Milwaukee has amazing theater for a city this size. We support more professional theater companies than cities twice as big.

Having said that, occasionally some theater stands just a little bit taller than the rest of the wonderful work in this town.

Such a production opens April 17 at the Milwaukee Chamber Theatre when it unveils "Talley's Folley."

It has every single ingredient for an absolutely magical night of live theater (is there any other kind?)

Number one it has an amazingly great play by Lanford Wilson. It's a story about an old Jewish guy and a young and hot Christian girl who dance around falling in love. It's funny and touching and serious, all at the same time. They gave this play a Pulitzer and they don't hand those out like Crackerjack.

This play has two great actors. I've worked with both Jonathan West and Laura Gray. Smart, sensitive, careful and brave would easily describe both of them. They will make you laugh and cry and then laugh again and that's a pretty good night out.

Michael Wright is the director. One thing about him is that he's shorter than you think he is. I had always thought of him as a giant, having seen his work and knowing how he has lifted the Chamber Theatre in this town. Then I met him and found out he's shorter. But that just means it was tougher for God to cram all that talent into that smaller body.

And finally, the theater has really comfortable seats. Enough said.