Shakespearean scholar Zdenek Urbanek is best known as the mentor of Czechoslovakian president Vaclav Havel. A translator of Shakespeare who has brought the plays to a powerful new life in a now-free Czechoslovakia, Urbanek has greatly influenced Shakespeare Repertory artistic director Barbara Gaines, who met him in 1989. Fittingly, the company`s season-opening production of Shakespeare`s ”King John,” which opens on Monday, is dedicated to Urbanek, who will be present for the occasion.
The play, billed as ”a story of repression, tyranny and freedom,”
chronicles the reign of England`s most unpopular monarch and the efforts of the barons at Runnymede to secure the Magna Carta. Greg Vinkler plays the title role.
”King John” will run in repertory with ”Much Ado About Nothing”
through March 31 at the Ruth Page Theatre, 1016 N. Dearborn Pkwy.; 281-1878.
Other theater openings of note in the next two weeks:
”True West,” Friday, Profiles Performance Ensemble at Red Bones Theatre, 4147 N. Broadway; 404-8341: Ian Streicher stages a revival of Sam Shepard`s play about the corrosive relationship between a Hollywood screenwriter and his mysterious and possessive brother. Role reversal was never so dramatic.
”Another Antigone,” Friday, Center Theater, 1346 W. Devon Ave.;
502-0200: The Midwest premiere of A.R. Gurney`s four-person play is the second show in the theater`s Studio Series. John Carlile`s staging updates Sophocles` heroine as a graduate student who finds herself pitted against her professor. ”Childe Byron,” Saturday, Cloud 42 at Stage Left Theatre, 3244 N. Clark St.; 883-8830: Diana Spinrad stages the Chicago premiere of Romulus Linney`s 1980 depiction of the last day of the life of the brilliant mathematician Augusta Ada. She hallucinates an apparition of her father, the fated poet Lord Byron; the exchanges between them call into question the ties between science and art and parent and child. Hannah Palin plays Augusta and Marc Silvia her notorious father.
”Time and the Conways,” Monday, Equity Library Theatre Chicago at Remains Theatre, 1800 N. Clybourn Ave.; 871-2221: J.B. Priestley`s 1937 play examines one family at the end of World War I and a few years before the beginning of World War II. Two performances only.
”Walt Disney`s World on Ice,” Tuesday, Chicago Stadium, 1800 W. Madison St.; 902-1919: Reportedly the largest gathering yet of Disney`s favorite characters, including new ones like Roger Rabbit and the Little Mermaid. All join a cast of young skating professionals in this touring spectacle.
”The Music of Andrew Lloyd Webber,” Tuesday, Chicago Theatre, 175 N. State St.; 902-1500 or 559-1212: Back by popular demand, the showcase of the Tony-winning British composer`s most popular songs and theater music includes selections from such mega-hits as ”Evita,” ”Cats,” ”Jesus Christ Superstar” and, of course, ”The Phantom of the Opera,” performed by a symphony orchestra and an ensemble of 12 Broadway singers.
”What the Butler Saw,” Wednesday, Court Theatre, 5535 S. Ellis Ave.;
753-4472: Boston University`s Jacques Cartier directs Jonathan Farwell (of
”The Young and the Restless”) in British farceur Joe Orton`s sanity-warping comedy about feuding psychiatrists.
”Blues in the Night,” Wednesday, Bailiwick Repertory, 3212 N. Broadway; 883-1090: Joe Huber directs the Midwest premiere of this Broadway and London musical, a celebration of classic blues and jazz songs of the `20s and `30s. They`re performed in a cheap hotel by three women and a saloon singer. The show runs in repertory with ”Mademoiselle Julie.”
”Only Kidding,” Thursday, Wisdom Bridge Theatre, 1559 W. Howard St.;
743-6000: Newly appointed resident director Terry McCabe directs a cast of five in this backstage comedy about the world of standup comedy.
”The Babysitter,” Feb. 1, Parallax Theater Company at Chicago Actors Project, 2856 N. Halsted St.; 528-8388: Robert Coover`s satirical comedy crosses the line between fantasy and reality to explore the twisted relationship of a suburban family and their babysitter.
”Groundhog & Gratitude Night,” Feb. 2, Talisman Theatre, 2074 N. Leavitt St.; 235-7763: Celebrate Groundhog Day with this mix of unconventional music and comic entertainment.
”Deep in a Dream of You,” Feb. 4, Goodman Studio Theatre, 200 S. Columbus Dr.; 443-3800: Backed by original jazz music by Roy Nathanson and directed by David Petrarca, British writer-performer David Cale (creator of
”The Redthroats” and ”Smooch Music”) once again explores the perilous challenges of modern love.
”Erotica: Little Birds,” Feb. 6, Organic Theater Greenhouse, 3319 N. Clark St.; 327-5588: Conceived and directed by Karen Goodman, ”Erotica” is a series of vignettes that range from Paris to New Orleans to Brazil; it`s inspired by the erotic writings of Anais Nin and set to original music by Jef Bek.
