One of the best pieces of advice we’ve been given regarding theatrical criticism is this: approach the piece on its own level. To give an elementary example: it’s not fair to see a Shakespeare play and complain that the language isn’t modern enough. Mrs. Caliban, Frances Limoncelli's adaptation of the Rachel Ingalls novel now in its world premiere at Lifeline, falls into the “magical realism” genre. Ready to suspend our disbelief even more than usual, we took our seats feeling prepared for what we were about to see. A lonely, bored housewife thinks the radio is telling her that her husband is having an affair. Fine. The radio also informs her that a very dangerous lizard man has escaped from a local institution, which is confirmed by her husband’s morning paper. Fine. Said lizard man arrives at the aforementioned housewife’s doorstep, and she gives him food and shelter. Fine. The housewife has a passionate love affair with the lizard man. NOT FINE. more ›

Theater critics don’t applaud very often. It’s part of their attempt not to be associated with the theater’s marketing department, and if you happen to be at the same show as a critic, god forbid you should know how they feel about the show before it’s in newsprint. (Err, blog type.) If they really like a play, sometimes they’ll tap their fingers together, or maybe even allow full hand on hand contact, but actual sound never results. However, after Lifeline Theatre’s world premiere stage adaptation of Treasure Island, every pair of press kit holding hands was violently smacking together, and we wouldn’t be exaggerating if we said a few critics, even the recognizable ones, were sitting on the edge of their seats, begging for more. more ›

New York might still be buzzing about Sunday night’s Tony Awards - or at least about Bret Michaels' busted nose - but Chicago had more important business to attend to last night: The non-Equity Jeff Awards. more ›

Nominations for The Joseph Jefferson Awards Citation Wing, recognizing the finest work from scrappy but brilliant non-Equity theater companies, were announced this morning. A local, less insufferable version of New York’s Tonys, the Jeff Awards recognize excellence among productions that opened between last April and this March. Click here to learn (and possibly understand) the nominations process. Queen Lucia rules the musical nominations; Lifeline’s original adaptation of E.F. Benson’s operatic rivalry tale leads all productions... more ›