Monthly Archives: May 2016

Chicago Shakespeare’s TUG OF WAR: FOREIGN FIRE: Theatrical Magnificence

“Man is a predator whose natural instinct is to kill with a weapon.” So wrote Chicago playwright and anthropologist Robert Ardrey after years of observing human nature in action all over the world. His words aptly summarize the theme of Barbara Gaines’ thrilling Tug of War: Foreign Fire, a stage edition of three of Shakespeare’s […]

May 13, 2016 – 2:54 pm | By Paul Kuritz | Posted in from Paul, History, Music, Poetry, Politics, Theater, World Affairs | Comments Off on Chicago Shakespeare’s TUG OF WAR: FOREIGN FIRE: Theatrical Magnificence

THE LION IN WINTER: Promethean Excellence at the Athenaeum

Winning fifteen awards out of eighteen nominations in 1968, did more than revive the fortunes of James Goldman’s 1966 play, The Lion in Winter. The play had closed after 92 performances, even though it boasted of a cast which included Robert Preston, Rosemary Harris, Christopher Walken, and James Rado, whose book for the historic musical […]

May 10, 2016 – 8:25 am | By Paul Kuritz | Posted in Art, Books, Current Events, from Paul, History, Men and Women, Quotations, Theater | Comments Off on THE LION IN WINTER: Promethean Excellence at the Athenaeum

LYRIC OPERA’S THE KING AND I: AN OPULENT BEAUTY AND THE NICE GUY

At the heart of all of Rodgers and Hammerstein’s great musicals – Oklahoma, Carousel, South Pacific, The Sound of Music, and The King and I – is the tale of Beauty and the Beast. Each Beauty – Laurey, Julie, Nellie, Maria, Anna – transforms the macho wild Beast in their life – helps their man […]

May 7, 2016 – 10:36 am | By Paul Kuritz | Posted in Art, Dance, from Paul, History, Men and Women, Music, Opera, Quotations, Theater, Uncategorized | Comments Off on LYRIC OPERA’S THE KING AND I: AN OPULENT BEAUTY AND THE NICE GUY