margaret Marcu as Ray’s girlfriend and soon to be wife Rasa.

The show’s title song “Sunny Afternoon” is inspired by the idea that after the tax man has gotten his share of the money and his girlfriend has left, at least he can enjoy the freedom of a summertime sunny afternoon.

The grand finale reprises a medley of the Kink’s most memorable songs, “All Day and All of the Night”, “You Really Got Me”, and “Lola.”

They “really got me.”

DETAILS: “Sunny Afternoon” is at the Chicago Shakespeare Theater, Navy Pier, through April 27, 2025. Running time is about 2 and a half hours with a 15-minute intermission. For tickets and information visit ChicagoShakes.com

Reno Lovison

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