Category > ReviewsTheatre
Gina Gionfriddo’s Becky Shaw is a story about what “good” is, what it means to actually be “good,” and what we give up when we seek it out. Becky Shaw is also a story about a family, the Slaters, and whether being in each others lives is good for them, or even desirable.
When I sat down in the Studio Theatre and looked around, I said aloud that Stephen Adly Guirgis’ The Last Days of Judas Iscariot wouldn’t “be at all biblical.” The stage was as cluttered as any I’d seen. It was a mess. Or — depending on how you look at it — it was a room that any scholar would be proud of. Desks, shelves, and tables were overflowing with books and papers. Books were piled in stacks of varying …
I wasn’t always a Sondheim fan. Until recently, I had only seen a couple of productions of Stephen Sondheim musicals, and wasn’t extremely impressed with either one. This led me to conclude that Sondheim musicals were pretentious and boring, not knowing that I hadn’t seen one of his shows done well. That changed after enjoying a production of Follies in Chicago — which I now count as among the greatest shows I’ve ever seen. It may have taken a while, …
On January 5th at the Station Theater in downtown Urbana is the premier of the play Gruesome Playground Injuries, by Rajiv Joseph. The play had its world premier in October 2009 at the Alley Theatre in Houston, Texas, then was performed at the Second Stage Theatre in New York City in January 2011, and finally it's made its way to Urbana-Champaign to start out the new year. I had an opportunity to speak with director Mathew Green. Here’s what he …
My Ántonia, now playing at the Station Theatre in Urbana, takes Willa Cather’s classic novel about the struggles of pioneers on the plains of Nebraska and brings it beautifully to life. The play, adapted by Urbana native Jarrett Dapier and directed by Gary Ambler and Joi Hoffsommer, excels in both performances and technical aspects, and I recommend it to everyone, whether you’re familiar with the novel or not.
Way Off Broadway follows a group of community theater actors as they put on a show for a visiting Broadway producer, in the hopes of hitting it big. The show was written and directed by Mike Trippiedi, who has been acting, directing, and writing at the Station since 1975. Before seeing the play, and after I’d read a summary of the show, I was instantly reminded of the plot of Christopher Guest’s mockumentary Waiting for Guffman. So, while the concept …
I need to be up front about the fact that I’m not as familiar with Tennessee Williams as I should be. And this is triply shameful: I majored in English in college; I grew up in the South; I’m queer. But here I am, reviewing Tennessee Williams’ Battle of Angels. Fortunately, the director of this play (Tom Mitchell) is an expert. This is the fifth early play by Williams that he’s directed for the Department of Theatre, so we’re in …
Dead Man’s Cell Phone, playing this weekend and next week at Parkland Community College, takes perhaps the most universal and harrowing question — what happens when we die? — and constructs a quirky narrative that examines our relationships with one another and the way our ever-growing obsession with technology is dividing, rather than uniting us.
I don't remember details about the first time I saw Bob Fosse's 1972 film, Cabaret. It was 1978 (give or take a year), and I was either 12 or 13 years old. We had HBO, and I think that's how I first gained access to the movie (I know it wasn't at a theater). I didn't catch all of the references; I certainly didn't understand the sexual themes. But I remember being utterly captivated by the music, the costumes, the …
Earth root him near meEarth make him stayEarth root him near meNever go away (Toulou in Hoodoo Love) Most of us are surely familiar with the deep-seated discrimination and wretched poverty that African Americans endured in the south during the 1930s: The Jim Crow laws that kept them disenfranchised and ignorant for decades, the casual violence, and the institutional discrimination that caused such desperate poverty. In her play Hoodoo Love, Katori Hall shows us that 1930s African American culture itself …
Most Recent Arts Comments
Local, I forgot to offer you a piece of sage advice. Don’t bag on 39 south because they represent your potential collector pool. Even though I haven’t lived in Champaign since 1997, 39 south is still the only arts entity that has promoted my work as an…
Lest 39 South feels picked on: Check this from the Urbana City Public Arts Program: “Calling all Champaign County Artists! We’re pleased to announce a Call for Entries for a new initiative called Murals on Glass, which will feature artwork reproduced in adhesive vinyl displayed on the…
You forgot Jonathon Fineberg was also personal pals with the Christo’s. I’ll agree that Dr. Fineberg has done a tremendous job communicating to undergrads why this stuff is important, but I won’t kiss the ring because he also contributed to the dismantling of crafts at the U…
And boom goes the dynamite.
I think the best and most exciting arts programming in Champaign-Urbana is at the Krannert Art Museum. The depth and quality of the museum’s permanent collection speaks highly to the intelligence of the art history faculty at the University. I have to say taking Art History with…
Another mystifying thing is 39 South touts the fact that when you consider all things that are considered “art”, i.e. music, exhibits, movies, performances, craft fairs, circuses, ect; art in Champaign County apparently generates $60 million dollars of “economic activity” every year, so says 39 South. And…
I have to agree, I’m a bit confused as to the purpose of 40 North, although I am aware that the organization is in a period of restructuring and re-examination. And yes, the “staff of 1” does work tirelessly to keep the operations afloat, but the fact…
“Making art accessible to everyone and cultivating the art and artists in Champaign County is 40 North’s main mission.” FACT: When the Urbana City Council proposed to form a new public arts council of its own in 2008, 39 South actually sent letters from board members Cody…
On behalf of the New Art Film Festival, I’d like to thank you for highlighting our event in this article. It is our pleasure to put together this showcase for the community and the recognition is highly appreciated by all of us involved in the NAFF. Also,…
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Most Recent Comments
Looking forward to trying this place!
I’m in the middle (or the beginning or end, depending on how you look at it) of re-reading Slaughterhouse Five. What a great companion column.
Get yours early. The Rave’s CD will be available at Exile and at The C-U Flea on Saturday. C-U Flea details here: http://www.smilepolitely.com/news/sp_radio_podcast_c-u_flea_arrives/
I don’t know about Gerard and a random police sargeant. My (mild) outrage is based on this: “...he worked closely with Champaign City Clerk Marilyn Banks to make sure he was licensed properly as a transient food peddler, filling out the necessary paperwork and paying a $225…
Local Yocal pretty much nails it here. I suspect there will be merchants who oppose food trucks because they arguably don’t pay their fair share to locate their trucks in high traffic (high rent) areas. The food trucks take away business from rent payers, park in city…
Oh nice! I’d totally vote for Matt Campbell!
“Smile Politely sports writer announces candidacy for city government.”
I also got to visit Big Grove Tavern during the soft open and definitely enjoyed the pork belly the most of all the dishes I sampled. The cheesy grits and the vinegary pickled vegetables were a perfect compliment to the rich pork belly.
The Alan Partridge lookalike on the right in the first small photo has nothing to condescend to anyone about. AH HA!
Snell and the little Hitlers of the neighborhood association need to chill out. Legitimate businesses should have the freedom to exist without having to endure the slings and arrows of ignorant and misguided opposition.
represent, Matt.
Yeah, I’d agree that Transporter Room 3 is the worst house venue I’ve ever seen.
Food trucks are the start-up, small businesses of the future for those unable to afford real estate. No surprise, that merchants who pay rent, utilities, and maintenance on a property would despise the traveling competition. Or developers who build more empty retail spaces would want to close…
Not so much far-right Tea Party as a balanced, moderate viewpoint between letting businesses succeed and protecting society with reasonable regulations. In spite of what the city reps are saying, the interpretation of policy on this issue certainly has changed. Letting a business start up under one…
I think it’s neat that SP has turned rightward, now espousing a Tea Party-style frustration with government regulations & taxes.
This makes me so sad. (Happy to live in Urbana, though!) Crave Truck has been a GREAT addition to the food choices in C-U, and it’d be a travesty to chase them away. This town should be supporting small businesses. I’m glad to hear that they’ll still…
*slow. clap.* Still offering no threat of intelligence…. I know I said I thought you should just write this whole column yourself next year, Isaac, but now that you’ve gone and taken a “part deux” run at it, I’d like to modify my request: Best Music 2013,…
Actually, it’s kind of nice, the quiet. John Heoffleur’s engaging commentary/dialogue is sorely missed, however. In lieu of someone intelligent saying something, I’ve compiled a list of Honourable Mentions: BEST ROCK BAND: Take Care ::these gentlemen have four completely different sets at their disposal right now (which…
What? Echo! (Echo!) Where’s the dischord and dissent?
This weekend will mark the first appearance of Kayla Brown’s Fire Doll Candle booth at the Market. Check it: http://www.facebook.com/firedollcandles
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Thanks for the sage advice Mary Anna, but I’m long done with the sucking up and being thankful for the scraps. The most important thing an artist can do to live with yourself is tell the emperor he’s got no clothes, and spray paint something on his…