ChiIL Live Shows highly recommends Ivywild. This weekend marks your final shot at seeing this rambunctious ride! We finally got to check out Ivywild, The Hypocrites latest and it's pure magic. Who else would attempt to recreate an entire turn of the century amusement park complete with audience participation rides and flamboyant owners in the basement of The Chopin Theatre! These consumate story tellers pull it off masterfully!
The costumes are a hoot and a half, as is the delightful acting. This production has hints of 500 Clown and Barrel of Monkeys, other long time favs of ours, and understandably so with Jay Torrence writing and acting and Halena Kays directing!
Anthony Courser does steller physical comedy as Princess, the trunkless, alcoholic, philosophic elephant. Put this on your must see list then go already. (Aimed at adults but fine for tweens & up.)
Critics:
"IVYWILD is really 20% history and 80% lighted-hearted frolic. And it adds up to 100% entertainment from another amusing Kays-Torrence ride." ChicagoNow
"...reminds us that as adult realities, responsibilities and wrongdoings accrue, so too
does our longing to
return to childhood." NewCity
"Anthony Courser (who is just fantastic, and truthful, as Princess the elephant)" Chicago Tribune
"Ivywild, the new play by the ever-audacious The Hypocrites, is part carnival, part Chicago history lesson. And it is a delightful 90 minutes of fact mixed with fantasy." Gapers Block
"People who would like this show are people who like amusement parks, yellow shoes, and pickles. People should go see this show because it is funny, sad, and lets you go on amusement park rides." Ada Grey, Age 8
Audience reactions:
"If you like Fellini, you'll like this production. The set, costumes, and performances were all
evocative of one of the master's films. Very cleverly done."
"Ivywild is another excellent production by @thehypocrites. Looking forward to seeing yet more in the future."
"unique and entertaining! The performers did an amazing job portraying each of the characters. It was fun to learn about Bathhouse John and Ivywild. A great fun evening out!'
"story shows the truth behind the fleeting nature of this
world's amusement and entertainment...The actors
did a phenomenal job and really allow the small space to
come alive."
"Very unusual production...wonderful choreography!"
"Incredible visual and sonic feast...Funny, educational, well-performed and with a sense of the period of these things that we get when we see old photographs."
"amazing, imaginative, and unique show... This was probably one of the most involving and complete theater pieces I've ever seen...funny, physically impressive, challenging, all-encompassing ...Brilliantly done and wonderfully memorable. I've lived in Chicago for 15 years now and have never seen anything like it."
"Go see Ivywild! It was a stunning and wild
ride from top to bottom!"
"A beautiful play. I walked in not knowing anything about it, other than the connection with Chicago history...The playwright, Jay Torrence, uses physicality and language beautifully, makes his and others' words pop off the page, full of breath and life..."
"Strange and charming, beautifully performed!"
"My face hurt from smiling & laughing so much at Ivywild.
Loved the aesthetic & storytelling."
"One of the best world premiere new plays I've seen.
Not to be missed!"
"If, like me, you always enjoy The Hypocrites,
this won't be an exception."
UPCOMING:
Rahm Emanuel announced that City of Chicago is kicking off the Night Out in the Parks campaign which includes The Hypocrites' 2012 production of Romeo Juliet!
Walter Briggs, Tien Doman, Lindsey Gavel and Zeke Sulkes are back to bring you Sean Graney's Jeff nominated adaptation of these star-crossed lovers like you've never seen it before. And it is free!
This initiative allows us to bring our work to different neighborhoods in unconventional spaces. Tickets will go fast so make sure you tell your friends now.
Click here for calendar and to reserve your tickets now.
