Cupid Is As Cupid Does, Cupid Players at ImprovOlympic through Aug. 22. It's not new for sketch comedy to dissect relationships; but the Cupids extend the topic's musical perimeter to include break-dancing cops, downbeat psychos and huggy-bear males. (Barnidge)
Homebody/Kabul, Steppenwolf Theatre through Aug. 31. Yes, it's three and a half hours, but Tony Kushner doesn't waste a second of it on empty pontificating, instead delivering an incisive microanalysis of despotism and despair laced with irony. (Barnidge)
Tops or Bottoms & Persistence of Vision, Chicago Dramatists through Aug. 17. There's warmth, depth, humor, poignancy, and charm in Winnetka author Todd Logan's one-act plays, with Chicago faves Judy Blue and Scott Jaeck spot-on as a married couple. (Reed)
Trust Me On This, Lifeline Theatre, through Aug. 17. This is your last week to catch this fast-paced adaptation of Donald E. Westlake's loop-the-loop whodunit. Great summertime theater. (Barnidge) Current shows we think are hot!
Blind Tasting, Live Bait Theatre, through Aug. 31. It extended an extra month, but Sharon Evans' smartly-crafted tale of wine and romance can't run forever. Miss this world premiere and you'll regret it at Jeff Citation time next spring. (Barnidge)
Molly's Rock, Raven Theatre at North Park Village, through Aug. 23. Teenager Molly was too young to die, or so declare the three men who come together in 1867 to mourn their loss and delve the mystery of her untimely passing. Performed outdoors. (Barnidge)
The Ride Down Mount Morgan, Equity Library Theatre at Breadline, 1801 W. Berenice, through Aug. 31. ELT neatly turns Arthur Miller's smart, funny 1991 tale of a charming bigamist, his wives, and the nature of deception, self-definition and self-worth. (Abarbanel)
Varekai: Cirque de Soleil, United Center parking lot through Aug. 31. Ethereal, magical, enchanting—and expensive—are just a few words one might use to describe this international phenomenon that has elevated the ancient circus genre to an art form. (Reed)
by Jonathan Abarbanel,
Mary Shen Barnidge and Rick Reed