RECOMMENDED
Christopher Durang concocts potent comic nightmares. His one-act “’Dentity Crisis” (one of four currently running at the Theatre Building in a production by A Reasonable Facsimile Theatre Company) centers on a teenage girl whose suicidal tendencies are understandable, given that her mother claims to have introduced cheese to France; her father morphs inexplicably into her brother, her grandfather and the French ambassador; and her therapist has decided to have a sex-change operation in tandem with his wife. Reasonable Facsimile presents the Durang plays with appropriately raw energy, though at times the rawness predominates; the final play, a skewed version of “Medea,” is slight enough to begin with, and the company’s haphazard singing and dancing doesn’t help. Similarly, while Ed Jones’s Stanley sprays Old Style about the stage with gusto in the Tennessee Williams parody “Desire, Desire, Desire,” arch line readings hamper a play already on the verge of going to sleep with archness. But the first two plays of the evening fulfill anyone’s expectations of late-night theater: hilarious, edgy and relentlessly hip, they nonetheless bristle with genuine emotional intensity, constructing imaginary families with real tears in them. (John Beer)
“Durang 4 Play” plays at the Theater Building, 1225 West Belmont, (773)327-5252.
Related Stories
A Long Time Coming: A Review of Caroline, Or Change at Firebrand Theatre & TimeLine Theatre Company Firebrand Theatre and TimeLine Theatre Company co-produce this stirring revival with book and lyrics by Tony Kushner and music by Jeanine Tesori.
Three's A Crowd: A Review of Threesome at The Other Theatre Company There was a moment early on in “Threesome” where a character complains that the action feels a bit staged and altogether too much like a bedroom comedy. And then a buck-naked man jumps directly into the scene and talks about his upset stomach. This is just one of the many unexpected twists and turns present in Yussef El Guindi’s meditation…
Star Man, Where Have You Gone: A Review of Take Me at Strawdog Theatre Company An out-of-this-world premiere that is more small step than big leap.
Growing In: A Review of You Got Older at Steppenwolf Theatre Company Steppenwolf's Chicago premiere of Clare Barron's play doesn't so much tread water as sink to the bottom of the shallow end.
I Believe You, Bruce: A Review of Downstate at Steppenwolf Theatre Company In this world premiere at Steppenwolf Theatre Company, Pulitzer Prize-winning playwright Bruce Norris attempts to redress the power imbalance between the disenfranchised and those who wield influence over their livelihood, though not in the direction you might expect.
Breaking Down: A Review of Damascus at Strawdog Theatre Company This world premiere at Strawdog Theatre Company stalls on its way to comprehending white privilege and supremacy.
