Lois Nemeth

GSU Chicagoland Theater
Patrick Santoro

Steppenwolf Theater "The Birthday Party"

Astounding Performances 

Thursday, February 14, 2013 at 7:30 p.m., the performance of "The Birthday Party" at the Steppenwolf Theater, proved to be an astounding performance in mystery. The theater in a round was housed with 4 actors and 2 actresses that brought me to tears. The emotions created were like riding on a roller coaster. From one moment to the next you were either laughing, frightened, bewildered, or saddened by vivid characters listed below as they appeared.

Petey, played by John Mahoney; Meg, played by Moira Harris; Stanley, played by Ian Barford; LuLu, played by Sophia Sinise; Goldberg, played by Francis Guinan; McCann, played by Marc Grapey articulated the mysteries of life in the human mind. Through action and speech every movement meant something. Admiringly, the difficult task was, at times, hard to decipher the plot of the story. But clearings of loss of faculties from Meg and the strong level headed Petey gave a perspective that a lost child may have been the elderly couples blithe.  

When Stanley came on the scene, "a slug" of a man, he appeared to be the very life force of Meg's ambition. While coddleing Stanley, Meg put a birthday party on to cheer Stanley up.  However the moments of Petey, Meg, and Stanley's life was about to change when visitors came to stay at the seaside bording house.

 

 Left to figure out how to complete the puzzle of the story, yet to be solved, playwright Harold Pinter put a simple 3 act play together that made you think. Another student and I agreed, the play was like watching a  Alfred Hitchcock movie or one of many Rod Serling's Twilight Zone episodes. Mystery, the unknown avenues of the human mind. 

I was filled with laughter, tears, bewildered, and frightened.

I took pleasure in the experience even more as I encountered Moira (Meg), Sophia (LuLu), and Francis (Goldberg) after the play.

What mind provoking parts they played, and a honor and privilege to have them gladly give me their autographs as we left the theater together. I was gratefull and astounded to have Moira suggest Francis Guinan to walk me to my car. Beautiful, caring people who portrayed characters who boggled the mind.

I would recommend this play and am interested in the other plays Harold Pinter had written. Lastly, I would recommend the experience to adults of any age to explore the mytery of the human psychi. 

By Lois Nemeth

  

Happy Valentines Day
February 14, 2013
By Lois Nemeth


Richard Christiansen's Book Continued Views

Randolph Street Iroquios Theater, " Two Barrels of Slippers" "A Glimpse of That Order and Beauty"

What a tragedy and a pleasure. 

A life of a new theater that "at about 3:15 p.m." could end right before the performance of "Mr. Blue Beard," "to end its Chicago run."  A short lived theater to end with the "Some six hundred lives" really grabs my heart-strings and pulls at them like nothing else could.  The mindless need to open a theater before insuring the safety of anyone walking through the doors. 

The Iroquis Theater history, that is in Christiansen's book, speaks about the great fire on December 30, 1903 that destroyed the theater. The flames started from a backstage spotlight that short-circuited, told by Christainsen. He states the "carelessness, cost cutting, and stupidity" were the cause of the fire.

The Titanic the unsinkable ship, in 1912,  fell subject to the carelessness and  tragedy, with about 1500 lives lost. 

Stories like these take presidency over any beautifully built building or ship for that matter, just to make a buck. The Iroquios was a grand theater that could seat 1,300, as Christiansen tells us on that dreadful night it ended it's life in December. But as in the Titanic disaster, a valuable lesson was learned. Put safety standards first. This wasn't always the case however. The Hull House was a pleasure to behold.

"For A Better Vision Of Chicago's Spirit" as told by Christiansen. The Hull House Theater was "founded by Jane Adams and her friend Ellen Gates on Star,r September 18, 1889." " On the "darkest corner of Chicago" (quoted by writer Richard Linberg on page 45 in Christiansen's book) the Hull House held a history of  bringing a "beacon of goodwill", and "symbol of social reform." The Hull House is known to have grown to serve many theater groups through the years and is still remembered. 

I find history like this very pleasurable. People that seemed unlikely to attend theater, the immigrants and their families, could attend, learn, and work in theater that was converted from an old mansion,on "Halsted." Theater wasn't just for the rich, it was for anyone who had the mind to enjoy the wondrous creativity of the fine arts.

Ultimately, theater has gone through some growing pains from tragedy, to life that continues to inspire. Learning curves? Perhaps. Somehow we sometimes forget the importance of the treasure. The stored up historical incidences that can plague or pleasure our lives. So I say.  My heart strings are being tugged once more. What a tragedy and a pleasure.

   

SECOND CITY

secondcity.com

WOW!!

Is all I can say to the creative, innovative, superlative, fast paced,  mind blowing, Improv at the one and "only performance", as quoted by performer Mike Kosinski,  "We Are In This Room Together" at Second City, February 7, 2013.

The fast paced thinking of every performer from lighting to stage was a gut busting and eye tearing. As one of my fellow students stated, "I am laughing so hard my stomach and head hurts." The tears ran from my eyes as I laughed so much at the antics, multiple skits, and flash backs that the team put together. 

The six actors, actresses; Mike Kosinski, Michael Lehrer, Punam Patel, Niccole Thurman, Andel Sudik, and Chris Witaske, blended performances that were Spot on Hilarious. Everything from the choral intro and conclusion, to the skits including a bar scene,  gay wedding, talking dog, the Ex-husband Band, provided not only a wide range of  controversial topics, but also 3 acts that went on for almost 3 hours.

 The stage manager, Kyle Anderson, and Music Directrion, Original Incidental Music,and  Sound Design, Jesse Case, packaged the entire performance with supreme, spot on timing and professionalism. 
 
As I have never been to Second City's Theater, it had a night club atmosphere that was very comfortable yet cozy, while providing free coat checks, food and drink at reasonable prices, and a staff that made the whole package well worth the trip.

I must say the show provided, stood easily on it's own merits to be one of the funniest, including Improv that easily engaged the audience to participate. Laughing till tears came to my eyes, I must say, in the words of Arnold Schwarzenegger "I"ll be back."   

By Lois Nemeth  

Braid Tales

  I saw  REAL, RAW, Arousing, Righteous, Inspiring Theater performance at GSU Saturday Night.
    The "Braid tales" performance was an inclusive interpretation of the Chicago Streets with Hip Hop, Break dancing, Dance Troops that kept you on the edge of your seat. Every word spoken, every movement made, every portion of lighting, music, stage presence made me proud to know I go to GSU.   
    I also am proud to know that in Chicago land regardless of how the streets can be very dangerous and unwelcoming to many, it also holds the keys to the cities finest actors and actresses to bring a shining light of HOPE for a positive future for the people who live here.
We are very fortunate to have such talented people who see the beauty in the bad.  The truth in the spoken and unspoken word. Regardless of the mother who removed her children from the beginning of the performance because of the vulgar language used in a scene of the performance. There was a valuable lesson learned.
     No matter what negativity the streets may bring, (sex, violence, drugs, and demeaning life of an individual), every person has a chance to make a better life for themselves. Become someone. Be a self-respected individual filled with HOPE, pride, self-control, and a positive example to others around them.

I would definitely  recommend others to see this play, one of which I spoke to was my Youth group at church. P>S> I also had a brief moment with  Lady Sol afterwards and thanked her for the hard work she and all the cast put into the production. While getting her autograph.