Heaven may be a place where nothing ever happens, but its waiting room gets a lot of action, if K M. Lickert’s new play is any guide. “Imminent Dangers,” in its premiere by Smoke and Mirror Productions, develops an ingenious idea: set in the “kinda, sorta afterlife,” its characters have one last chance to figure out how they want to spend eternity. Lickert exploits her premise thoroughly; a diverse crowd passes through her way station, ranging from a UFO cultist (Nathan Davis) to a busload of evangelicals. You might have questions about her theology, though, in which what you believe is unimportant as long as you believe in something (atheists get snuffed out): who knew the afterlife would turn out to be California? And the central story of Daniel (Mat Labotka), a young man whose shyness borders on autism and who has committed suicide in a vain attempt to get his neighbor’s attention, never becomes terribly compelling. Lickert’s script has flashes of wit, but is also chock full of phrases like “Keep faith, child,” delivered unironically. Smoke and Mirror’s mostly young cast keeps the proceedings solemn, with the occasional gnashing of teeth. “Imminent Dangers” shows promise, but I wouldn’t sign up for the trip to the mother ship quite yet. (John Beer)
A Fan’s Gotta Do: A Review of Dr. Horrible’s Sing-Along Blog at Black Button Eyes Productions “Dr. Horrible’s Sing-Along Blog,” the quirky three-part musical web series about the sad machinations of a supervillain, displayed an early example of what entertainment on the Internet could look like. Now, with Black Button Eyes Productions that 2008 “classic” has hit the stages of Chicago to benefit Season of Concern.
Fields of Love: A Review of "As You Like It" at Chicago Shakespeare Theater A pastoral comedy is just what the doctor ordered to ease our way out of our recent confinement. Chicago Shakespeare Theater obliges with its bright, energetic tale of souls fleeing death and duplicity and finding peace and love in the woods.
