Compassion, Empathy Takes Center Stage In Chicago Premiere of TINY BEAUTIFUL THINGS

The Dueling Critics, Kerry Reid and Jonathan Abarbanel, review Victory Gardens Theater’s TINY BEAUTIFUL THINGS.

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The Dueling Critics, Kerry Reid and Jonathan Abarbanel, review Victory Gardens Theater's Chicago premiere of TINY BEAUTIFUL THINGS.

“Maybe you don’t need the big emotional pay-off, but if you just sit with it, and listen to it and let these stories sort of worm their way in, I think you might find yourself a little nicer person at the end.” - Kerry Reid talking about understated empathy exhibited in TINY BEAUTIFUL THINGS.

Janet Ulrich Brooks, August Foreman, Eric Slater, and Jessica Dean Turner in Victory Gardens Theater’s TINY BEAUTIFUL THINGS.

Cheryl Strayed, who authored the best-selling WILD in 2012, also released another book that same year. TINY BEAUTIFUL THINGS: ADVICE ON LOVE AND LIFE FROM DEAR SUGAR is made up of essays and columns from an online advice column Strayed wrote anonymously from 2010 to 2012. The book was then adapted for the stage by Nia Vardalos, who starred as Strayed/Sugar in a New York production at the Public Theatre a couple years ago. Victory Gardens Theater is presenting the Chicago premiere of TINY BEAUTIFUL THINGS, directed by Vanessa Stalling and starring Janet Ulrich Brooks in the lead role.

Both Kerry and Jonathan recommend this production. The Chicago premiere of TINY BEAUTIFUL THINGS continues at Victory Gardens Theater through October 20.

Jonathan also highly recommends Steppenwolf Theatre’s THE GREAT LEAP, now playing through October 20.