Ever looked at your spouse or partner and wonder if you’ve made a mistake? Is everything your life’s built around based on a bad decision? Greg Kalleres’ “A Beautiful Spell” attempts to stare down these questions, with mixed results.
It’s a premise with potential. Franny (Maggie Corbett) wakes husband Jim (Eric Burgher) with the realization that she no longer loves him; the two spend the early morning hours trying to convince each other their love still survives. They backtrack, role-play (hilariously), and take frantic inventory of their successes. But Kalleres’ excellent ear for dialogue can’t compensate for the piece’s wildly vacillating tones, ranging unevenly from farce to homicide. Burgher has the chops for the challenge; his sly comedic timing adapts easily to the script’s shifts. But Corbett’s head cheerleader energy feels out of place beyond the comedy; she doesn’t match Burgher’s layers. It’s an interesting conflict with no satisfactory resolution. (Lisa Buscani)
At The Royal George Gallery Theatre, 1641 North Halsted, (312)988-9000. Through August 7.
Let’s See Together: A Review of "Choir Boy" at Steppenwolf Theatre Among other compelling reasons to see "Choir Boy" is the power and musicianship on songs sung by the young men who play the students in the choir at the Black, Christian Charles R. Drew School for Boys.
Buggin’ Out: A Review of Bug at Steppenwolf Theatre The audience is the fly on the wall of a dingy Oklahoma hotel room where Agnes White is taking refuge from her recently released, abusive ex-husband Jerry.
