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Text of article from The Daily Herald newspaper
March 20, 2008
Spotlight on romance
By Elisabeth Mistretta
The harsh fact is that sometimes couples have to fall back on the standard
dinner-and-a-movie during their nights out.
Or do they?
As local theater companies launch their spring productions, these shows can add
a touch of spontaneity to your run-of-the-mill date.
"It just gives you a different connection and involvement to the story," says
Cathleen Ann, founder and actor in the Palatine-based Vex Theater. "You might
only be sitting a few feet from the actors and all the emotions just hit you
more because you're right there."
When theater directors like Ann and Chris Bruzzini of the Village Theater Guild
in Glen Ellyn describe their shows, the same word keeps popping up: intimate.
Intimate, of course, is ideal for a night out with your flame. And to keep
things even more romantic (OK, maybe even a bit cheesy), a handful of stage
events happening now are all about love.
Some shows are romantic comedies, others are much darker. Bruzzini says the
Village Theater Guild's latest musical, "Romance, Romance," raises ethical
questions about relationships and boundaries.
"By the end of the second act, some people may think our characters have crossed
the line (in their marriages), but that's for each person to decide."
So to make sure you end up in the right audience for you, here's the rundown on
what's coming up:
"Cupid Has a Heart On: A Musical Guide to Relationships"
The plot: A 90-minute musical revue featuring comic sketches that move into
song.
The details: iO Theater, 3541 N. Clark St., Chicago. Showtime: 10:30 p.m.
Saturdays; open run. Tickets cost $18. (773) 880-0199 or www.cupidplayers.com
"Match"
The plot: Stephen Belber's drama of a couple who interview a choreographer, but
with a confrontational ulterior motive.
The details: Apple Tree Theatre at the Karger Center, 1850 Green Bay Road,
Highland Park. Showtimes: 7:30 p.m. select Wednesdays and Thursdays, 8 p.m.
Fridays, 5 and 8:30 p.m. Saturdays, and 2 and 6 p.m. Sundays through April 6.
(No 6 p.m. show April 6). Tickets cost $38-$48. (847) 432-4335 or
www.appletreetheatre.com.
"Romance, Romance"
The plot: Keith Herrmann and Barry Harman's 1988 Broadway musical of two
one-acts exploring love in Vienna and modern-day New England.
The details: Village Theater Guild, 3S020 Park Blvd., Glen Ellyn. Showtimes: 8
p.m. Fridays and Saturdays and 4 p.m. Saturdays (beginning March 29) through
April 12. Also 4 p.m. April 6. Tickets cost $20. (630) 469-8230 or
www.villagetheatreguild.org.
"Sylvia -- A Romantic Comedy About a Dog"
The plot: A.R. Gurney's 1995 off-Broadway comedy about a middle-aged guy who
disrupts his marriage when he brings home a stray dog.
The details: Metropolis Performing Arts Centre, 111 W. Campbell St., Arlington
Heights. Showtimes: 7:30 p.m. Thursdays, 8 p.m. Fridays, 7 p.m. Saturdays, 3
p.m. Sundays through April 26. Tickets cost $22-$42. (847) 577-2121 or
www.metropolisarts.com.
"Lady Windermere's Fan"
The plot: Oscar Wilde's classic about a young aristocrat's wife who begins to
mistrust her husband after his involvement with an older woman is discovered.
The details: Vex Theatre at the Elgin Arts Showcase, 164 Division St., Elgin.
Showtimes: 8 p.m. Fridays and Saturdays and 3 p.m. Sundays April 18-27. $15 for
adults and $12 for students with ID and seniors (cash only). www.vextheatre.org
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