Steadstyle Chicago
	April 2008 Theatre Review by Alan Bresloff
	Looking for a Ticket Broker? Check out the hottest broadway tickets from Gotickets.com What Every Woman Knows Critical Evaluation: *** out of **** (Pictured) Lili-Anne Brown, Christian Gray and Barbara Zahora in ShawChicago's "What Every Woman Knows," at The Chicago Cultural Center Studio Theater.  Concert Readings are what used to be called "Readers' Theater".  No sets, limited costumes, no props, no special effects, simply actors with lecterns or music stands facing an audience reading from the script. To be honest, most of the actors appear to have memorized their lines so they are not truly reading.  If the actors are good, it only takes a few moments to forget they are reading and in ShawChicago's "What Every Woman Knows," now playing at The Chicago Cultural Center Studio Theater, this is the case.  The play is James Barrie's "What Every Woman Knows," the story of Maggie Wylie, a charmless young woman who's father and brothers arrange for her to be with a young upstart politician, help him and after four years, marry.  The young man has been breaking into their home each night to study the volumes of unread books in their Library and rather than face prison, he agrees to their terms. As the years go on he rises in stature and they do wed, although he always says he does not love her.  Along the way he meets a charming young girl he he falls madly in love with (or is it lust?) and Maggie, seeing what is happening arranges for him to go away for a month to see what he really wants to do.  Meanwhile, she also arranges for the young girl to be there as well.  As the month draws to an end a unique confrontation takes place involving the love triangle and we find out just how "charming" Maggie is. This is a delightful little story with a dynamic cast of players directed by Robert Scogin.  You may ask, why would there be a director for a reading?  The answer is very clear in this production.  Actors do not just read, they act.  They take on the persona of the character they play and so, someone must direct them so they do not overplay or underplay the role.  That person also has to make sure that the entire production and all its parts meld as one, and Mr. Scogin does this to perfection!  Barbara Zahora is delightful as Maggie and exudes charm.  Christian Gray is powerful as John Shand, her husband.  Kate Young has a winning comedic touch as the Contesse de la Briere and Lili-Anne Brown is delightful as Lady Sybil, the other part of the triangle. The rest of the cast, Tony Dobrowolski, Joe Lehman, Nathan Hosner and Michael McAlister all add to the production as does Narrator Joseph Bowen.  One of the neat things in watching a production like this is that we are not wowed by the sets or special effects.  We do not ooh and aah over the costumes and the lighting.  What we are treated to is listening to the words of the author and watching the delivery of the actors and thus understanding what it is the author was trying to say. It is a fun experience, but one that you can only get to witness until the May 3, 2008 at The Chicago Cultural Center, located at  77 E. Randolph Street.  Performances are Saturdays and Sundays at 2p.m. and Mondays at 7 p.m., Saturday evenings at 7 p.m. on 4/19 and 4/26 with post show discussions with the cast.  Tickets are $15 and are available by calling 312-742-8497, stopping by the DCA Theater box office at 68 E. Randolph Street or online at www.dcatheater.org.   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 EpochTimes.  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.