There is no shortage of live theater this weekend in western Illinois. Productions are scheduled in Monmouth, Macomb, and Galesburg.
Monmouth – The Real Inspector Hound
Monmouth College studentswill perform the one-act comedy The Real Inspector Hound by British playwright Tom Stoppard.
The story was written in the early 1960s but Theatre Professor Todd Quick, who will direct the show, said he believes the humor holds up today. Quick said the cast’s first read-through lasted longer than scheduled because they kept pausing while the actors cracked up over the material.
“Stoppard is really a master of witty wordplay and language humor. And so even just reading it off the page, they found so much humor in the play,” said Quick.
He said the staging of this weekend’s production will add to the humor. The shows will take place at the Fusion Theatre, 230 South Main Street in downtown Monmouth. Quick said the small theatre is his favorite place to direct shows because it allows for a level of intimacy between the actors and the audience.
“You’re so close to the action. You really feel like you’re surrounding the action and really sort of swept up into it,” Quick said.
Show times for The Real Inspector Hound:
- Thursday, February 27 at 7:30 p.m.
- Friday, February 28 at 7:30 p.m.
- Saturday, February 29 at 7:30 p.m.
- Sunday, March 1 at 2:00 p.m.
General admission is $9. Tickets are $7 for students and senior citizens, and $6 for Monmouth College students with a school ID.
Macomb – The Spitfire Grill
The Western Illinois University Department of Theatre and Dance is presenting the musical The Spitfire Grill, which is based on a movie from the 1990s.
“It’s a musical about forgiveness. It’s a musical about second chances. Being allowed to do so and finding it in yourself to maybe forgive yourself,” said Associate Professor of Theatre Lysa Fox, who will direct the production.
“It’s a really sweet, lovely story and I hope people will come, sit back, and enjoy it with us.”
Fox said the piece is different from many musicals in a couple ways. For one thing, the cast is smaller – it has just seven actors.
And she said the pit orchestra will feature a different mix of instruments than you might normally hear during a musical; it has a mandolin, guitar, cello, violin, piano, and accordion.
The production will be performed at the Horrabin Theatre, a small venue on WIU’s Macomb campus. Fox said the intimate setting will work well for the musical.
Show times for The Spitfire Grill:
- Wednesday, February 26 at 7:30 p.m.
- Thursday, February 27 at 7:30 p.m.
- Friday, February 28 at 7:30 p.m.
- Saturday, February 29 at 7:30 p.m.
- Sunday, March 1 at 2:00 p.m.
General admission is $15. Tickets are $13 for senior citizens and students, and WIU students with a school ID get in for free.
Galesburg –The Who’s Tommy
The classic rock opera Tommy will return for its second and final weekend of performances by the Prairie Players Civic Theatre.
You can read and listen to more about the production here.
Show times for Tommy:
- Friday, February 28 at 7:30 p.m.
- Saturday, February 29 at 7:30 p.m.
- Sunday, March 1 at 2:00 p.m.
Admission is $15 for adults, $8 for students, and tickets are available online.
