Spotlight: Animal Farm/B>
Animal Farm, George Orwell's famous allegorical novella that darkly explores an "ideal" society via barnyard animals, comes to life again on stage in a world premiere adaptation by Althos Low for Steppenwolf for Young Adults. Performances during the week are for visiting schools, but performances for the general public are available on weekends. Animal Farm continues for general audiences through Nov. 9 at Steppenwolf Theatre's Upstairs Theatre, 1650 N. Halsted St. Performances are at 7:30 p.m. Fridays, 3 and 7:30 p.m. Saturdays and 3 p.m. Sundays. Tickets are $20; call 312-335-1650 or visit www.steppenwolf.org .
Critics' Picks
All My Sons, Raven Theatre, through Nov. 15. All-out war is good for the warring country's economy, but Arthur Miller's tragedy warns against fortunes founded on misguided priorities, and Chuck Spencer's portrayal of the hero undone by his own greed ensures that we heed it. MSB
Jane Eyre, Lifeline Theatre, extended through Nov. 16. One of the most famous orphans in western literature overcomes an abusive childhood to grow into an intrepid, independent heroine who rescues her loved ones from their oppressionand Lifeline has given us four extra weeks to watch her do it. MSB
Season on the Line, The House Theatre of Chicago, through Oct. 26. Captain Ahab is a meglomaniac theater director and Moby Dick is a white-suited critic in Shaun Pfautsch's highly creative transposition from Melville novel to showbiz valentine. It's great fun, yet remarkably faithful in structure to the great U.S. original. JA
The Wild Party, Bailiwick Chicago, through Nov. 1. Director Brenda Didier delivers a pulsating and picture-perfect production of Michael John LaChuisa and George C. Wolfe's 2000 Broadway musical all about debauched 1920s performers facing up to some devestatingly unflattering truths about themselves. SCM
By Abarbanel, Barnidge
and Morgan