“Striking 12”

[rating=4]With all the “holiday shows” at this time of year, we often get “Christmased out” and yet for several years, at Victory Gardens we foind their folk music version of “The Snow Queen” to be a wonderful experience for young and old. What a delicious experience and now it is gone. How could this be replaced? Who would find the show that would delight us with music and a story? Well, leave it to BoHo Theatre to find something. Lat year, they came up with “Striking 12” a novel little musical that uses a sort of folk/rock music theme to tell us another Hans Christian Anderson tale. They are back for a second year and in watching it tonight, I realized the potential for this show to be a holiday ritual for Chicago.

Directed by Lara Filip at the very intimate Heartland Studio on Glenwood, this four member cast is filled with great energy as it present the “un-holiday Musical” written by Brenda Milburn,Rachel Sheinkin and Valerie Vigoda. The story is about  Matt ( a powerful performance by Matt Deitchman at the keyboard) who has just experienced a broken engagement, and here it is New Year’s Eve (thus the title, midnight on New Years Eve).. His friends try to get him to come to a party, but knowing that his ex will be there, he decides to just stay in. A young lady comes to his door selling light bulbs and reminds him of the Hans Christian Anderson story of “The Little Match Girl” which he begins to read. The story is unveiled through some wonderful music and song, along with some clever and entertaining dialogue by Matt;s fellow cast members, Jed Feder ( solid percussionist and quite comical) Mallory Nees ( who handles guitar, bass and ukulele with great skill and has a strong folk voice) and is adorable as The Little Light Bulb Girl” and last, but certainly far from least, the adorable Amy Steele who sings like an angel and handles a violin with great skill and dexterity/ This is one powerful cast, bring us laughs and joy through unique story telling- 87 minutes of pure magic up close and personal.

“Striking 12” will continue at The Heartland Studio Theatre located at 7016 N. Glenwood Avenue through January 1, 2012 with performances every Thursday,Friday and Saturday at 8 p.m. and Sundays at 5 p.m. EXCEPTION-NO performances on Christmas Eve and day ( a time to spend with loved ones), and a special New Year’s Eve performances with a post party with the cast and crew ( this one on 12/31 is $30). All the other performance are a mere $15 which is by far one of te best theater bargains in history.

This is a small theater, so do not wait to order you opportunity to experience this marvelous theatrical /almost Cabaret-like production. Call 866-811-4111 or visit www.bohotheatre.com