Cirque Shanghai @ Navy Pier Skyline

CIRQUE SHANGHAI 

@ Navy Pier's Pepsi Skyline Stage  

I DON'T GET IT. 

All the reviews I’ve read (even Chris Jones!) 

have given Cirque Shanghai nothing but stellar reviews. 

I don’t really share that opinion, but I’ll start with... 

THE GOOD

I liked the theatre itself…an open air theatre on a pier (even if it is Navy Pier) is a nice place to spend a Sunday afternoon. It seems like an ideal space for a family-oriented show, even though this show didn’t seem especially geared towards kids. Also, he tickets were only $22.44 thanks to Hottix & the performance only lasted 90 minutes. 

THE BAD

The performers were clearly skilled, but their skills just weren’t that amazing (or infallible: the imperfections in the acts were not only present but noticeable.) There were awesome & impressive moments, but the performance just lacked an overall WOW factor. The performance also lacked cohesion between the individual acts…it felt more like America’s Got Shanghai Talent than a unified piece of performance art. 

THE UGLY 

The production lacked artistry.; it seemed like a gymnastics show that only gave a second thought to sets & costumes. While the performers were clearly skilled, this type of performance still heavily relies on production design. The women’s ensemble numbers were a train-wreck, costume-wise: they alternated between resembling wedding-cake toppers & retired costumes from baby-beauty pageants. 

Attend The Tale of Danny Tanner @ Gorilla Tango

ATTEND THE TALE OF DANNY TANNER

Presented by Gorilla Tango
By Chris Gorton and Katie Johnston-Smith
Directed by Kelly Williams

This was my first visit to Gorilla Tango, which was especially exciting because it was also my first production in the Bucktown/Wicker Park area. The theatre was small & packed with an enthusiastic audience; this piece seemed like a perfect fit for a neighborhood comprised of the people who grew up on Full House. The opening number (a mash-up Attend the Tale of Sweeney Todd & Wake Up San Francisco. The despondent, & sweeping number quickly established that this was not TGIF’s Full House.  We soon learn why Danny Tanner allowed Joey Gladstone & Jesse Katsopolis to live in his house rent-free for all those years. It was not because they helped take care of the girls (as the television show made us believe), but because, once a year, on the anniversary of his wife’s DUI death, Joey & Jesse have to kill a drunk driver. On this year’s anniversary, Joey & Jesse decide they want to get out of this arrangement. Meanwhile, DJ wants to get out of the house to hang out with hunky Steve. But when Danny catches them stumbling home, things take a turn for the bloodier. I won’t ruin the ending, but I will say the references to Sweeney Todd hit hardest in the finale.

The 8-person ensemble was comprised of smart, confidant performers with clean & quality vocals. As Danny Tanner, Rob Speer channeled Bob Saget’s energy/mannerisms while simultaneously transforming the role into a blood-thirsty, vengeful widower.  As Joey & Jesse, Chris Gorton & James Dolbeare were excellent comedic actors who had a strong sense of history & chemistry with each other (which is an especially impressive feat considering they only perform the musical once a week). My one complaint: James Dolbeare seemed a little too Caucasian for Uncle Jesse; the Elvis obsession, smooth moves, slick hair, & Italian stallion element were in a little lacking.The Tannner girls were awesome across the board; their performances were articulate & finely-tuned into the personas from the 1990’s originals. As the senior sister DJ, Katie Johnston-Smith exhibited dead-on comedic timing, had a beautiful belt, & played over-the-top adolescent angst without inhibition. As the Jan Brady of the trio, Meghan M. Hillmeyer was a pitch-perfect Stephanie; her physical resemblance Jodie Sweetin was uncanny & her presence onstage was a consistent highlight of the production. Ali Keirn played the baby Michelle; I would imagine this is the most difficult to cast & perform in the musical. It’s a strange enough challenge for an adult to play a child, let alone a baby. But Ms. Keirn dominated the role by channeling a toddler-esque gurgle to her words & applying an adult’s interpretation to the R-Rated text. Her acting abilities were phenomenal; from other reviews I’ve read, I am not alone in this opinion. My one complaint regarding the girls: I wish they had all been blonde (DJ was brunette, Stephanie was blonde, & Michelle was a redhead). The Tanner girls were notorious blondies & I would have liked to see that element of the show kept consistent.Miryam Andrews and Tom Daily rounded-out the cast by filling in the miscellaneous remaining characters: Kimmy Gibler, DJ’s BF Steve, Aunt Becky, Mr. Woodchuck & miscellaneous drunk drivers. During the opening number, I assumed Miryam Andrews was playing DJ & Katie Johnston-Smith  was playing Aunt Becky (based only on physical appearances) but she ended up being a lovely performer & versatile actress. Most of Tom Daily’s stage time was spent playing a drunk, which he did convincingly. He had a wonderfully expressive face & fluid physical flexibility that added to his ability as a skilled actor. As the production’s accompanist (and musical director), Rhapsody Snyder created a strong backbone for the entire production.

The production was genuinely funny: it’s humor was original while incorporating the necessary mocks & digs towards the original sitcom. I am glad they didn’t wholly rely on relaying show’s original jokes or overplay the cheesiness. I was surprised, however, that there weren’t any jokes about the original cast members (especially Jodie Sweetin), but overall the production was energetic, innovative, engaging, & definitely worth the trek to Blue Line Country. 

* EXTENDED UNTIL JULY! *  Saturdays @ 7:30 * 


*UPDATE* ATTEND THE TALE OF DANNY TANNER: A FULL HOUSE MUSICAL has been extended yet again! 
It will perform TUESDAYS at 7:30pm, August 14 & 21, & September 4-25.
Tickets are $15 @ www.gorillatango.com or             773-598-4549       for tickets and more info.