PicksInSix Review: Stand Up If You're Here Tonight - American Blues Theater
Welcome Back to You Being Here!
PicksInSix® Gold Review | Guest Contributor | Scott Gryder
Returning to Chicago storefront theater, typically an intimate room packed with rows of other humans, can still be somewhat of a daunting task. Putting on a pair of “hard pants” to see a play at said storefront can sometimes still feel almost insurmountable. American Blues Theater’s Chicago premiere of John Kovlenbach’s “Stand Up If You’re Here Tonight” at Theater Wit is the perfect way to celebrate these wins. It’s the perfect invitation back to the world of theater; the world of vulnerability and community.
Written during the tumultuous, unpredictable emotional ebb and flow of the pandemic, “Stand Up If You’re Here Tonight” poetically identifies and addresses the enduring, underlying fears we’ve discovered and developed communally and individually—questions about trust, self-worth, and purpose. In only 60 minutes, “Stand Up” helps us explore and laugh at the shocking and relatable shared idiosyncrasies that have been enhanced during our time of distancing and isolation.
Veteran actor of all mediums and Artistic Affiliate of American Blues Theater, Jim Ortlieb plays the role of Man, neurotically balancing televangelist-like showmanship with professional therapeutic care. Ortlieb digs deep into the audience’s subconscious, triggering hidden thoughts and emotions that we’ve been harboring under our posttraumatic attempts to return to normalcy.
Ortlieb’s relaxed demeanor is so incredibly natural, it feels improvised. How could this be scripted, when he’s so obviously responding to the emotions of the moment? I won’t use the word puppetry, for that implies manipulation, however, he carefully guides the audience to participate in ways that make it impossible for us to resist. Through the use of tropes, polling, and tactics, Ortlieb unexpectedly gains our trust, bit by bit, promising a successful recovery and connection. And he delivers.
After the last two years we’ve all experienced, “Stand Up If You’re Here Tonight” could not be more relevant. Exploring our commercialized, societal attempts to reset our psyches with overly promoted self-care techniques and exaggerated recommendations to reconnect with others, the audience literally shares a sigh of relief. After such destruction and dysfunction, “Stand Up” investigates not only how we can actionably realign our perspectives and self-worth, along with the worth of things around us, but it grants us the opportunity to do it in a shared space, dampening the fear that we’re doing so alone.
American Blues Theater wisely selected Olivier-nominated playwright Kovlenbach to also direct his work, for who else could so smoothly maneuver and address the abundant stream of consciousness beats, laid out like a puzzling M.C. Escher sketch, than the brilliant mind who devised them. The evolving depth of Kovlenbach’s text is enhanced by scenic/lighting designer Michael Trudeau who adds to the level of sensory exploration and deprivation with a nearly empty stage, except for the waterfall of woodworking and smattering of lamp lights reminiscent of a Museum of Contemporary Art exhibit with puddles of quick-change lighting effects. Another unique creative choice was the lack of pre-show music, allowing the audience to enter the theater without an audible hint at what is to come.
If you’ve been waiting to return to the theater for that show that not only tickles you with a positive message but also touches you with sincerity and genius, your wait is over. You must see “Stand Up If You’re Here Tonight.” There are no quick-fixes to finding happiness, but just showing up, in whatever mental and physical state we’re in, makes us all victorious! To add to this level of victory and hope, American Blues is now accepting donations for their recently announced, first permanent home in Chicago’s Lincoln Avenue North Arts District(LANA)—touting a two-theater facility, with one-site parking—scheduled for completion by November 2023. Considering the high-level content that American Blue Theater brings to Chicago, they deserve every penny!
GUEST CONTRIBUTOR | SCOTT GRYDER received a Non-Equity Jeff Award for his performance in the one-man show BUYER & CELLAR. www.thescottgryder.com
PHOTO|Michael Brosilow
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