Theater Spotlight: La Voix Humaine
Lesbian soprano Patricia Racette makes her Chicago Opera Theater debut in gay French composer Francis Poulenc's drama La Voix Humaine ( The Human Voice ). In this Jean Cocteau-inspired piece, a heartbroken woman converses and pleads with an unseen lover over the telephone. Also on the double bill program is Giacomo Puccini's one-act comedy Gianni Schicchi, which is famous for the beloved aria "O mio babbino caro." Performed in French and English with projected English translations for La Voix Humaine. La Voix Humaine and Gianni Schicchi play at the Harris Theater for Music and Dance, 205 E. Randolph St. Performances are at 7:30 p.m. Saturday, Feb. 6, and 3 p.m. Sunday, Feb. 14. Tickets are $35 to $125; call 312-704-8414 or visit www.chicagooperatheater.org for more information.
Critic's Picks
Hairspray, Paramount Theatre, Aurora, through Feb. 21. The hit 2002 Tony Award-winning Broadway musical adaptation of John Waters' quirky 1988 film receives a dazzling production out in Aurora. SCM
House Party, 1923, Annoyance Theatre, through Feb. 14. Mingle with characters from the novels of F. Scott Fitzgerald at one of Jay Gatsby's Prohibition-era soirees in Bill Meincke's low-key interactive literary-improv. MSB
Le Switch, About Face Theatre at Theater Wit, through Feb. 21. Frequent big laughs in always-sharp Philip Dawkins' new comedy about a love-challenged gay man, afraid of losing homo identity to hetero-normativity now that gay marriage is legal. Fast-paced production, cute puppy-dog leads and killer punchlines from La Shawn Banks. JA
What I Learned in Paris, Congo Square Theatre at Athenaeum Theatre, through Feb. 7. It's 1973, Atlanta has just elected its first Black mayor, but the women on his campaign staff have their own agenda in Pearl Cleage's romantic comedy. MSB
By Abarbanel, Barnidge and Morgan