Theatre & Stage reviews by SalsaChicago.com critic Al Bresloff

Noel Coward - A Marvelous Party, Indeed! (Thru January 8)

During this Holiday season, many of the local theaters feature Holiday Shows, retail stores feature Holiday music and almost everywhere you go, all you hear is Christmas songs. While this is part of the season, it is a pleasure to find a production in the area that is just plain Fun (with a capital F). and that is just what Northlight Theatre in Skokie is doing. They are presenting the world premiere of "A Marvelous Party: The Noel Coward Celebration" a marvelous evening of song and dance devised by David Ira Goldstein, Carl Danielson, Mark Anders and Patricia Wilcox, celebrating the utter wittiness of Mr. Coward, who gave us some well known music such as "Mad Dogs and Englishmen", but there are a host of songs that many will be unfamiliar with and the three performers bring just the right touch to the music and cleverness of Mr. Coward.

The cast is composed of two men and a woman. The men, Carl Danielsen and Mark Anders (who were the ynamic duo in Northlights' "2 Pianos,4 Hands" in 2003) are extraordinary talents- they play piano, sing, dance and deliver a comic line with perfect timing, but the star of this wonderful evening of entertainment has to be Ms Anna Lauris who can do it all! She can be seductive, the girl next door or even the young chorus girl getting her first gig ( there is a remarkable set n act I called "The Coconut Girl" in which she relates the new show she will be in the chorus for by reenacting the entire show, playing all of the roles and ending with some tumbling and a split that will knock your sox off (in fact this number is worth the price of admission alone). She is a tremendous talent and added to the others, they make a perfect trio to bring Mr. Coward's music to life.

In act II, there are some sentimental tunes as well as comedy and they do a rousing "Let's Do It" with an encore that is modernized to fit the Chicago area as well as today's political arena. All in all, if you are seeking an evening of pure fun, The North Shore Center For The Performing Arts in Skokie (on Skokie Blvd., just South of Golf Rd., kitty-corner from Old Orchard) is the place to go. "A Marvelous Party: The Noel Coward Celebration" will run through January 8th with performances as follows:

Tuesdays at 7:30 p.m. (except for January 3rd) Wednesday at 1 p.m. (except for January 4th) and 7:30 Thursdays at 7:30 p.m. Fridays at 8 p.m. Saturdays at 3 p.m. (except 12/24) and at 8 p.m. (except 12/24) Sundays at 2:30 p.m. (except 12/25 and 1/1) and on January 8th at 7 p.m.

Tickets range in price from $34-$56 and are available by phone at 847-673-6300 or online at www.northlight.org.

There is plenty of free parking and lots of great restuarants in the area. Enjoy! I did!