RECOMMENDED
Steep Theater’s “Breathing Corpses” belongs to the women of the tight ensemble this company has created. Be sure that the men involved are unfailingly spot on, but I am taken with the women. Laura Wade’s script is funny and frightening. Unwitting characters stumble upon dead bodies and become the corpses themselves of scenes to follow in the time-bending chronology. The work unfolds as a well-crafted psychological thriller. Chicago is lucky this heralded writer from across the pond has come at last. Robin Witt’s nimble and often quiet treatment of the material feels just right. She has a steady hand, but just as any great director she seems to barely touch the material, letting the story of death and violence unfold like real life. Julia Siple, Franette Liebow and Lucy Carapetyan anchor the show with honest portrayals of large characters. They embody their roles with specificity and dynamism. The show flies by leaving you hungry for more. (William Scott)
“Breathing Corpses” runs at Steep Theater, 3902 North Sheridan, (312)458-0722. This production is now closed.
Related Stories
Breathing Together: A preview of EKILI MUNDA/What Lies Within at the Dance Center of Columbia College The collaboration between Chicago's Red Clay Dance and Kampala-based Keiga Dance Company explores how personal and cultural history rest in the body.- A Signal In The Noise: A Review of Birdland at Steep Theatre The U.S. premiere of Simon Stephens' new play at Steep Theatre is an uncompromising vision of toxic masculinity, celebrity culture and the global marketplace.
- Swiss Miss: A Review of Zürich at Steep Theatre Structured as a series of vignettes across a range of contemporary issues, this Midwest premiere at Steep Theatre puts increasing distance between itself and its audience.
- Give Up The Ghost: A Review of Hinter at Steep Theatre Steep Theatre presents the world premiere of Calamity West's haunting true-crime story about unsolved homicides in Bavaria after World War I.
- Beast or Burden: A Review of First Love is the Revolution at Steep Theatre Blood, lust and love coalesce in the poignant personification of this Midwest premiere.
- The Theater Plays Itself: A Review of Red Rex at Steep Theatre Prolific playwright Ike Holter turns his incisive gaze toward the Chicago storefront theater scene in this meta dramedy at Steep Theatre.
