Whisper House





Black Button Eyes Productions is consistently one of the most creative and fun small companies in Chicago, focusing on shows with weird and spooky subject matter. I saw their current show Whisper House a musical by Duncan Sheik and Kyle Jarrow and I am happy to report that it is delightful.

Set during World War II, Christopher, a young American boy (the adorable and promising child actor Leo Spiegel) has lost his father to combat and his mother, suicidal with grief, has been sent to a sanitarium. Christopher therefore is sent to live with his Aunt Lily, a kind but decidedly not used to children lighthouse keeper. (Kate Nawrocki) Lily is assisted by a Japanese man, Yasuhiro, (Karmann Bajuyo) who is targeted by the xenophobic sheriff. (TJ Anderson)

Manipulating all of them are two creepy and malicious, but extremely fun ghosts, played by powerhouse singers Kevin Webb and Mikaela Sullivan. Their tragic backstory is that they were doomed lovers who drowned when their ship sunk due to a younger Lily's negligence and now want revenge. Their serious motivation however, is less important than their creepy exuberance.

 Both the ghost plot and the wartime bigotry ultimately feel like little more than an excuse for some songs and setpieces, but the show's 90 minute running time packs in a whole lot of charm and entertainment.

 The show runs through February 15th at the Athenaeum Theater, 2936 N. Southport.

https://www.blackbuttoneyes.com/

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