Jon Robin Baitz’s ninety-minute drama about corporate greed in the worldwide baby-formula industry is at once a poignant statement on the often not-so-hidden horrors of global commerce and an intimate examination of a marriage on the brink of disaster. Certainly the stuff of high drama; but where another playwright might use such subject matter to pit characters against one other on stage in face to face battle, Baitz opts for a quieter approach; that of isolation and self-reflection. His story unfolds through a series of three monologues, delivered by a ballsy and corrupt executive and his long-suffering wife. While the script falls into preachy and melodramatic traps at times, Brian Parry and Jan Ellen Graves imbue these two characters with real humanity, bringing a palpable urgency to their struggles; especially effective in those spots where the momentum could otherwise begin to stall up against lengthy exposition. (Valerie Jean Johnson)
At Redtwist Theatre, 1044 W. Bryn Mawr, Chicago, IL 60660, (773)RAV-PLAY. This production is now closed.
