A Guide for the Perplexed Critical Evaluation: ** out of **** Joel Drake Johnson's world premiere of "A Guide for the Perplexed" is closing out the 2009-2010 season for the Victory Garden Biograph Theatre.  Sandy Shinner, the associate artistic director of Victory Gardens Theatre, is directing the show that has a cast of five.  The show welcomes back to Chicago Kevin Anderson, a member of the Steppenwolf Theatre ensemble.  Kevin is an exceptional talent as he can do drama, comedy and musicals.  I first saw him perform in Niles, Illinois, in the musical "The Fantasticks."  He has become a major motion picture-television star as well as in London in "Sunset Boulevard," in New York on Broadway and recently he spent a year in Dublin, Ireland and he has a list of Chicago credits having started his career here. Steppenwolf Theatre alumnus Francis Guinan joins Kevin in the role of Phillip.  Others in the cast are Meg Thalken as Sheila, Cynthia Baker as Betty and Bubba Weiler as Andrew.  Anderson has the role of Doug who has just been released from jail on a petty crime charge.  We find  he is forced to take reluctant residence with his sister's husband Phillip and their teenage son, Andrew.  We find while in prison Doug had a female pen pal Betty and when she arrives in hot pursuit she brings a shopping bag of strange gifts to him. The play has some funny moments and one minute you might be laughing and the next it becomes a tragedy.  The problems are not the fault of the director nor the strong cast and you will come out perplexed.  If you like first rate acting you may find the evening worthwhile.  "A Guide for the Perplexed" runs through August 15.  Victory Gardens' new season begins with Edward Albee's "At Home at the Zoo,"  "The Boys Room," "Circle Mirror Transformation," "Tree," and closing out their 2010-11 season will be 'The Gospel According To James."  For performance days, show times and reservations, call 773-871-3000.  Tickets are $20 to $50.   A Parallelogram Critical Evaluation: *** out of **** The Steppenwolf Theatre Company is closing out their 2009-2010 season with a new play by Bruce Norris who is an actor, playwright and a Steppenwolf Ensemble member as is the show director Anna D. Shapiro.  Norris writes some strange but interesting, provocative and strange subject matter for his productions, such as "The Infidel," "Purple Heart," "We All Went Down to Amsterdam," "The Pain and the Itch" and "The Unmentionables."   In January Norris's other new play "Clybourne Park" opened off-Broadway at the Playwrights Horizons. The show has a four-character cast that includes Ensemble members Kate Arrington as Bee and Tom Irwin as Jay.  Bee 2, 3, 4 is played by Mary Louise Burke.  All three have performed on the stage in New York as well as in films and television.  New to the Chicago stage is Tim Bickel as JJ who is in his senior year at Roosevelt University.  The play takes place in Jay and Bee's bedroom on the ground floor of their condo and in a private hospital room.  The set alone by Todd Rosenthal is something to astound audiences. The play deals with a woman who thinks she can see the future.  I often wonder if it's possible for the public to be able to predict what is to happen as with the uncanny click of the television remote she can reinvent her own destiny and possibly the world.  Burke is an eccentric but a very down-to-earth character who is Bee's alter ego that the younger Bee played in the skillful hands of Arrington has conversations with.  Irwin is Bee's live-in partner and yet she has a fling with JJ played by Bickel who is their Spanish gardener. It's an interesting evening of theatre but you'll come out after seeing this two hour and ten minute show asking yourself  "If you knew your fate could you accept it or would you try to change it?"  "A Parallelogram" runs through August 29.  For show times, performance dates and reservations call 312-335-1650.  Tickets are $20 to $70.  Steppenwolf Theatre opens their season with Kevin Anderson, Laurie Metcalf and Robert Brueler in "Detroit."  Next will be Albee's "Who's Afraid of Virginia Woolf?" with Amy Morton and Tracy Letts.  In January it will be "Sex with Strangers," followed by Lanford Wilson's "The Hot L Baltimore" and their 2010-2011 season will end with "Middletown."   The Philadelphia Story Critical Evaluation: *** out of **** Philip Barry's 1939 play "The Philadelphia Story" is bringing down the curtain at 7300 W. Madison St. in Forest Park, Ill.  When "The Wedding Singer" opens in September it will open at a temporary space at 1010 West Madison for the next fourteen months or more while they search for a new permanent space.  "Wedding Singer" is a musical that will run until October 31.  It will have its Chicago premiere to be directed and choreographed by Kevin Bellre. If you enjoy comedies and sophistication you'll enjoy this comedy directed by Jim Schneider with scenic design by Bob Knuth with a stellar cast of twelve excellent actors.  You have until September 5th to see this show.  It had a long run in New York, was made into a major motion picture and eventually a musical called "High Society" that featured the Tony-Academy Award song "True Love," a boat Dexter owned and designed.  Dexter is played by Kevin Anderson, a non-equity professional not to be confused with the Equity actor of the same name who is a Chicagoan.  Dexter is the ex-husband of Tracy Lord played by Laura McClain.  Tracy is about to be married to George Kittredge played by Luke Renn who is a high-class snob.  Dinah the younger sister of Tracy who is played by Katelyn Smith likes Dexter and invites him to the wedding.  Tracy's mother and father, Margaret and Seth, are played by Mary Pavia and Tom Viskocil.  When Tracy's philandering father temporarily is missing they ask Uncle Willie played by Peter Esposito to play the father who does turn up to complicate matters. Two society reporters who are sent to take pictures of the house and wedding are Jhenai Mootz as Liz and Josh Hambrock as Mike.  Both are bored with their assignment.  Mike and Tracy get drunk and have an innocent midnight swim which causes Kittredge who is prim and proper to have second thoughts.  The handsome Doug Pawlik plays Sandy Lord the older brother who has invited the two reporters to the house for the wedding.  You'll be hearing a lot from this actor.  Closing out the cast is Thomas Schutt as Thomas the Butler.  His performance will remind you of many actors who played butlers in the movies.  The play runs through September 5.  For performance days, show times and reservations call 708-771-0700.  Tickets are $20-$24.   Jesus Christ Superstar Critical Evaluation: **** out of **** Theatre at the Center has opened for the summer months with Tim Rice and Andrew Lloyd Webber's production of "Jesus Christ Superstar" and they have a knockout production.  Stacey Flaster has assembled a strong cast of equity and non-equity performers who can sing, act and dance and it's a perfect show for teenagers and young adults to get acquainted with the theatre.  I've seen the show a number of times but this is one of the strongest productions I've seen of the show. The show stars Max Quinlan as Jesus of Nazareth with Audrey Billings as Mary Magdelene, Joe Tokarz as Judas Iscariot, Larry Adams as Pontius Pilate, Kevin Barthel as Annas and Steve Genovese as King Herod.  The show has a cast of twenty two accomplished performers.  Max Quinlan is a rising new star who is headed to New York after this show closes.  His performance is strong and his singing is amazing.  If you miss his performance you'll be sorry as it is the best performance of Jesus I've seen.  Other amazing performances are that of Joe Tokarz as the friend who  portrays Jesus and Audrey Billings' performance as Mary Magdelene couldn't have been better cast. The subject of the show is about the last seven days in the life of Jesus set in contemporary time.  This was Webber and Rice's first rock musical to be produced in America having received six Tony nominations.  Songs include "Strange Things Mystifying," "I Don't Know How to Love him," "Poor Jerusalem" and Quinlan's "Gethsemane" will astound you.  The closing scene is mesmerizing. In closing I wish Max all the good fortune he has coming in New York but don't forget Chicago and come back and do more shows for us.  While it is impossible to list everyone in the cast some are Countney Crouse, Jackie Gessert, Chie Isobe, Rebecca Pink, Lauren Creel, Dan Ferretti and Jeff Diebold.  "Jesus Christ Superstar" runs through August 8th.  For performance days, show times and reservations call 219-836-3255 or 800-511-1552.  Tickets range from $36 to $40.   The Emperor's New Clothes Critical Evaluation: **** out of **** Every summer the Chicago Shakespeare Theatre produces a musical for children as well as adults.  This year Alan Schmuckler is giving audiences his adaptation based on Hans Christian Andersen's classic story of "The Emperor's New Clothes."  Schmuckler has written the music and lyrics and David Holstein the book for the show.  The outstanding Rachel Rockwell has assembled a terrific cast for the show.  The show features eleven musical numbers and runs a fast seventy five minutes.  The show features a cast of eight talented actors, singers and dancers.  Veteran performers are headed by Anne Gunn as Mama, Jonathan Weir as Lord Vince, and Don Forston as the Emperor.  The siblings of Mama are Alex Goodrich as Kimberly her son and as the Emperor's daughter Sam is Megan Long.  The three actors who have comic roles are Mark David Kaplan, Goerge Andrew Wolff and Jarrod Zimmerman as Oversecretary, Intersecretary and the Undersecretary. The Father and his daughter, who is high-spirited, disagree on everything, especially when it comes to the fashion of what to wear.  The daughter is convinced the problem is with the seamstress Mama, and her son, Kimberly, who have been commissioned to create a new wardrobe for the Emperor's birthday celebration.  As the story rolls on we find everyone learns to appreciate each other in the end.  Songs include "Nobody Looks as Good as Me," "I'd Rather Be Me," "Invisible" and "The Emperor's Day."  The show is for children eight and older and it is a delightful morning or afternoon for them.  The show runs through August 29th.  For show dates, times and reservations call 312-595-5600.  Tickets are $18 - $23.   Once On This Island Critical Evaluation: *** out of **** The Marriott Theatre is offering Chicago audiences for the summer a small scale Caribbean musical fantasy based on the novel "My Love, My Love" by Rosa Guy.  The show is being directed by the very talented David H. Bell.  The show has book and lyrics by Lynn Ahrens and music by Stephen Flaherty.  The show has a cast of fourteen with a six-piece orchestra.  There are seventeen songs in the show that runs ninety five minutes. It is a simple story but the show is loaded with a first-rate cast of singers and dancers that are Chasten Harmon Astimoune along with a strong performance by Melody Betts as Asaka.  When the show opened in New York it received nine Tony nominations that included Best Musical.  The show deals with folklore and features narrators to tell its story of a poor peasant girl who falls in love with an upper class Gentleman Daniel played by Brandon Koller.  The Island Gods of Love, Earth, Water and Death try to manipulate the young lovers. Papa Ge is played by Jesse Means as the strong demon of death.  When Daniel's car crashes he is near death but Ti Moune rushes to his rescue to save his life only to have to pay a price which is her soul.  You'll hear such songs as "Waiting for Life,' "And the Gods Heard Her Prayer," "The Human Heart" and "Why We Tell the Story" as well as fourteen others.  I did find Brandon Koller a little weak on the vocals but his acting and dancing make up for it as I'm sure his vocals will improve.  It is a show you have to see to find out what happens to its characters.  "Once on this Island" runs through August 29th.  For show schedule, performance times and reservations call 847-634-0200.  There is free parking and it's wheelchair accessible.  Tickets are $35 to $48.    The Sins of Sor Juana Critical Evaluation: ** out of **** Goodman Theatre is presenting "The Sins of Sor Juana" by Karen Zacarias and directed by Henry Godinez on the Main Stage for Goodman's Fifth Biennial Latino Theatre Festival which runs through July 25th.  Godinez is one of Chicago's first rate Latino directors and an excellent actor.  I must admit the selection of this show was very disappointing to me.  The show is headed by two screen stars Tony Plana as the Padre and the Viceroy, and Malaya Rivera Drew as Sor Juana. Juana is such a compelling and revered figure in Spanish literature that her image appears on 200 peso notes.  Amy J. Carle has the role of Sor Sara and Vicereine, Laura Crotte is Xochit and Sor Filothea, Joe Minoso is Don Pedro, Dion Mucciacito is Silvio and Christina Nieves is the novice.  Ensemble members are Ilana Faust, Kevin Fugard, Elly Lachman and Isabel Quintero.  The show runs two hours and twenty minutes and the set by Todd Rosenthal is amazing.  The fight scenes are in the capable hands of Nick Sandys. Juana, we find, is a 17th century poet, philosopher, and free-thinking woman and in the convent where she resides, the powers that be are taking her many books away.  The story offers a romantic relationship between Silvio and Juana.  The story begins and ends her days in the convent as the story travels back in time to the viceroy's court.  We find writing expressive verse by a woman is unfashionable and sinful.  The viceroy sends his servants Don Pedro and Silvio to sabotage her friendship with Sor Sara.  We find Juana must choose between the power of the pen and the heart.  Sor Juana runs through July 25.  For the show performance, show times and reservations call 312-443-3800.  Tickets are $20 - $71.   Sweet and Hot: The Songs of Harold Arlen Critical Evaluation: **** out of **** "Sweet and Hot" could not have been a better selection as the final offering of the 2009-2010 season for the Theo Ubique Cabaret Theatre.  It is a "don't miss" summer presentation and should get extended well beyond August 8th.  One can understand why this intimate theatre recently won seven "Jeff Citations."  "Sweet and Hot" is a revue and the reason there is no story is because each song has its own story to tell its audience.  I only wonder how many young people and performers remember the songs and mastery of Harold Arlen. All this production needs is six talented performers all of which it has and a brilliant director whose name is Fred Anzevino and you have a major hit on your hands.  Every one of the three female vocalists -- Bethany Thomas, Sarah Hayes and Stephanie Herman, have fantastic voices as do the men who are Eric Lindahl, Eric Martin and Kristofer Simmons.  Every song has the music of Harold Arlen but many besides Arlen have contributed to the lyrics of the songs like Capote, Gershwin, Harburg, Mercer, Robin and Billy Rose to name some of the familiar ones.  You'll hear the cast sing such classics as "Blues in the Night," "Stormy Weather," "One for My Baby," "Get Happy," "Ac-cent-tchu-Ate the positive," "Over the Rainbow" and the list goes on.  You'll hear thirty six songs in this fast-moving two hour production.  If you're a fan of Groucho Marx you'll hear a song he made famous with "Lydia the Tattooed Lady.  Eric Lindahl is a strong singer who is a company member of Circle Theatre but who divides his talent between comedies, dramas and musicals.  This young man is groomed for stardom along with Martin, Hayes, Thomas and Herman and see a show they are in as you won't be disappointed.  Steve Carson is the musical director and David Hermann is choreographer. The 2010-2011 season offers the following shows:  Fry's "The Lady's Not for Burning," in September, followed by "Cats" in November.  In March we will only call it "A Spring Production," but I'm sure it will be a first rate show and in June the theatre will offer for the summer "A Tribute to George M. Cohen."  "Sweet and Hot" runs through August 8th and should be extended.  For show dates, show times and reservations, call 800-595-4849 or 773-347-1109.  Tickets are $25.  The theatre offers a dinner for an additional $20.  They have two entrees from which to select and the food is excellent and worth the additional amount.   Nothing But the Blues Critical Evaluation: ** out of **** The Black Ensemble is ending its 2009-2010 season with Joe Plummer's world premiere of "Nothing But the Blues."  The show features a cast of nine who sing and dance to eighteen numbers by various musicians like B.B.King, Dave Clark and Ray Charles to name a few.  You'll hear such numbers as the title tune, "To Know You is to Love You," "Hard Times," "Why I Sing the Blues," "Down Home Blues" and "The Thrill is Gone" to name a few.  The show is under the direction of the Ensemble's founder, the great Jackie Taylor, and co-directed by Daryle Brooks. Rhonda Preston is Theresa as the show is set in "Theresa's Lounge" for over thirty years and was the Chicago home of the greatest blues legends as the story goes.  This little club on Chicago's South Side opened in 1954 and closed in 1983 but at one time played host to Junior Wells and Buddy Guy.  Others in the cast were Trinity Murdock as Will, Lyle Miller as the troublesome drunk Lewis, Rick Stone as Old Man Washburn, Lawrence Williams as Kenny, the kid who wants to be a major singer in this blues club and who has some strong pipes; Noreen Starks as Mrs. Tate, Candace C. Edwards as Roland, Robin Beaman as Flo and Kelvin Roston, Jr., as Mailman Tate. It isn't one of Black Ensemble's best productions but then you can't win them all and the two hours and fifteen minutes moves at a fast pace.  It is worth seeing.  For me it was hard to hear the lyrics of the singers as the band blasted them out but the band does a first rate job.  Hopefully the air conditioner gets fixed as up to the opening it was working but for the opening it died.  But the show doesn't. Coming in the fall for their 2010-2011 season will be a revival of "The Other Cinderella," "All in Love is Fair - A Tribute to the Love Songs," "Remember Pearl Bailey?" "You Brought the Sunshine In My Life" - the story of the Clark Sisters.  The fifth play is to be announced.  "Nothing But the Blues" runs until August 29th.  For performance days, show times and reservations call 773-769-4451.  Tickets are $45.   The Tallest Man Critical Evaluation: *** out of **** Jim Lynch's new play "The Tallest Man" is closing out Artistic Home's 2009-2010 season and runs two hours and is well worth an evening of entertainment for its audience.  It's not necessary to be Irish to be entertained.  Mr. Lynch is a Chicago lawyer and the play has been in development for the past two years with assistance of the Theatre's ensemble but the story is that of Mr. Lynch.  The play has plenty of humor that deals with perseverance, prejudice and superstition that comes from a childhood of tales of Irish fantasy. John Mossman has done an exceptional job with his direction and the show has a strong cast of nine actors in this equity production.  Frank Nall has the role of Tommy Joe Lally, Billy Boehler is Johnny Mulligan, Marta Evans is Katie Kennedy, Miranda Zola is Breda Kennedy, and Malcolm Callan is the priest Father Andrew McLaughlin.  Others in the cast are Darrelyn Marx, Nick Horst, Shane Kenyon and Eamonn McDonagh.  Callan as the thieving priest is perfectly cast as Horst as Frankie Walsh and Kenyon as Finbar.  The two young actors show audiences they have promising futures ahead of them. The show has two strong women who are the center of the tale and both are gifted actresses who are Zola as the mother Breda and her daughter, Katie, played by Evans.  Veteran actors Frank Nall and Bill Boehler are two comic drunks and you'll be laughing at their comic scenes together and with Breda and Katie.  The two hours with intermission moves fast but it is hard to make out some of the conversation with their Irish brogues.  Sean O'Casey and Synge are two top-drawer Irish playwrights and Lynch, although American born, could follow as he grows as a playwright.  "The Tallest Man" runs through August 22.  For performance dates, show times and reservations call 866-811-4111.  Tickets are $25 - $27.   Sugar Critical Evaluation: **** out of **** The DeSantis and Van Lente families are presenting an outstanding production of "Sugar" which is a Broadway musical based on "Some Like it Hot."  William Osetek, who is the theatre's artistic director turned the reins of direction over to Jim Corti for this production and he deserves a major standing ovation for putting together a powerful cast.  Mr. Corti started his career as an actor and dancer who starred as Houdini in the Broadway production of "Ragtime," before returning home to Chicago and becoming an extraordinary director and choreographer at several of Chicago's regional theatres. Many subscribers may not be familiar with the musical "Sugar," which is the name of the character that Marilyn Monroe played in the movie "Some Like It Hot."  For the role of the blonde bombshell we have the very talented Jennifer Knox as Sugar Kane.  Two of the main leading men in the show are Rod Thomas who spent one year in Las Vegas in the "Lion King" and has the role of Joe (Josephine).  Next we have Alan Schmuckler as Jerry (Daphne).  In the role of the dynamic all-girl bandleader is one of Chicago's top performers, Tammy Mader as Sweet Sue.  Norm Boucher plays Spats Palazzo the Gangster, who is out to do in Joe and Jerry because they witnessed the mob assassination in the St. Valentine's Day Massacre on Chicago's Clark Street.  Palazzo seeing the two male musicians sets out to do them in so they disguise themselves as women and join Sweet Sue and her all-girl orchestra who are headed to Florida and are looking for two girl replacements.  Jerry as Daphne is being chased by Osgood Fielding, Jr., played by Joe D. Lauck who is a millionaire but at first Jerry has a crush on Sugar.  But Joe also has one on Sugar.  Steif Tovar as Bienstock, the group's manager, is perfect in his role and does a great job and you'll enjoy his performance. Others in the cast are Steve Calzaretta as Kuckles Norton, Christopher Damiano as Dude.  Some standouts in the ensemble are Richard Strimer, Andrew Weir, Brandon Dahlquist, Jason Bayle, Tiffany Herlien and Danielle Plisz.  The show has a cast of twenty three.  This show is a lot of fun and you should see it.  It runs two hours.  "Sugar" runs till August 1.  For show times, performance days and reservations call 630-530-0111.  Tickets are $31-$38 and $45.  Free parking and handicap accessible.   A Streetcar Named Desire Critical Evaluation: **** out of **** If you have never seen a production at Writers Theatre in Glencoe you don?t know what you are missing.  "Streetcar" is the last play in Writers' 2009-2010 season. We welcome back to Chicago director David Cromer who recently has been in New York directing plays. Cromer has a powerful cast for this Tennessee Williams classic masterpiece and that is exactly what this production is. It has a three hour running time but you will be mesmerized by the performances. The three main characters are played by Natasha Lowe as Blanche, Matt Hawkins as Stanley and Stacy Stoltz as Stella. Others in the cast are Carolyn E. Nelson, Derek Hasenstab, Esteban Andres Cruz, Jenn Engstrom, Ryan Hallaban, Rosario Vargas, Andrew Burden Swanson and Danny McCarthy as Mitch who is a best friend to Stanley. I believe Tennessee Williams was from New Orleans and this story takes place in Louisiana in 1947. Stella is married to the macho Stanley and while they are anything but rich, they seem happy. The strong ties between Stella and Stanley keep them together. Stella's sister Blanche who has fallen on hard times comes to visit. She has lost her home and job as a teacher. We find out that Mitch has been living with his mother but he is lonely and has lost a love interest years before meeting Blanche When Mitch meets Blanche he is attracted to her but as he finds out more about Blanche and her secret past he decides that this relationship won't work out. Blanche lies and drinks and her life is more a tragedy.  "A Streetcar Named Desire" will be revived for many years to come but this is one of the best productions that I have seen of it.  "A Streetcar Named Desire" runs through August 15. For show times and reservations call 847/242-6000. Tickets are $40- $65. Writers Theatre opens its 2010-2011 season with "She Loves Me" in the Fall.   The Odd Couple Critical Evaluation: *** out of **** The Raven Theatre is ending their current season with Neil Simon's "The Odd Couple," and Michael Menendian directs a cast of eight actors.  Simon is a playwright that gives audiences hours of laughter and this play gave him the prestigious "Tony Award."  This was his third play and his comic zingers will have you rolling with laughter.  His first two shows were "Come Blow Your Horn" and "Barefoot in the Park." This comedy deals with two men.  One is a slob, Oscar Madison, played by Eric Roach.  The other is a perfectionist, Felix Ungar, played by Jon Steinhagen.  Oscar is divorced and Felix is about to be divorced.  Every week they get together with their buddies Roy, played by Greg Caldwell; Murray, played by Larry Carani;  Speed, played by Anthony Tournis; and Greg Kolack returns to acting after a five-year absence as Vinnie; to play poker.  The premise Felix has no place to go when his wife kicks him out but can the two live peacefully together.  The answer is "No" and Steinhagen and Roach chase each other around the stage as both are driven nuts by each others. One funny one-liner of the many is when Oscar tells Felix it took him awhile to figure out F. U. meant Felix Unger.  Oscar tries to fix himself and Felix up with Cecily Pigeon played by Brigitte Ditmars and Gwendolyn Pigeon played by Liz Fletcher but everything goes wrong when the steak gets burned to a crisp.  It's a show that puts you in a great mood through spring and into summer."The Odd Couple" runs two hours with intermission.  The Odd Couple runs through August 8.  For performance schedule, show times and reservations call 773-338-2177.  Tickets are $25 and $30.   The Farnsworth Invention Critical Evaluation: *** out of **** The Timeline Theatre has been very fortunate the last two seasons with several strong blockbuster shows that had runs in New York.  First up was the dynamic production of "The History Boys." This season it is Aaron Sorkin's "The Farnsworth Invention"and next season it will be the Chicago premiere of "Frost/Nixon" by Peter Morgan.  But "All My Sons" was brought back to life with a strong production, along with rights to three Chicago premieres.  Sorkin's play takes two hours and thirty minutes to tell his story but it is an interesting one. David Sarnoff was one of the founders of NBC and a man who oversaw RCA along with developing radio and the birth of television.  Nick Bowling has done an extraordinary job in his direction of casting sixteen actors playing a total of about seventy different characters.  Sarnoff, who is the son of Russian-Jewish immigrants and is played by TimeLine's Artistic director P.J. Powers who leads his high powered men on the discovery of television. Rob Fagin is a strong actor who portrays Philo T. Farnsworth and is faced with several hardships such as depression, alcoholism and the death of his son who had emergency surgery from strep throat.  We find Sarnoff and Farnsworth are self-made men.  One is the son of a potato farmer from Idaho.  Maybe that's why we have Idaho baked potatoes.  The other escapes Russia when his home is burned to the ground by the evil Cossacks who are like the evil Nazis of Germany. Bill McGough plays Justin Tolman, who was Farnsworth's high school science teacher.  Sean Patrick Fawcett is the Russian Vladimir Zworykin.  Pem, played by Bridgette Pechma, is Farnsworth's Morman wife.  The story gives audiences much history and information on its characters.  They almost seem like David and Goliath and yet the two men never met.  It's a show well worth spending time seeing.   "The Farnsworth Invention" runs through July 24.  For show performances, dates, and reservations call 773-281-8463 X24.  Tickets are $25-$35.   Billy Elliot The Musical Critical Evaluation: **** out of **** Broadway in Chicago at the Ford City for Performing Arts - Oriental Theatre is flying high with their production of "Billy Elliot."  It is a major hit that should remain here for at least two years or longer.  I never saw the movie or read much about it so I didn't know what to expect.  It was nice that on opening night all four boys playing the role of Billy were allowed to take the curtain call.  Tommy Batchelor is 14 and from California.  Giuseppe Bausilio is from Bern, Switzerland and is 12-years-old, J. P. Viernes is from California and is of Asian parents but the star on opening night was 13-year-old Cesar Corrales born of Cuban descent but he himself was born in Mexico and living in Canada with his parents who are dancers. It is also nice to see and welcome back the three ex-Chicagoans in Jim Ortlieb, Blake Hammond and Evanston Native Susie McMonagle.  Stephen Daidry for the Chicago company has assembled a strong cast of equity performers.  The Music is by Elton John with the book and lyrics by Lee Hall and the choreography by Peter Darling.  In the opening night audience was Elton John, Oprah Winfrey and Jesse Jackson. A bright new young star has been born and he is a mere 13-year-old Cesar Corrales and for that age what a talented find.  He was not only amazing but incredible.  I had the chance by accident to meet and talk with his mother and younger brother in the lobby on opening night. I only had a few minor problems and one was the running time of the show, which was three hours.  Some might consider the first act too long but I found it fast moving and yet it could have been cut by 30 minutes.  Second - I would not take anyone under the age of 13 to see it because of the language.  A bit raunchy for someone six or seven although nowadays with what kids say and do - does it matter?  Third - Because of the cockney accent it was difficult to understand what they say at times.  Would I pay to go and see it again?  A big "Yes."  I wish I could go see the other three "Billy Elliots." It's a joyous celebration of how one boy from a small town who is on his way to the boxing ring stumbles onto a ballet class that he quickly has a passion for and how his father reacts when he finds out because he thinks ballet back in the 1980's is for fruits, but how father, uncle and grandmother discover they are wrong.  The whole family goes on an incredible uplifting adventure. This show first opened in London, Australia and of course New York and its songwriter may have seen it 30 or 40 times and I can understand why.  Anyone who has a closed mind about a male dancer not being normal need their head examined because they are the one with prejudice. Emily Skinner is wonderfully cast as Mrs. Wilkinson who discovers that Billy is talented as his dance teacher and gets him trained for The Royal Ballet School.  Armand Schultz is Billy's hard nose father who has to deal with a coal miners' strike in England in 1984.  Patrick Mulvey is the volatile uncle, Cynthia Darlow plays the loving grandmother of Billy and Chicago's own Susie McMonagle is mum - the dead mother of Billy but who remains alive in Billy's heart - a very touching performance. The songs "Shine," "Solidarity," "Dear Billy" (mum's letter), "Angry Dance,' are just that "Electricity."  There are not too many shows like this in New York and friends who have seen it in London and New York have said Chicago's cast is the best.  It's an expensive price for a ticket but well worth it.  Don't miss seeing it.  "Billy Elliot" is here for an open run.  For performance schedule and reservations call 800-775-2000 or get your seats at a downtown box office.  Tickets are $30-$100.   Million Dollar Quartet Critical Evaluation: **** out of **** As Jerry Lee Lewis would say "Great Balls of Fire" we have a major hit on our hands and not only with that hit song of his but with "Million Dollar Quartet" which celebrated its first anniversary November 5 at the Apollo Theatre.  I've seen the show three times.  It opened first at the Goodman Theatre in the Owen Theatre and then after its run there it opened at the Apollo.  The show will open off-Broadway in the spring of 2010 but will become an international hit in the future.  The show has a cast of eight who are talented singers as well as musicians.  From first viewing there has been a couple of cast changes but each time I've seen it the show's cast has gotten stronger.  Rob Lyons plays Carl Perkins, Lance Guest is Johnny Cash, Eddie Clandening plays Elvis Presley, the incredible Levi Kreis is Jerry Lee Lewis, Tim Decker is Sam Philips who runs Sun Records, Billy Shaffer and Chuck Zayas as Fluke and Jay Perkins accompany the cast as drummer and bass player in the band.  The only female in the cast is the beautiful Kelly Lamont as Dyanne, who for the story is Elvis' girlfriend.  Her rendition of "Fever" a song made famous by Peggy Lee is done in a sexy, sultry style and you don't want her to stop.  She also has one other solo "I Hear You Knocking" and does one with the group. Most of the songs you'll be familiar with and many you can come out singing.  Songs from the show are "Riders in the Sky" that also was a major hit for Vaughn Monroe, "See You Later Alligator", "Peace in the Valley," "I Walk the Line' and "Whole Lotta Shakin' Goin' On."  The show runs 100 minutes and features 21 songs.  The show has a book by Colin Escott and Floyd Mutrux and is under the direction of Floyd Mutrux and Eric Schaeffer.  Produced by Relevant Theatricals, John Cossette Productions and Northern Light Inc. Gigi Pritzker is one of the co-producers.  The show premiered in Florida and Washington before coming to Chicago. The story deals with how on December 4, 1956, an auspicious twist of fate brought Cash, Lewis, Perkins and Presley together.  The setting is in Sun Records, a storefront studio in Memphis where their careers began.  The man that made it all happen was Sam (the father of rock n' roll) Phillips who discovered them all.  These four legends-to-be are reunited for an impromptu recording and audiences get the jam session all the time.  "Million Dollar Quartet" is here for an open run.  For performance schedule and reservations call 773-935-6100.  Ticket prices are $25-$70.  It's worth it.   About Richard Eisenhardt Richard Eisenhardt visits with Chicago theatre legends Curt Dale Clark and Marc Robin (Above Left) and John Reeger and Paula Scrofano (Right). Richard Eisenhardt fell in love with all aspects of show business when at the age of five he was taken to see a live performance of Ice Follies and Ice Capades as well as Ringling Brothers Circus and an Olson and Johnson revue at the Selwyn Theatre. He served in the military and spent time at Ft. Leonard Wood, Mo. - Ft. Lee, Va. and Korea.  In Korea he sang with the Korean Floor Show and was soloist in church.  He met President and Mrs. Lyndon B. Johnson when he was stationed at Ft. Lee, Va.  Sportswise he is an avid hockey fan and to this day belongs to the Standby Club, a booster club for the Chicago Blackhkawks.  Richard had season tickets for over twenty years and saw the Chicago team win the Stanley Cup in 1961. His first major play was "South Pacific" that starred Janet Blair and Richard Eastham at the age of fifteen.  His favorite performers are Jane Powell, Mitzi Gaynor and Debbie Reynolds.  For years he has had season theatre tickets and was a member of the "Saints."  He appeared on stage in "Guys and Dolls" and "The Hot Drunkard."  He sang in high school variety shows and at his graduation and was church soloist.  He also presented a Jeff Award to Chicago's Regional Theatre.  In 1976 he put together his own publication called "Theatre 76" to encourage people to support regional theatre and make them aware of what Chicago Theatres offered them. During the Viet Nam conflict he went with a group to visit the wounded Viet Nam vets at Great Lakes, Ill., on a weekly basis.  When servicemen were able to get weekend passes and their wounds were healed he arranged to take two or three to restaurants, sports events and theatre in Chicago.  He also arranged for them to meet hockey players and the stars in the shows.  He loves to travel having vacationed in Europe, Canada, Mexico, Hawaii, Japan, as well as on a cruise ship to Bermuda and seeing cities in the United States.  He likes being single and resides with his boxer dog "Noel."  Over the years he has had seven dogs but not at one time. He feels a big part of the theatre community even though he doesn't perform any longer.  Many of his friends are the Reegers, the Muellers, Renee Matthews, and the list goes on.  His reviews have appeared in Streetwise, Our Village Newspaper, and on-line.  He has also been on the radio and done TV.  Richard says "There is nothing like live theatre.  Go see a play - long may it live!"   Richard and Friends Richard Eisenhardt pictured with several of his celebrity friends: (above Left) Dennis Hull of The Chicago Blackhawks Hockey Team; (Center) Movie Superstar Jane Russell; (Right) John Marks of the Chicago Blackhawks.   (Left) Broadway and Cabaret singer Julie Wilson; (Center) Zsa Zsa Gabor; (Right) World Champion figure skater Terry Kubicka.