Beverly Review
A wonderful Christmas gift for parents and grandparents to share with the young people in their life!
The newly created Chicago Children's Theatre, aspiring to bring the highest quality family entertainment to its audiences, took on an ambitious project in mounting a stage adaptation of science/fiction writer Ray Bradbury's novel, “Dandelion Wine, for its inaugural production.
The book is a thinly disguised personal reflection on the author's own experiences as a 12-year old, during a summer that turned the innocence of childhood with its imaginative dreams into the awakening reality of adult responsibilities and disappointments.
The format is that of a 38 year old author who returns to relive that summer in order to put to rest the demons of his mind that have prevented him to move forward with his life.
The stage production, playing at Steppenwolf Upstairs, 1650 N. Halsted through December 31, is visually stunning, imaginatively creative, superbly-acted, and artistically rewarding.
But it's thoughtful depth, provocative symbolism, and dark edges do not readily fit the category of what is usually thought of as “children's theater” even considering children are far more perceptive than adults give them credit for.
But hats off to Chicago Children's Theatre for providing an intelligent, artistically sophisticated show for audiences that are far underserved....the young adult, Middle School or High School child.
Two grandsons ages 12 and 15 were my guests. They were quite engrossed, yet challenged on different levels that led to some thoughtful conversations between adults and teens, a phenomenon that few sources of entertainment provide.
A wonderful Christmas gift for parents and grandparents to share with the young people in their life!