Displaying items by tag: The Greenhouse Theater
He Read My Mind! Mark Toland Delivers Quick-paced, Entertaining 'Mind Reader'
With a mix of non-stop banter and radiant charm, Mark Toland’s one-man show, Mind Reader, is 75 minutes of fun. While audiences are told to keep quiet about what happens during his show, I can reveal that it is very entertaining, each show freshly scripted based on “reading the minds” of whomever might be in the audience.
“The audience is the cast, their thoughts are my props and their minds will be blown,” Toland declares enthusiastically. Audiences should prepare to take part in the show, as Toland attempts to get into their minds, his delivery punctuated by throw-away puns, zingers, and an occasional dark and twisted joke.
It’s also a rare thing: Toland asks us to unplug completely from our digital toys and give in to his bewilderingly accurate readings on what's on our minds. Toland forthrightly tells the audience his powers are exclusively based on his finely-honed powers of observation and his refined perceptiveness.
"I'm not a psychic," he says. "I just want to leave you with a sense of mystery." In fact, he scans and greets each member of the audience as they arrive, including this writer. But if you are like me, you will find it hard to believe he is not operating on a paranormal plane.
Bringing an improvisational comedic style to his show, Toland is on the road with his show all week doing big houses and corporate gatherings. But he has made Chicago his based for a mid-weekly visit, where he presumably sees his wife – unseen in the show but referenced liberally times. See if you don't agree that in style and demeanor, Toland looks much like comedic actor Mark Helms (The Office, Hangover 1,2,3, etc.).
Toland has showed off his mind reading skills at other Chicago venues, including the Chicago Magic Lounge, The Lincoln Lodge, The Comedy Bar, and the Chicago Fringe Festival. He has appeared on WGN, NBC, FOX, ABC, NPR, Disney and the TEDx Stage. Toland claims to have correctly guessed the outcome of the NCAA Men's Basketball Tournament, and says he bicycled through Chicago traffic completely blindfolded.
Toland has a weekly blog at MarkToland.com that features a behind-the-scenes glimpse into the life of a touring mind reader, helpful skills that anyone can use and travel tips from around the world. The reception has been strong enough for his run to be extended through October. “I’m thrilled to bring an exciting new show to Chicago audiences every week,” Toland says. It runs every Wednesday at 8 p.m. with general admission tickets at $25 and available at greenhousetheater.org or by calling 773.404.7336
Review: Circumference of a Squirrel at The Greenhouse Theater Center
“Circumference of a Squirrel” by John Walch finishes out The Greenhouse Theater’s inaugural Solo Celebration. This one-character play festival featured only single narrative storytelling. It’s not often you see a one-person fiction play, and while some may cringe at the concept, these short works explored highly relevant themes.
Will Allen stars as Chester. He begins the play telling the audience about a squirrel he saw trying to carry a bagel. Chester is in the present, and by the speech pattern adopted by Allen, we can presume something is a little off. Walch’s script seamlessly flows between Chester’s childhood memories, his relationship with his father and the divorce he’s just been through. He grapples with the knowledge that his father was an ardent anti-semite. It colors the dark, and funny memories of his father paying him in Lifesavers to kill squirrels.
Allen toggles between several characters and memories in the hour-long run time. Each character has a unique, but sincere voice and there’s an almost manic quality with which Allen can articulate them all. His performance only deepens from beginning to end, leading to a bittersweet conclusion.
Directed by Jacob Harvey, “Circumference of a Squirrel” is a well-stylized, and at times abstract look at the ways in which we love. It asks of its audience, whether unfounded racism is forgivable even in the ones we are supposed to love.
Through February 12 at The Greenhouse Theater Center. 2257 N Lincoln Ave.
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Steppenwolf's Adirondack Chair Circle: The Joke Lands. Then What?
Written by Maddie BurroughsI went into Adirondack Chair Circle wondering what a new play about book bans could add to a conversation whose arguments most of its audience could probably already recite. A world premiere at Steppenwolf seemed worth giving the benefit of… -
Nov. 23 at the MAC: "An Evening with Gary Sinise" Author of "Graceful Warrior" to Benefit WSFDV
Written by Buzz Center StageWest Suburban Foundation for Disabled Veterans (WSFDV) presents "An Evening with Gary Sinise," Author of "Graceful Warrior" at the McAninch Arts Center (MAC) located on the campus of College of DuPage, 425 Fawell Blvd. Monday, Nov. 23 at 6:30 p.m. Sinise, an… -
Remarkable Production Makes 'The Royale" a Knockout Show
Written by Bill EslerWriters Theatre scores a knockout production with Marco Ramirez’s 2013 play, The Royale. Under the direction of Tyrone Phillips, we see this widely-produced script (it played New York’s Lincoln Center a decade ago) executed to perfection. Centered on boxing legend… -
David Salsbery Fry returns to Chicago Opera Theater for fourth production with company in Chicago Premiere The Importance of Being Earnest - December 2-6
Written by Buzz Center StageDavid Salsbery Fry sings the role of Rev. Canon Chasuble in the Chicago Premiere of Chicago Opera Theater’s (COT) production of Castelnuovo-Tedesco’s humorous and final stage work – a “sparkling operatic adaptation of Oscar Wilde’s beloved play and a joyful tribute to…
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