Ashleigh LaThrop and Paige Collins/Photo: Peter Coombs
RECOMMENDED
The true story of self-destructive identical twins who spoke to nobody but themselves for decades while producing wildly theatrical novels and stories alone in their bedroom. The story lends itself beautifully to a dramatic staging, and Dog & Pony maximizes its potential with a brilliantly versatile promenade set, wherein audience members circulate to make real choices about which scenes to see; they also make deft use of various hyper-theatrics, including a gorgeous overhead projector piece, with which to stage the twins’ exuberant fictions and fantasies against their isolated, dejected adolescences. In terms of dramatic range and technical theater, the show is flawless; the actors show impressive flexibility working amongst stylized choreography, sharp naturalism and song-and-dance disco numbers. The show’s only weakness might end up being this very versatility; there is so much stimulation happening at any given moment that the real tragedy of the twins’ sad lives is somewhat lost, and it’s too easy to see the show without giving any real emotional investment. (Monica Westin)
At Steppenwolf Garage, 1624 N. Halsted, (312)335-1650. Through April 25.
Dog Days: A Review of Yen at Raven Theatre Anna Jordan's play, receiving its local premiere at Raven, examines toxic masculinity in terms of maternal care and its absence.
Toxic: A Review of Poison at The Plagiarists The real poison at work here isn’t strychnine or hemlock, it’s a dreary self-seriousness that leaches the play of any hint of wit, humor and humanity.
