Steadstyle Chicago
	March 2010 Theatre Review by Alan Bresloff
	An Evening with Patti LuPone & Mandy Patinkin Chicago theater lovers have been waiting for this week for a long time.  "An Evening With Patti LuPone and Mandy Patinkin" is in for six performances only at The Cadillac Palace Theatre as "the" attraction in the Broadway in Chicago season.  These are two of Broadway's finest.  Thirty years after they performed together as Che and Evita in their Tony Award winning roles, they are back on stage again.  The chemistry between them is fierce and fills the theater with the excitement and energy they bring to the stage.  Both skilled songsmiths who make each word meaningful, they are delightful to watch as well as listen to.  There was a glitch in the sound system and mike balance at the very onset, but these performers made it through with no hesitation and the correction was made by the second song. Just imagine an almost bare stage with the exception of the piano, a few chairs and several assorted single bulb lamps.  The single bulb lamp is a theater symbol.  There is always one on every stage even after the lights are turned down.  I would have to say that the number of lights on stage is to symbolize the number of plays in which they have selected their music from.  Conceived and directed by Patinkin with Paul Ford, they have cleverly woven little stories from the many shows with most of the work that by Rodgers & Hammerstein, some Jerome Kern and Kander & Ebb and a ton of Sondheim.  Who can ask for anything more? It has been said that Patinkin is indeed the greatest male interpreter of Sondheim's works and I would have to agree.  Bernadette Peters is probably his female counterpart when it comes to Sondheim, but LuPone makes this a very special evening.  Here are two of the most accomplished performers, singers who can act and know how to please an audience bringing to the stage some of the most memorable Broadway music to be heard and just for fun have added some pieces that are just a little bit less done. Not only do they sing and act, but they dance.  Yes, dance and even in the slightly limited choreography designed by Ann Reinking, we are treated to some very clever and surprising moves.  Wait until you see the "chair dance"!  With lots of music from "South Pacific", "Carousel", "Merrily We Roll Along" and of course all the special songs from Sondheim including Ms. LuPone doing "Everything's Coming Up Roses," there is never a dull moment.  I was surprised that "Don't Cry For Me Argentina," which was listed to end the first act, was cut but the disclaimer on the program states "song list is subject to change without notice".  We did have two plus hours of glorious entertainment, so don't cry for us future audience members, the truth is you are in for a hell of a time!  Problem is, you only have until March 7, 2010.  Performances are Wednesday at 7:30 p.m., Thursday at 7:30 p.m., Friday at 8 p.m., Saturday at 8 p.m., Sunday at 3 p.m.  Tickets range from $18-$120 and can be purchased at any of the Broadway in Chicago box offices, through the Broadway in Chicago Ticketline at 800-775-2000, at all Ticketmaster outlets or online at www.ticketmaster.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 Epoch Times.  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.