Jared Fernley, Stephen Dunn, John Zimmerman, Wes Clark and Ian Knox/Photo: Allen Rein
It’s tough to tackle Steinbeck’s “The Grapes of Wrath.” The classic has often been successfully produced on stage and screen; it’s difficult to forget Henry Fonda staring into a bleak future. But Infamous Commonwealth Theatre gamely remounts the piece as their “nature” season finale—unfortunately, with mixed results.
The Joad family’s flight from Dust Bowl Oklahoma to California lacks the urgency of a family on the brink of extinction. Jennifer Mathews captures the steel of the indomitable Ma Joad, but the rest of the ensemble greets each new tragedy as if they’ve just been told they’ve run out of pie at the local road house. Genevieve Thompson’s direction undersells the Joads’ California crossing, as well as the desperate tenderness of the climax.
Alan Donahue’s dusty, gauze-wrapped set beautifully suggests drought conditions without reenacting them. However, dragging the Joad jalopy across the stage during scene changes diminishes the show’s energy, an energy it sorely needs. (Lisa Buscani)
Infamous Commonwealth Theatre at the Raven Theatre Complex, 6157 N. Clark Street, (312)458-9780. Through May 24.
Not Without A Fight: A Review of "Relentless" at TimeLine Theatre Though the characters in "Relentless" are educated and well-to-do, they are far from reserved in world view—their rage seethes, hidden only by the comfort of their surroundings and the decorum of their lives.
Buggin’ Out: A Review of Bug at Steppenwolf Theatre The audience is the fly on the wall of a dingy Oklahoma hotel room where Agnes White is taking refuge from her recently released, abusive ex-husband Jerry.
![AFT – Laced 9074 [Daniela Martinez, Mariah Copeland, and Collin Quinn Rice]](https://www.newcitystage.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/03/AFT-Laced-9074-Daniela-Martinez-Mariah-Copeland-and-Collin-Quinn-Rice-350x216.jpg "The Battle of Being: A Review of \"Laced\" by About Face Theatre")
