Street of Dreams Dance

Redtwist Theatre director Elly Green gives us a few reasons—theme-, time-, and food-related—to see the company’s show, Happy. Elly Green cut her teeth in London, earning an MFA in theater directing from Birkbeck College in 2006, then racking up credits at dramatic giants such as National Theatre, Royal Court Theatre, and Almeida Theatre. A few years later, she jumped across the pond to make a name for herself in the smaller storefront world of Chicago. She helmed Rabbit at Stage Left Theatre, and she’s about to close the Jeff-recommended production of playwright Robert Caisley’s Happy at Redtwist Theatre (1044 W. Bryn Mawr Ave.). The script challenges the supposed happiness of an artist named Eduardo and his two friends—married couple Alfred and Melinda—when Eduardo’s girlfriend, Eva, decides to criticize their positive outlooks. We sat down with Green at The Coffee Studio (5628 N. Clark St.) to discuss the themes of the play and why one of the most pivotal scenes involves bread. What makes someone truly “happy,” according to the script: “The play is not investigating happiness as much as it is the projection of well-being that we put out there to the world. Eva (Amanda Powell) is different from the other three characters only in that she doesn’t pretend to be something she’s not. That doesn’t mean that I think the other characters in the play are pretending ... consciously.” Best reason to see the show: “It’s 75 minutes.” But really: “Although it is a dark comedy, it’s actually full of some pretty big existential questions. It asks questions about being human, and I think any play that’s universal in that way is worth exploring. It’s got a really fantastic lead role for a woman [with] killer lines.” Best food-related reason to see the show: “My favorite moment—and this is a very trivial thing—is probably when Eduardo (Michael Kingston) makes Alfred (Michael Sherwin) smell his loaf of bread. The two boys just do it with a lot of gleefulness. It is a stage direction in the play; it’s not something that we’ve invented. It’s in the very first page that we’re introduced to Eduardo, who is a character that Robert Caisley describes as ‘full of life’ and charisma, and his love of life is brought out by his love of the neighborhood, his love of this Armenian bakery, and this bread that he gets there.” Favorite classical play: “My favorite classic play … [is] probably As You Like It, because it’s the first Shakespeare play I ever saw. I was 9, and then I learned the speech from it. And not necessarily that it’s the best Shakespeare play, but it was my first exposure to that poetry. I saw it in a small theater in Bury St Edmunds [in Britain]. I haven’t seen it as an adult, that I remember.” Favorite contemporary play that’s not Happy: “I think it’s better to pick something I haven’t directed, which seems personal and a bit self-indulgent. Tom Stoppard’s Rock 'n' Roll, I think, is an example of a political, epic, very funny, huge achievement in terms of playwriting. I saw the original production at the Court [Theatre], and it had my all-time favorite actor, Rufus Sewell. I’d love to do it, but it’s got like 26 characters or something." Happy runs through Sunday, March 16. Tickets are $25–$35. Also, catch Green’s next project, assistant directing for Henry V, at the Chicago Shakespeare Theater (Navy Pier, 800 E. Grand Ave.).

Members of TV on the Radio and Samiam join forces in Brooklyn’s Ice Balloons, who bring their fuzzed-out garage to the Empty Bottle’s Free Monday. Head over to the Bandcamp page for Brooklyn’s Ice Balloons, and you’ll be greeted with an image of a cobra playing the saxophone. Sure, the album art for the band’s self-titled debut is straight out of Photoshop 101, but just listen to the tracks. You’ll probably agree that a cobra playing the saxophone is a damn good metaphor for what you’re hearing. There’s definitely something melodic (maybe even sweet) about Ice Balloons, but their songs twist and coil to create something far weirder than a traditional pop framework would allow. The fuzzed-out bass, heavily synthesized vocals, and punishing drums create a terrifying trifecta that pulls the listener in while causing her to take a few steps back and avoid any sudden movements. At the center of the band’s all-consuming gyre is Kyp Malone, best known as the singer and guitarist for indie-rock darlings TV on the Radio. Malone relies more on feeling than on formal technique, and it shows in the meandering, psychedelic textures of songs like “Bridge of Total Freedom.” Add Sean Kennerly of Samiam and a few members of Wild Yak to the mix, and we’re dealing with a legitimate supergroup here. The Empty Bottle’s doing everybody in Chicago a favor by hosting the band on one of its Free Mondays—and tacking on a Kyp Malone solo set, for good measure. (Monday, March 10, at 9 p.m. Free admission.) Listen to the album: Photo courtesy of the band's Facebook page.

On today’s agenda: slacker pop with Twin Peaks, stories of worn-out love from Vocalo, and a hot-chocolate crawl. Twin Peaks Local slacker-pop standard-bearers rock out between tours during an all-ages set at Schubas Discovering Potbelly’s secret menu. Falling in love with girls on the bus. Celebrating their homies on Valentine’s Day. If their Twitter account is to be believed, the lads of Twin Peaks lead some laid-back lives. A quick look at their tour schedule reveals a hustlin’ side, though; in addition to scoring an official release for their debut album (the exquisite slacker-pop collection Sunken), they spent most of 2013 rambling around the country and into the headphones of anyone hip enough to listen. Their next tour is still on the horizon, but that means more love for Chicago. Tonight, the band will play an all-ages set before a hometown crowd at Schubas (3159 N. Southport Ave.). MC Joey Purp and summery lo-fi act The Lemons open. Check out our reflections on Twin Peaks’ past performances. (7:30 p.m. $11; buy tickets here) Vocalo Presents: Music & Stories...Live! Storytellers Rob Ruiz and Dana Norris join open-mic participants for tales on the theme of “Love Hangover” With Valentine’s Day in the books, Chicago seems primed to spend the rest of February as an unloving slush-filled hellscape. Maybe that’s what the organizers at Vocalo had in mind when they made “Love Hangover” the theme of this month’s Music & Stories…Live! During tonight’s show at the Chicago Urban Art Society (600 W. Cermak Rd.), featured storytellers including Rob Ruiz and Story Club’s Dana Norris will share stories of love’s less magical side. Audience members can get in on the act, as well—the only requirements for grabbing one of the six-minute open-mic slots are a true story and a little bravery. Vocalo’s own Ayana Contreras supplies the music portion of the show, which will be taped for potential broadcast on Vocalo and WBEZ. (7 to 9 p.m. Admission is free.) Hot Chocolate Crawl Keep winter’s chill at bay with a trolley tour of four downtown hot-chocolate spots Although it’s warmed up a little this week, winter isn’t likely to give up its grip on the city that easily. Tonight, build up a reserve of warmth with CitySwarm’s latest Hot Chocolate Crawl, which takes participants to four of the city’s best cocoa spots. The tasty voyage begins with a cup of mexican hot chocolate and a churro at XOCO (449 N. Clark St.), and includes stops at Katherine Anne Confections, Forever Yogurt’s Froth, and a final cup at the Palmer House’s Potter’s Lounge. In addition to drinks, the tour also grants participants a behind-the-scenes look at each location’s chocolate-wrangling secrets. Though this is called a crawl, no actual crawling is required; organizers ferry participants to each location in one of Chicago Trolley’s festive (and BYO) trolleys. (6:30 to 9:30 p.m. $49; buy tickets here) Image provided by Twin Peaks