1. Writers Theatre
Writers Theatre in Glencoe is running A Number by Caryl Churchill, which I attended a few nights ago.
The artistry of the production was beyond reproach: a good play by our (English speakers’) greatest living playwright insofar as I can determine, directed by Robin Witt, one of Chicago’s finest directors. The play is a two-hander, likened in the playbill to a Twilight Zone episode which comparison is apt. The actors were commanding, the set impeccable.
(This insert from the program is another matter: just the thing I dislike when artists (or artistic venues) try to put themselves into the educational domain. What self-respecting artist (or artistic outfit) would stoop to this? The reverse side, with questions like “What do you think compelled Caryl Churchill, a feminist, to write a play with no women?” is worse yet.)
The artistry of the production was beyond reproach: a good play by our (English speakers’) greatest living playwright insofar as I can determine, directed by Robin Witt, one of Chicago’s finest directors. The play is a two-hander, likened in the playbill to a Twilight Zone episode which comparison is apt. The actors were commanding, the set impeccable.
(This insert from the program is another matter: just the thing I dislike when artists (or artistic venues) try to put themselves into the educational domain. What self-respecting artist (or artistic outfit) would stoop to this? The reverse side, with questions like “What do you think compelled Caryl Churchill, a feminist, to write a play with no women?” is worse yet.)
2. Jackalope Theatre
Meanwhile, the new play at Jackalope is worth seeing, if you're in Edgewater. The title is something like Life on Paper. Not sure, because we saw a preview. It went without stopping. (You gets no playbill at a preview.)
Jackalope has come a long way. The production still evinces a lack of money. Their performance space above the gym at the Broadway Armory has gotten refined since the early days, but still leaves something to be desired. (The company contracted a storefront nearby but persists at the Armory, I'm not sure why.) The set was serviceable, but little more.
What a contrast with Caryl Churchill’s play at Writers. There the production values were top notch. The script flowed seamless, its major defect being a reliance on too much David Mamet-style writing (incomplete sentences). But, more than that, it felt mainly the working out of an idea—not quite with the sterility of a Tom Stoppard play but in that ballpark.
The script—by Kenneth Lin—moved forward in unexpected directions yet remained consistently well-balanced. Five actors—mostly excellent—were well used. In tandem, they provided nuance and soul, something genuine, without a shortage of ideas if however sans a grand overarching one like Churchill’s (her play dealt with cloning).
We paid $5 for the preview; regular tickets will be $30. You may not see the value there. But if you come by that easily, or can snag a free seat, it will get you a glimpse of the best of grassroots Chicago theater. We do not “insist that our theatre be… dull”.
Jackalope has come a long way. The production still evinces a lack of money. Their performance space above the gym at the Broadway Armory has gotten refined since the early days, but still leaves something to be desired. (The company contracted a storefront nearby but persists at the Armory, I'm not sure why.) The set was serviceable, but little more.
What a contrast with Caryl Churchill’s play at Writers. There the production values were top notch. The script flowed seamless, its major defect being a reliance on too much David Mamet-style writing (incomplete sentences). But, more than that, it felt mainly the working out of an idea—not quite with the sterility of a Tom Stoppard play but in that ballpark.
The script—by Kenneth Lin—moved forward in unexpected directions yet remained consistently well-balanced. Five actors—mostly excellent—were well used. In tandem, they provided nuance and soul, something genuine, without a shortage of ideas if however sans a grand overarching one like Churchill’s (her play dealt with cloning).
We paid $5 for the preview; regular tickets will be $30. You may not see the value there. But if you come by that easily, or can snag a free seat, it will get you a glimpse of the best of grassroots Chicago theater. We do not “insist that our theatre be… dull”.
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