Ladies, leave the men at home.
“Girls Night: The Musical” is in fact a girls night destination. Now playing at The Club (a basment venue located at Chicago’s Division and State), the crowd is nearly all women—bachelorettes and birthday girls, moms looking for a little fun, and even a grandma or two.
The show is designed to fill your entertainment needs if a raucous evening is what you have in mind—it’s not quiet, and it’s not high-minded. If top-notch theater in comfy seats with polite applause is what you are in the mood for, look elsewhere. The setting is dim, the crowd is loud, booze is flowing and the acting isn’t going to win any Jeff Awards.
But …it is fun. With an exclamation point.
The evening centers around 5 women, one of which is an “angelic” apparation who serves as narrator. Sharon explains to the crowd that her best friends from high school have come together at a karaoke bar to celebrate her daughter’s engagement. Dead since her daughter was a baby, these ladies have served as surrogates in raising her, and each come with their own set of issues—marriage, divorce, mental illness, to name a few. In between songs, the audience learns more about each character, and this is where the show lacks. It’s not bad, it’s just … time that would have been better spent singing.
The breakout of the bunch for me is Andrea DeCamp as Anita, the medically crazy of the bunch. Her flashback scene to one of her breakdowns was especially impressive, as was her solo singing performance. Missy Aguilar, as party hearty Carol was equally fantastic behind the mic, engaging and funny.
Rounding out the cast are Shelby Garrett as Sharon, the highly energetic angel/narrator, Marken Greenwood as bored suburban housewife and mother Liza and Jennifer Oakley as Carol’s tightly-wound sister, Kate.
The show is a great option for your next girls night, and its location in Chicago’s Gold Coast only adds to the appeal—it’s a very short walk to Carmine’s, The Cedar Hotel, Hugo’s Frog Bar and more. Running through August 26, tickets are $45 – $65. Visit theatreinchicago.com for more information.
