Two Fridays, Two Plays

What a difference a week makes.

On March 11, my Sweetie and I were enthralled by Dobama Theatre’s A Steady Rain. The two actors, Scott Plate and Jeremy Kendall, superbly portrayed two Chicago cops who have been life-long friends. Passed over repeatedly for promotion to detective, the two react in different ways. Joey takes the sensitivity training offered by the department; however, bigoted Denny, blaming everyone but himself, continues his downward spiral.

The set was stark and reminiscent of a dimly-lit police interrogation room. A gray rectangular metal table with two chairs were the only furniture.

A Steady Rain

It was the first time in a long time that I leapt out of my seat as soon as the actors appeared for their curtain call.

Tonight I enjoyed Shrek: The Musical at the Palace. The magnificent, enormous dragon required at least three puppeteers to flap her wings, curl her barbed tail, and toss her head all while moving about and above the stage singing. Carrie Compere’s amazing voice brought the dragon to life. But Donkey is still my favorite character. Alan Mingo, Jr. made the role his own.

The set was all about bright colors. After all, it is a happy-ever-after fairy tale.

Shrek

The two theaters could not be more different. For about 40 years Dobama was located in a renovated bowling alley in the basement of one of the shops on Coventry. Then the public library purchased the closed YMCA across the street and partnered with Dobama to turn the pool area into a theater. The standing joke goes that now one no longer hears the toilet flush during the play. The theater seats about 200, depending on the staging.

The Palace opened in 1922 and cost $3.2 million. It closed in the late 60s and was rescued by visionaries in the 1970s. It is part of the Playhouse Square complex along with the Allen, the Hanna, the Ohio, and the State. It is the second largest theater district in the country with Lincoln Center being the largest. The theater seats about 2700 and is home to the Broadway Series.

We are so fortunate to have so many options when it comes to live theater.