Rivendell Theatre Ensemble

Great local intimate theatre. Nice lobby, comfy seats. The current show… Title of Show is Jeff recommended. Outstanding actors, wonderful voices.

See this great show.

I am a fan of all kinds of theater, especially the smaller, under-​the-​radar venues around Chicago. This past weekend I visited Rivendell for the first time to see The Talking Cure. As other reviewers pointed out, the venue is intimate, so much so that seating is self-​selected. On Sunday afternoon I was able to have my choice of seats and didn’t have any trouble seeing the action on the stage. The performance was 150 minutes long, with a 10-​minute intermission. I hung around the lobby while waiting for the show to start and found the amenities (restrooms, seating, etc.) a-​ok. I bought my ticket in advance of Theater Week 2015. Even without the discount I found the prices accessible.
This theater company focuses on cultivating the talents of women theater artists and producing innovative plays of substance. It looks like there will also be some staged readings coming up during the season, which is good to know. The subject matter (the origin story of psychoanalysis told from Jung’s perspective) was definitely weighty though it was certainly not intimidating. I found myself drawn into the story line which deftly mixed WWII history and psychology. Each of the actors comfortably embodied his/​her role and, as a side note, the little girl who played Jung’s daughter was absolutely adorable. I am looking forward to seeing more from her onstage. With no stagehands, the furniture moving got to be somewhat distracting in Act II; had the moves not taken place, the transitions could have been smoother. The acoustics were good and I appreciated the cozy, intimate setup here. I will certainly be keeping an eye on the schedule to check out the upcoming performances.

Nice theatre in Edgewater. Great staff. They were very helpful since their was a mixup with my ticket. I saw Rasheeda Speaking and myself and my group thought it was excellent. I can’t wait to see their next production.

We saw the electric baby this past weekend, and I thought I’d share some thoughts.
Rivendell is a Small With A Capital S theater off an unfortunately busy Ridge Avenue (free parking at Senn is offered). The entry area is spacious and clean. Walking into the performance area is a bit of a trip, since you’re essentially in the middle of the stage with the audience getting their chance to give you the once-​over. The setup is like a long matchbox, with only two rows of seats per side, which puts you right in the middle of the action.
I thought the acting was great to a person. I really can’t pick any standouts or slackers in the cast, which I think is a great thing. The plot and story were okay; the play was interesting enough to hold my attention. Some parts didn’t quite click for me, but overall it was a pleasant tale. The stage construction, lights, sound, and production values were all quite good, especially for such a small performance.
The reasons I won’t go 5 stars: looking at the far left or right could lead to neck cramps or obscured action depending on how big your neighbor’s head is. Hopefully as they adapt to the space they’ll be more careful about staging action in the corners. $ 30 a ticket is just a tad steep for me, even with the fantastic acting; maybe I’m just a cheapskate but it’ll keep me from going back as often as I might otherwise.

Brand new. Lobby and bathrooms are very nice. No amenities like other theaters so bring your own snacks and drinks. Why only 3 stars? I did not like how the seating was laid out. Two rows on each side of the wall running parallel to each other. There are two elevated stages at either end of the room. If the scene does not take place in the middle then you will be constantly looking left or right for longer then you would like. Ouch. This particular evening I saw Love to the Third power. Wonderful acting all around.