Steadstyle Chicago
	April 2008 Theatre Review by Ruth Smerling
	Looking for a Ticket Broker? Check out the hottest broadway tickets from Gotickets.com Better Late Critical Evaluation: **** out of **** (Left) Mike Nussbaum and John Mahoney; (Right) Mahoney and Linda Kimbrough in "Better Late" at Northlight Theatre.  Photos by Michael Brosilow. Larry Gelbart, probably best known for his work on the mega hit TV series, M*A*S*H and award winning playwright Craig Wright (Orange Flower Water) have joined forces to pen one of the most touching love stories of the new millennium, "Better Late", directed by Northlight artistic director B.J. Jones, the story of a love so strong it breaks off and takes root in all different directions. Linda Kimbrough is Nora, a charming matron married to award-winning composer Lee, played by John Mahoney.  Stuck in dense downtown Los Angeles traffic, on their way to the theatre, she informs Lee that they are about to welcome her previous husband, Julian (Mike Nussbaum) into their home to convalesce.  He’s had major surgery and needs constant attention.  Lee is no pushover, but Nora can move mountains when she wants to help someone.  Nora and Julian were happily married until one night at a party, she locked eyes with Lee across the proverbial crowded room.  Soon they learned that they were soul mates and it’s move over Julian.  They all managed to stay civilized.  Nora never stopped loving Julian but she sincerely believed that she was meant to be with Lee.  Their son, Billy (Steve Key), loves his dad and gained a good friend in Lee, but grew up to marry  a philandering wife and develop a twitching eye.  Billy gets along with all his parents and is as close to Lee as he is to his own father.  Lee is in many ways the most rational of the bunch.  Under any circumstances this would seem a little freaky, but this family is bound by love almost to the point of worship for each other.  They love each other so much they almost cannot bear it.  Linda Kimbrough is almost typecast, just acting naturally as Nora a woman who feels a deep sense of responsibility for all the people she cares about.  Also we get a glimpse of her about 20 years in the future with white hair and elegant attire and she’s gorgeous.  Mike Nussbaum and John Mahoney have the most challenging roles.  Nussbaum, as Julian, the first husband who has no place to go, returns to his ex-wife nearly incapacitated to live in the home of her present husband.  Steppenwolf ensemble member John Mahoney is famous for his work on NBC’s "Frasier" as Martin Crane, the crusty, beer swilling, sports loving ex-cop and father to Fraser and Niles, two of the most uptight characters in TV history.  Lee is no Marty Crane.  Lee is refined, sophisticated, meticulous and rational.  By comparison to Julian, he’s healthy as a bull and man enough to extend a hand in friendship and a hearty welcome.  With body and soul, Steve Key brings the role of the troubled son Billy to life.  Billy is hurting with tsouras of his own, but downplays his problems to be full on for his family.  Key manages to get the audience to take note of how he takes after his mother, while adopting the posture of a man crumbling under the weight of misery, disappointment and despair for his failing marriage and for his ailing father.  "Better Late" is four stars funny, heartwarming and at times heartbreaking.  The bond of family is strong and urgent and even if these people can’t surpass all their woes, they all know that they can count on each other, even if nothing else is stable.  Don’t be afraid to cry.   "Better Late", with a superb cast comprised of  Chicago’s finest talents is like a fond embrace from an old friend who loves you very much.    "Better Late" will run through May 11, 2008 at The Northlight Theatre in The North Shore Center For The Performing Arts at 9501 N. Skokie Blvd. in Skokie.  Performances are Tuesday at 7:30 p.m., Wednesday at 1 p.m. and 7:30 p.m., Thursday at 7:30 p.m., Friday at 8 p.m., Saturdays 2:30 p.m. and 8 p.m., Sunday at 2 pm. and 7 p.m. (except 4/20, 5/4 and 5/11).  Tickets range from $35-$55 and can be purchased at the box office, by phone at 847-673-6300 or online at www.northlight.org.   About Ruth Smerling Ruth Smerling began work as an entertainment writer while attending the prestigious University of Illinois School of Communications.  She persuaded the school paper to assign her to review the film "Get Shorty," starring John Travolta.  Unfortunately her work was a little too brutal for the UIC paper and that was also her last assignment.  Nevertheless, the need to write and communicate could not be extinguished and fortunately her reviews received a warm welcome by the Editor-In-Chief of College News, Daphne Robinson who named her the Reel Goddess from 1993 to 2003.  Ruth covered film festivals all over the North America and interviewed countless movie stars, directors and authors.  Meeting the French Director Bertrand Tavernier at the Chicago Film Festival was the turning point in her movie reviewing experience.  He presented a brilliant film called "It All Starts Today".  He explained that she loved his films so much because American films are enjoyable, but must sell as much popcorn and Coca-Cola as they do tickets.  Since 2003 Ruth has been submitting controversial and thought provoking reviews to Theatreworld Internet Magazine and is pleased to report that people around the world send her e-mails inquiring about Chicago theatre, actors, directors and productions underway.  Ruth is delighted to be part of the Steadstyle website and looks forward to a long and happy association.    Northlight's Better Late a Treat Review by Alan Bresloff When one hears that veteran actors such as John Mahoney and Mike Nussbaum will appear in a new play written by Larry Gelbart (MASH) and Craig Wright (Dirty Sexy Money/Six Feet Under), directed by BJ Jones, one knows that they are in for a treat.  And a treat it is!  Northlight's production of "Better Late" is a love story of a different type that is 90 minutes of fun with a storyline that will touch your heartstrings.  Added to this cast is Steve Key and the always brilliant Linda Kimbrough.  This is a solid cast, directed by a true pro with a wonderful script.  What more could a theater-goer ask for?  The set by Jack Magaw is simple, but works very well and the music composition and sound design by Rob Milburn and Michael Bodeen add the right touch.  While all of this and the projections by Stephan Mazurek are great additives, the true ingredients are the words, the cast and the direction that makes this recipe work. The story is about a family, Lee (Mahoney) and Nora (Ms. Kimbrough).  They have a lovely home and she has a son from her previous marriage, Billy (Steve Key).  Billy's dad, Julian (Nussbaum) has recently had a stroke and is about ready to be released from the hospital.  He can't stay with his son who is having his house redone (as it turns out there are other problems at home as well), so Nora decides that he should stay with her and Lee.  As we learn more about the past we find that Lee "stole" Nora away from Julian and over the years Nora always felt some guilt over leaving her husband of 10 years to marry Lee. Taking him in and getting him all the comforts while he recovers is her way of taking some of the guilt off her shoulders.  For Lee, the problems arise from having his wife dote over her ex while he makes all the adjustments to this man in his home.  As the recovery period becomes extended (going from possibly two weeks to almost three months) the situation becomes more awkward for both men.  This is a unique love triangle.  While the men are close to the same age, Nora is slightly younger and Billy faces his own problems, raised by both of these men would like to see harmony for all the adults so he can handle his own situation. Having two writers with a wide age disparity create a story like this gives us a look at their life experiences and blends them into a warm and humorous look at life and the aging process, of love and possibly even forgiveness.  Can the hurt that Julian felt when Nora left him for this composer ever be cured?  Can the guilt that Nora has carried all these years go away?  Can the love that brought Lee and Nora together can be rekindled?  These answers and many more do come out in this wonderful story performed to what I would have to call perfection.  One cannot help but leave the theater with a warm feeling and maybe on the drive home think about something from their past that may have been harmful or painful to someone else.  Is it "better Late" than never to atone?