Death is in the Heavens

Death is in the
Heavens
Dead astronauts
Dead downed shuttle fuxkups us
All
Deadly dreamers
Love gutters and
Lust runoff
Run-on - Rainout
Young self-pimped princess boasting of her
Straight desires and naturally fit figure and who am
Eye to look away?
But I've got some manners
Death between her
She's gonna breed an assassin
(her friend's in a beauty sash)
I can tell
on her way to heaven deathbed attended by
Midwives and accusers I love
Her still
.

Theater Review: Death And The Maiden/Victory Gardens

 Another review for Newcity Stage: 

Raúl Castillo, John Judd, Sandra Oh/Photo: Michael Courier

A not terribly interesting play about terribly important issues, “Death And The Maiden”—as seen in the current production at Victory Gardens—is most notable for a star turn courtesy of Sandra Oh and a set that turns courtesy of scenic designer William Boles…

( read full review here )

Theater Review: This Is Our Youth/Steppenwolf Theatre Company

RECOMMENDED

Kieran Culkin and Michael Cera/Photo: Michael Brosilow

Tavi Gevinson/Photo: Michael Brosilow

This is their youth, and maybe ours too. My Newcity review of Steppenwolf's Cera/Culkin/Gevinson constellation – 

"The living space created for Steppenwolf’s intimate upstairs staging of this Kenneth Lonergan play is so cozy and lived-in that while heading toward my seat I was tempted to instead plop down centerstage and put that copy of my favorite Frank Zappa bootleg on the turntable and make myself at home. Alas, like an obedient non-participant I went up to my assigned seat for this Broadway-bound revival and considered how to dissect the expected…"    

(read full review here)

Theater Review: Hello Failure/side project

yet another review for Newcity Stage:

From the Land of Lincoln I deem the Confederates treasonous in my

Newcity review of side project's "Hello Failure"   (read the review here)

Amy Johnson, Amanda Lipinski, J. Kingsford Goode, Julia Daubert, Kirsten D’Aurelio/Photo: Scott Dray

Theater Review: Monstrous Regiment/Lifeline Theatre

(Another!) review for Newcity Stage:

RECOMMENDED

You might think being a rock troll, a vampire, a werewolf or a hunch-backed “Igor” would disqualify hopeful enlistees from military service. But in the fictional land of Borogravia, it’s just their gender that the unlikely female recruits of “Monstrous Regiment” are compelled to hide…    (read full review here)

Theater pReview: Vision Quest/Ray BradGary

 Another review for Newcity Stage: 

Brad Einstein, Gary Pascal/Photo: Anonymous

You’re invited to silently witness a drug tourist spiritual quest. The drug: Ayahuasca. The travelers: local comedy duo Ray BradGary. The duo, comprised of Brad Einstein and Gary Pascal, hallucinate through disparate scenes and encounter ridiculous characters…

( read full review here )

I'm Past Insomnia

I'm past insomnia.
It's clearly tomorrow.

Theater Review: Eat Your Heart Out/Rivendell Theatre Ensemble

                                                                                             RECOMMENDED

Katherine Keberlein and Anne Joy/Photo: Joe Mazza

(Another!)
review for
Newcity Stage:
 
…The characters are stereotypical in their desires and affectations but attain individuality in their complexity. It works because the cast delivers on the humor inherent in the cliched bits of characterization while never letting their melodramatic moments turn maudlin nor camp…

    (read full review here)

Theater Review: Love Tapes/The Inconvenience

(Another!) review for Newcity Stage:

RECOMMENDED

…The title treatment on the program is uber-metal and the pre-show atmosphere among the audience is like a bar or club. Finally, as with a particular sort of good night out, there’s a celebratory climax. Such is the skeleton of The Inconvenience’s production; the flesh follows. And, yes, there is flesh…    (read full review here)

Let Me Call My Body Beautiful

Let me call my body, beautiful
It needs to pick me up
We've been apart too long
There are issues that arise
Risks best avoided
I'll return
Anon