Theater spotlightM
The holiday season is often described as "magical," but The Rosenkranz Mysteries aims to literally share that adjective with audiences with this one-man cabaret show. Prominently on the bill is illusionist Ricardo Rosenkranz, who has worked with magicians Eugene Burger, Jeff McBridge and more to craft this cozy and enlightening show. The Rosenkranz Mysteries continues through Saturday, Dec. 24, in The Royal George Theatre's Cabaret Space, 1641 N. Halsted St. Tickets are $50 with discounts available for seniors and students. Cabaret tables seating four are also available for $75 per person. Call 312-988-9000 or visit Ticketmaster.com .
Illusionist Ricardo Rosenkranz stars in The Rosenkranz Mysteries. Photo by Richard Faverty, Beckett Studios
Critics' Picks
The Fundamentals, Steppenwolf Theatre, through Dec. 23. Dirty doings and sly intrigues that we used to associate with the rich and powerful are nowadays also employed by lower-level laborers unwilling to lose what little they have. MSB
Miss Bennet: Christmas at Pemberley, Northlight Theatre, Skokie, extended through Dec. 24. This is no ordinary fan fiction, but a sequel to Jane Austen's Pride and Prejudice granting bookish middle sister Mary Bennet her due while remaining faithful to the conventions of Regency romance. MSB
The Last Wife, TimeLine Theatre, through Dec. 18. Big, meaty-but-intelligent performances drive playwright Kate Henning's tale of a woman's survival and power in a man's world, ostensibly about King Henry VIII and Catherine Parr but very much a modern work. JA
Twist Your Dickens, The Second City and Goodman Theatre, through Dec. 30. This side-splitting spoof of Charles Dickens' A Christmas Carol is back for its third year. It prominently features plenty of improvised bits drawn from audience suggestions to increase the non-stop humor. SCM
By Abarbanel, Barnidge and Morgan