Theatre & Stage reviews by SalsaChicago.com critic Al Bresloff

Wheatley (thru November 13)

"Wheatley" by Lonnie Carter is the real life story, a sort of storybook adventure of Phillis Wheatley , the first published African poets. Born in Africa and kidnapped when she was 7 years old, she was too young to be sold into slavery, so she was sent to Boston where she was "purchased " by John Wheatley , as an attendant for his wife. She learned English quickly as well as reading and writing and within less than two years she had published her first poem.Unable to get a complete book published in Boston, the Wheatleys took her to London for a publisher and in 1773, 39m of her poems were published as " Poems on Various Subjects, Religious and Moral". This was her only book and the first volume of poetry to be published by an African-American.

This entire story is told in this 90 minute (no intermission) production directed by Sharon J. Scruggs on the upstairs stage of The Victory Gardens Theater .The cast that she has put together to take us on this journey of time is marvelous. Yetide Badaki (Phillis Wheatley) is full of energy and passion as we live her story. All of the other people who cross her path along the way are played by Aaron Todd Douglas, Daniel Bryant and the dynamic Ann Joseph, who truly knows how to get a laugh and milk it. This is a fast paced, hip-hop, bang-bang ninety minutes and while we get a history lesson, we also have a great time.

"Wheatley" will continue through November 13th at The Victory Gardens Theater located at 2257 N. Lincoln Avenue with performances as follows: Thursday and Friday at 7:30 p.m. Saturday at 4:30 and 8 p.m. Sunday at2:30 p.m.

Ticket prices are$25-$28 (a true bargain for live theater). Don't forget, Victory has 10 seats @$20 for each performances (day of only). Tickets can be purchased at the box office, by phone at 773-871-3000 or online at www.ticketweb.com.

As always, discount parking is available at either the Children's Memorial Hospital (one block North of the Theater) or Lincoln Park Hospital ( one block South of the Theater).