A lovely, if somewhat overlong, dance revue about humans telling stories and being oh-so-human, Illinoise is based on the beautiful songs of Sufjan Stevens and an original story by choreographer Justin Peck and Jackie Sibblies Drury. The singers, musicians, and dancers are nearly all wonderful, and watching the show often feels like being bathed in warm bath of emotion.
The content of the various episodes is not always clear. The billboard/screen that is part of the scenery is wasted most of the time; it could be announcing the names of the various songs/stories. Parts of the show take place on the stage floor and cannot be seen clearly by much of the audience. As a result, the people in one row must move their heads to see past the people in front of them, and then the people in back of them must move their heads, and then the people in back of them must move their heads, and so on. From row G, seat 13, it felt like I was part of klutzy choreography that blocked and distracted from the actual dancing on stage.
However, whatever its weaknesses, Illinoise is a unique theatrical experience that is well worth seeing.
Wendy Caster
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