PicksInSix Review: Little Bear Ridge Road - Steppenwolf Theatre Company

METCALF IN MESMERIZING RETURN AT STEPPENWOLF
PicksInSix® Review | Ed Tracy

Samuel D. Hunter’s brilliant new play “Little Bear Ridge Road” now enjoying an extended world premiere run at Steppenwolf’s Downstairs Theater might not have ever happened if Tony Award winning director Joe Mantello and iconic Steppenwolf Ensemble member Laurie Metcalf had not approached Hunter to develop a project for Metcalf.  

That was a little more than a year ago and the resulting work traces the reemerging relationship between Metcalf’s irascible character Sarah and her gay nephew Ethan (Micah Stock), the last surviving members of the Fernsby family who are navigating the aftermath of the death of Ethan’s estranged father. Ethan has arrived on Sarah’s doorstep near Moscow, Idaho with little more than a writing degree and the wherewithal to rent a hotel room for a few days let alone the weeks he would need to settle his father’s estate. Sarah lives a private, secluded life alone on Little Bear Ridge Road, her 40 year nursing career shrinking to three shifts a week and is not at all excited that Ethan may now be her house guest for an undetermined period of time.

Things move quickly in conversations between the two, exposing Sarah’s unbridled opinions and hilariously mundane lifestyle, Ethan’s conflicted relationship with his father in the years prior to his death and his own disheveled personal life and uncertain future. The combination of Metcalf and Stock, with Mantello’s expertly paced direction, allow the series of crisp early scenes of Hunter’s script to seamlessly define both characters.  As time passes, Ethan ventures out to a bar and hooks up with James (a rock solid performance by John Drea), who sees some potential in a relationship, but wants to slow things down at first. As that relationship takes shape, James finds himself in a revealing conversation with Sarah. Details about Sarah’s health challenges emerge, which have the two-fold effect of bringing the two men closer together and shifting the dynamics of the drama in Sarah’s direction.

Hunter’s writing is clever, succinct and punctuated by Metcalf’s marvelous presence on stage. Even as we revel in the robust early comic interaction of the play, it is the dramatic turn of the piece that elevates this drama, exemplifies Hunter’s exceptional storytelling ability and exposes the emotional core of the piece.

The elegant, stylized stage design by Scott Pask is set with a home theater seating unit that revolves to suggest alternate scenes. There is a lone ceiling fan above and an expansive, circular stage floor all enhanced by Heather Gilbert’s lighting design and Mikhail Fiksel’s sound design. The look of this show is clean, simple and amazingly effective.

Over the course of ninety minutes, Metcalf is a mesmerizing force on stage and a joy to watch, her flawless, wide range of comic timing and dramatic sensibilities on full display. Stock plays Ethan with a fragile, measured intensity that emerges in a definitive scene with Drea and then becomes unhinged in a stunning definitive confrontation with Metcalf. And when Meighan Gerachis appears in a brief but powerful and satisfying coda to the drama, we are left to ponder the importance of making choices that look forward with hope rather than backward with regret.

PHOTO|Michael Brosilow

STEPPENWOLF THEATRE COMPANY

Presents

WORLD PREMIERE

LITTLE BEAR BRIDGE ROAD
Downstairs Theater
1650 N. Halsted
Extended
through August 4, 2024

WEBSITE
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PicksInSix Review: It's a Wonderful Life: Live in Chicago!

A TONIC…THAT GOES DOWN EASY!
Guest Contributor | Ronald Keaton

Versatility. This writer asks you to hold this idea close; it is an important piece of the production of “It’s a Wonderful Life: Live in Chicago!”  The fine American Blues Theater presents their annual Christmas tribute at Victory Gardens Theater through New Year’s Eve.  And it’s directed with a deft eye and high respect for the Frank Capra material by ABT artistic director Gwendolyn Whiteside.

“It’s a Wonderful Life” is presented here in a live radio format, complete with Foley artist Shawn J. Goudie doing all the sounds of the story you can recall—cars running away, babies crying, whistles blowing, on and on.  And Mr. Goudie is really fun to watch. The audience is also treated to a special kind of warmup entertainment, complete with requested “audiograms” from the cast that were read at commercial breaks throughout the evening.

Versatility…Commercials for local products and events and music of the holiday season—even a brief audience singalong—are arranged and lead by the endlessly talented Michael Mahler, who also plays a gruff Sam Wainwright as well as the WABT station announcer.  And Mr. Gower, the druggist. And as the general emcee for the festivities. Singing those holiday songs at various times throughout the production, the entire cast jumps, hearts first, into the preshow and then the story itself.

Dara Cameron shares that versatility in eloquent droves by playing George Bailey’s friend Violet Bick…and a couple of Bailey children…and various and sundry citizens of Bedford Falls.  Joe Dempsey surely shows it in stark, energetic portrayals of both Clarence, the Bailey guardian angel wanting to get his wings, and Mr. Potter, the American Scrooge character who can’t wait to get his hands on the Bailey Building and Loan.

Versatility…The elegant Audrey Billings lends her own tender touch as both Bailey women—Mary Bailey, whose unending support for her husband set the tone for family unity, and Ma Bailey, the matriarch who quietly points George in the right direction.  A wonderful new face to me, Yuchi Chiu, plays both Harry Bailey, George’s brother, and shares duties with Mr. Mahler in their brief turns as Ernie the cabbie and Bert the cop.

Manny Buckley brings his with emotion and awareness as Joseph, the angel-in-charge, and Uncle Billy, the loving and befuddled one. And then, at last, there’s the strong, heartfelt Brandon Dahlquist offering as George.  Both these men jump in hard in their exchange about lost money, which allows the joy at the end of the performance to be that much more touching. Honestly, it’s a great deal of fun and love that American Blues Theater shares with Chicago each year at Christmas.  I may go again…a tonic for all we’ve been through that goes down easy.  Cheers, ABT!  

GUEST CONTRIBUTOR | RONALD KEATON received an Equity Jeff Award for the performance of his one-man show CHURCHILL www.solochicagotheatre.com

PHOTO | Michael Brosilow

AMERICAN BLUES THEATER
presents
It’s a Wonderful Life: Live in Chicago!
Victory Gardens Theater
2433 N Lincoln Ave
through December 31, 2021

WEBSITE

TICKETS

(773) 871-3000

PODCAST: 2016 Conversation with Gwendolyn Whiteside and Shawn Goudie

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PicksInSix® is a registered trademark of Roxbury Road Creative, LLC

PICKSINSIX Review: It’s A Wonderful Life: Live in Chicago!

Meet: Clarence Odbody, AS2 (Angel Second Class)

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What’s it about... a rollicking 1940s staged radio version of Frank Capra’s endearing film classic that is sure to put you in the holiday spirit, no matter how much like Mr. Potter you may be feeling.

Why You Should Go... 2017 marks the 16th year that American Blues Theater has produced It’s A Wonderful Life: Live on Stage, and the first in their new home at Stage 773’s Thrust Stage on Belmont. Directed by Wendy Whiteside, Bedford Falls comes alive in a delightful production with a free-spirited, seasoned cast, and live music and Foley sound effects, all framed in a classic live radio show. You can send an audiogram to someone special, sing a holiday favorite and, after the 90 minute show, enjoy cookies and milk served up by the cast. The entire theater is awash in the warm and colorful tidying’s of the season courtesy of Grant Sabin’s festive set design, lighting by Katy Peterson and costumes by Christopher J. Neville.

Old-Fashioned Storytelling... judging by an informal poll, about half of the audience on opening night had never seen a live radio broadcast, which emphasizes the characters and the story. There is a poignant moment that honors a veteran or service organization at every performance adding to the heartwarming, family-friendly experience.

A Chicago Holiday Tradition... while the Bailey Building and Loan, 320 Sycamore and Martini’s Bar only exist in our imagination, experiencing the performance of the brilliant John Mohrlein in the dual roles of Clarence and Mr. Potter - his 16th consecutive year - is a Chicago holiday tradition not to be missed. The superb cast includes Zach Kenney and Wendy Whiteside as George and Mary, with Dara Cameron, Ian Paul Custer, James Joseph and Michael Mahler in supporting roles. Shawn J. Goudie creates a wide array of Foley sound effects.

The Background... in keeping with their mission to explore the American identity through the plays it produces and communities it serves, American Blues Theater has published and made available on their website, a smart, thorough Backstage Guide that provides over two dozen pages of background, interviews, historical facts and the text of Philip Van Doreen Stern’s The Greatest Gift, the story on which the film is based. BACKSTAGE GUIDE

Good News and More Good News... in addition to directing, Wendy Whiteside returns to the role of Mary Bailey for a 7th time this year through December 17th when Camille Robinson steps back into the role to complete the run through January 6th. Husband and wife, Mike Maher and Dara Cameron, return for their 5th season together, and Maher’s 7th overall, with a surprise of their own. They will be parents to a little Bailey in March 2018. Hot Dog!

Listen to our 2016 PODCAST featuring a conversation with Wendy Whiteside, Foley Artist Shawn J. Goudie and audio clips from the 2016 production. Lots of fun. Check it out.

Happy Holidays!

Photos|Michael Brosilow

IT’S A WONDERFUL LIFE: LIVE IN CHICAGO
AMERICAN BLUES THEATER
through January 6th, 2018

Stage 773
1225 W. Belmont Ave,
Chicago, IL 60657
WEBSITE TICKETS
(773) 327-5252

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PICKSINSIX Review: The Importance of Being Earnest

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"Ah! A life crowded with incident..."

What’s it about … Oscar Wilde’s hilarious unraveling of the double lives of two men who unsuspectingly propose to two women who will settle for none other than an ‘Earnest(ly)’ named gentleman.

How does the story unfold... With the aristocratic rogue Algernon Moncrieff(Steve Haggard) wondering where his next — and indeed, greatest — ‘Bunbury’ excursion will take him, his love-struck friend Ernest (Alex Goodrich) is forced to confide that he is in actuality ‘Jack’ Worthing in the country. There resides his lovely ward, Cecily Cardew(Rebecca Hurd), under the watchful eye of the matronly Miss Prism(Anita Chandwaney) and the well-intentioned Reverend Chasuble(Aaron Todd Douglas). After confessing his love and proposing marriage to Algernon’s cousin Gwendolen Fairfax(Jennifer Latimore), Jack is denied the privilege by her mother, the imposing Lady Bracknell(Shannon Cockran). Undaunted, he proceeds to hatch a plan to rid himself of his alter ego in the country, radify his lineage and thereby win Gwendolen’s hand. Things go quickly awry leading to an uproariously funny series of surprises with more than a few satisfying resolutions.

Who stands out... This is a superbly paced, colorful and visually stunning production with Wilde’s rich observations on society and stature streaming through Cockran’s blustering turn as Lady Bracknell who with Hurd and Latimore, are picture perfect. The contrast between Haggard’s dashing and clever Algernon and Goodrich’s staunch, be mused Jack, makes for a wildly entertaining evening. In the dual roles of Lane and Merriman, Ross Lehman performance is hilarious.

Brilliant design... The three compact acts have distinctly different textural and color patterns, lavish majestic columns and rich stone framework in a brilliant Collette Pollard design that with Mara Blumenfeld’s elegant costumes provides a fashionable turn-of-the-century backdrop in the Montcrieff study, the Worthing manor house garden and the morning-room at the Manor House.

A Wilde adventure... Writers Theatre has established an extensive audience engagement program initiative that provides discussion events with artists, educational outreach opportunities and many other activities for interested students and patrons.

What you may not know... Writers is also working with the Chicago Public Schools to conduct in-class student sessions and have made multiple performances available to students in support of their educational mission. A very worthy enterprise, indeed.

Photos|Michael Brosilow

WRITERS THEATRE
The Importance of Being Earnest
through December 23, 2017
325 Tudor Court, Glencoe

WEBSITE   TICKETS
847-242-6000
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PICKSINSIX Review: The Belle of Amherst

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“Words are my life.” E. Dickinson

What’s it about… the 1976 William Luce play is a conversation between the poet Emily Dickinson and the audience that comes to life in the extraordinary singular performance of Kate Fry, who asks, and answers, the questions: “I’m Nobody! Who are you? Are you – Nobody – too?”

Why you should go… Artfully directed by Sean Graney, Fry is delightfully engaging, embracing the beauty of nature, life’s complexity and our curiosity for and about Dickinson’s work.   

What stands out ... The scholarly interpretation of Emily Dickinson’s poetry and letters is the basis for what we know about her life and times. Fry’s thoughtful delivery, unfolding Dickinson’s inner thoughts on her destiny, “Words are my life.” … on the beauty of nature, “That must have been the sun” … her infinite ability to display childhood fascination, “I wish we were always children.” and hope, that is, “‘Hope’ is a thing with feathers - that perches in the soul.”

A poetic journey... there are four distinct movements within the full framework of the piece, tracing Dickinson’s early years and education, adolescence and family, love, and death. Dickinson’s world is a place where words matter and there is much clarity in the telling of this story, sprinkled with more than a bit of whimsy and wonder. Fry is as comfortable reciting the recipe for black cake as she is in absorbing editorial criticism or understanding the emotional complexities of love and loss. 

Engaging warmth... Much more scholarship has been created since Belle of Amherst first appeared on Broadway in the mid 70s. Scholars have debated whether or not the under-pinning of a relative lifetime of isolation and darkness is a fair representation of both Emily Dickinson’s lifestyle and her personality. There is a darker, more melancholy choice here that Fry skillfully avoids. This is an evening steeped  in engaging warmth, humor and verse. Arnel Sancianco's scenic design creates a picture within a picture of this isolation -- a crisp, bright sun room suspended within her aging home.   

The takeaway... There is but one image of a 17 year-old Dickinson. Fry’s remarkable portrait of the poet as artist and woman allows us another view of the many facets of her mysterious inner-beauty, elegance and intellect. 

Photos|Michael Brosilow

COURT THEATRE
THE BELLE OF AMHERST
through December 3, 2017
5535 S Ellis Ave.
WEBSITE   TICKETS
(773) 753-4472
 

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'THIS WONDERFUL LIFE' GIVING OUT WINGS!

THIS WONDERFUL LIFE

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What’s it about … The story of a man on a bridge, how he got there and how he found his way home.

Why you should go … If you are like me - and everyone else, except a young lady named Juliana in the opening audience last week - you have seen It’s A Wonderful Life before, perhaps many times before. Now comes the American Blues Theater Chicago premiere of This Wonderful Life, the terrific one-man show adaptation written by Steve Murray, directed by Carmen Roman and starring James Leaming playing for a limited run at The Edge Theater on North Broadway. Leaming, the original George Bailey in the American Blues long-running production of the 1940s radio play (which returns for its annual run on November 16th at their new home, Stage 773) has a coming home story all his own. After playing the role for 6 years, Leaming began a critically-acclaimed tour of this show in 2008, a production that has been seen on stages across the country. All points led to Chicago this fall, so Bedford Falls and over 30 of its lovable characters – and the not-so-lovable Mr. Potter – have now made a heartwarming return.

A one-man show … Leaming's brilliantly nuanced performance includes classic references and some truly inspired commentary on show elements that, judging from the audience reaction, are a bit of a revelation. Being an ardent fan of the film only helps to raise your appreciation for the ease in which Leaming creates multiple characters and shifts the ever-changing locales in a seamless tapestry of clever technical projections, lighting and sound effects that support his captivating performance.

The many faces and voices of Bedford Falls… this is a non-stop, steady, finely-tuned and superbly delivered gem. There is a blisteringly fast recap of the story at the top - a teaser of sorts - for the evening to come. Leaming’s George Bailey is warm and folksy, witty, shaken and scared. As Mr. Potter, he is strikingly diabolical, while the interactions in the characters of Mary, his mother and the other women’s roles are both tender and real.

What to wait for … No matter how many times I see it, it is hard to dismiss the well of emotions that bubble up in this story. On this intimate stage, with the exceptionally versatile Leaming leading the way, those endearing moments come alive. A truly moving performance. 

The takeaway … No man is a failure who has friends. So, take it to heart, gather everyone you know and make a date for This Wonderful Life, now playing in a limited engagement through November 26th.      

Photos|Michael Brosilow

AMERICAN BLUES THEATRE
THIS WONDERFUL LIFE
through November 26, 2017
The Edge Theater
5451 N. Broadway
WEBSITE   TICKETS
(773) 654-3103

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