Steadstyle Chicago
	May 2008 Theatre Review by Alan Bresloff
	Looking for a Ticket Broker? Check out the hottest broadway tickets from Gotickets.com The Mark of Zorro Critical Evaluation: **** out of **** Robert Kauzlaric and James Elly cross swords in Lifeline Theatre's production of "The Mark of Zorro".  Photo by Suzanne Plunkett. Many of us remember the television series of "Zorro," a Disney production, and others the newer version on Telemundo, a Novella of sorts, while the real old timers might recall the movie version a long time ago.  Now, thanks to Lifeline Theatre and their world premiere adaptation of Johnson McCulley's original book by Katie McLean, you can discover the original in a wonderful production being staged through June 22nd.  While this theater is small in size, it is large in talent and use of the small space and this production truly proves that good things do come in small packages. Thirteen actors handle all the roles to tell this captivating story of the mysterious hero known as Zorro, as he fights the corruption that has befallen the mythical area of California using a time period from early the 1800's to about 1840. His masked avenger may have been the first of the "superheros" in our society.  A mild mannered nobleman takes on a persona that is completely the opposite of who he is known to be, that is our hero Don Diego Vega.  James Elly is brilliant in this role. When he is Don Diego he is as foppy as one can get.  For those of you who know Adrian Monk on the TV series "Monk", he will surely remind you of this character, but when he dons his mask and black outfit, he is "Zorro", the swashbuckling hero who is feared by the soldiers and corrupt politicians, but loved by the townspeople he protects. This small cast handles a multitude of roles and many costume changes (great work by Branimira Ivanova) and under the direction of Dorothy Milne they move about the small set by Alan Donahue with great ease.  The choreography by Jasmin Cardenas and fight choreography by Geoff Coates adds a great deal to the realism of the production.  What would Zorro be without sword-fights and to make this happen in this limited space had to have been a great challenge, and one that was met to perfection.  There is of course a love story involving our hero (in both personas).  He is told by his father Don Alejandro Vega that it is time for him to wed and bear him grandchildren. He is sent to the home of Don Carlos Pulido (Larry Baldacci, who as always handles his role with great ease) and his wife Dona Pulido (Allison Cain adds the right touches) to court their daughter Lolita.  Rosa de Guindos is a delight in this role.  Wait until you see her riding a horse and yielding a knife.  Don Diego is not what Lolita wants, but her parents who are near bankruptcy do.  One of the soldiers, Captain Ramon (a strong performance by Robert Kauzlaric) also wants her hand, but it is Zorro who comes to her rescue from the captain that catches her heart and gets her love.  This love story has a fun journey but as we all know, the right guy ends up with Lolita. The rest of the cast includes Manny Tamayo as Sergent Gonzales, the comic character which he does with perfect timing, Hanlon Smith-Dorsey as the Friar and the Governor (a good guy and a bad guy as well as some other roles), and then we have the ensemble (Eduardo Garcia, B. Diego Colon, Jonathan Helvey, Brian Kilborn and the lovely Jennifer Munoz).  The small but talented cast takes us an adventure story filled with romance and a great deal of comedy.  You will find yourself laughing out loud, I know I did.  Be prepared to have a solid theatrical experience in a small theater in the Rogers Park neighborhood, one that is well worth the trip, even with today's gas prices.  Lifeline is very close to public transportation (Red line Morse Avenue stop).  There is also free parking with shuttle service both ways. "The Mark of Zorro" has been extended through July 20, 2008 at Lifeline Theatre, 6912 N. Glenwood Ave. in Chicago.  Performances are Fridays at 7:30 p.m., Saturdays at 4 and 8 p.m., Sundays at 4 p.m.  Tickets are $25 in honor of Lifeline's 25th anniversary, $20 for seniors and $15 for students.  Rush tickets at $10 (subject to availability) are sold one half hour before each show.  Tickets can be purchased by calling 773-761-4477 or online at www.lifelinetheatre.com.   About Alan Bresloff Alan Bresloff, once an actor himself, has been covering the Chicago Theater Scene since 1993, first as the Theater and Arts critic for LaRaza newspaper, then with Salsachicago.com and then onto Extra Newspaper and The EpochTimes.  He also writes for ElImparcial and TeleGuia.  His reviews can also be seen on www.theatreinchicago.com.  Alan does not call himself a "critic" but a "reviewer" as he tries to educate the reader about theater itself, what is a good value, what to look for in a play or musical and more.  "Exposure to theater is a very important part of a young person's life" he says. "Learning about the arts and culture is in fact learning about life" and he tries to explain more in his reviews than just if it is good or bad.  Even some of the poor productions have some value, he often says and he would love your feedback on shows that you have seen.  You can write him here or at albresloff@sbcglobal.net.