The greatest theatre has a timeless quality, and explores universal themes that would make sense to any audience, whether ancient Greeks or modern Americans. But who would have thought that over a hundred years ago, an Irishman would have written a play so spot on our current health care debate? Who gets treated, how to pay for treatment, socialized medicine - all are issues in The Doctor’s Dilemma. The George Bernard Shaw play is currently being presented in a “concert reading” by ShawChicago at the Chicago Cultural Center. Here to tell us if the performance has a beating heart at its center or needs some life support, are Eight Forty-Eight’s Dueling sawbones - Kelly Kleiman and Jonathan Abarbanel.

On Stage:
The Doctor’s Dilemma
Through May 10
Chicago Cultural Center

Kelly’s Pick:
Welcome to Arroyo’s
American Theater Co.
Through May 16

Music Button:  Clutchy Hopkins, “Miles Chillin”, from the CD The Storyteller, (Ubiquity)