MY CALL/ "CANDIDE" & "EASY A"

THEATRE: CANDIDE

LOCATION: Goodman Theater/Chicago

CAST: Geoff Packard, Lauren Molina, Hollis Resnick, Larry Yando

RUNNING TIME: 2:45

SYNOPSIS: Tony Award and MacArthur "Genius" Award-winning director Mary Zimmerman's breathtaking new production of "Candide" is the theatrical event of the Chicago season. In addition to the music of Leonard Bernstein, "Candide" features contributions from the greatest lyricists of the 20th century, from Richard Wilbur to Stephen Sondheim. In this racy musical satire, naive Candide is banished for romancing the Baron's daughter, only to be plagued by a series of absurd hardships that challenge his optimistic outlook of life and love. Plays thru October 31 and then moves to Washington DC.

MY CALL: This "Candide" rocks. Zimmerman's take on the challenging script is welcome and brings a sense of despair to the characters, something rarely glimpsed in this show, considered by many to be strictly a comedy. Songs take on a tinge of a sadness at times, which only makes them better. Strong performances by Packard as Candide, Molina as Cunegonde and Resnick as Old Lady.

VERY HIGHLY RECOMMENDED

FILM: EASY A
RATED: PG13
CAST: Emma Stone, Penn Badgley, Amanda Bynes, Dan Byrd, Thomas Haden Church, Stanley Tucci, Patricia Clarkson.
RUNNING TIME: 93 minutes
SYNOPSIS: Nathaniel Hawthorne's "The Scarlet Letter" is re-imagined as a contemporary high school comedy in this tale of a scheming student who plots to give her popularity a boost by painting herself the easiest lay in school.
MY CALL: A wise script and deft performances, in particular, a career making performance by lead Emma Stone, make "Easy A" one of the year's best comedies.
HIGHLY RECOMMENDED