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Recommended a "Must See" Show - CENTERSTAGE
A brilliantly dumb melange of local pop culture, Factory Theatre's latest is one for the home team. Eric Roach's cram-in-the-laughs, can't-quite-call-it-a-script has our beloved celebrity movie critics/undercover super-agents reuniting to thwart Oprah Winfrey's plan for tri-state-area domination. From His Honor to Mancow to the roller derby girls, the Chicago in-jokes are out in force. Park your out-of-town guests at Blue Man Group and enjoy.
The Centerstage Review, by Colin Douglas.
Friday Jul 13, 2007
In a wacky, affectionate tribute to every James Bond film from the sixties, The Factory Theater's Scott Oken has expertly directed a large, multitalented cast in this hilarious, often irreverent spy fantasy that parodies some of Chicago's most recognizable celebrities. If you're easily offended by salty language and adult situations, this might not be the show for you. But if you like your comedy cleverly written, loud, over the top, professionally presented and full of references to the Windy City, you shouldn't miss this play.
The original, comic book-style script by first-time playwright Eric Thomas Roach, full of Kung Fu fighting and larger-than-life characters, opens with an hilarious video homage to the opening credits of most Bond movies (brilliantly created by filmmaker Mike Tutaj). It features silhouettes of naked lovelies writhing seductively across a psychedelic landscape of familiar Chicago buildings and landmarks, accompanied by Nick Booth's appropriate jazz-rock score. Rachel Sypniewski's colorful costumes, stunning fight choreography by Jennifer Pompa and Matt Engle and Matt Samsel's quickly moving set pieces, including the Daley Center's Picasso, help make this fast-paced show more fun than, well, a barrel of zombie soccer moms, or mombies, as they're called in the play.
Scott Pasko plays the deftly suave, sophisticated James Bond-like Gene Siskel, brought back to life by wily Mayor Richard M. Daley, played to easily agitated perfection by Adam Moore. Chas Vrba lovingly portrays Roger Ebert as a sidekick who can kick butt while effortlessly identifying movie quotations in five seconds or less. The two crime fighters are soon assisted by a tough troupe of Chicago roller derby queens.
The villains challenging our dynamic duo are Oprah Winfrey, played with feisty attitude and ambition by Jeannette Blackwell, aided by a wise ass, double crossing Richard Roeper (Paul Metreyeon) and a bad ass manic Mancow Muller (Anthony Tournis). Finally, there's The Stranger, a character nicely inhabited by Ernie Deak and another television celebrity who is no stranger to audiences. He brings still more surprises to this wildly smart cartoon of a play that dazzles and delights at every turn. |
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