Six hundred friends and I had to shut it down; Facebook took over my life. It was a good instinct; I avoided the Ruckus’ projected future: when social networking grows unchecked and communication technology inhibits communication.
In a dystopian society where direct contact is taboo, five people enroll in a tech baron’s plan: to host Fox News-esque host Sebastian (Timo Aker), gadfly Juniper (Karie Miller), exhibitionist Ivy (Elise Mayfield), wanna-be Rayne (Stevie Chaddock Lambert), lower-class pariah Simon (Joshua Davis) and a mysterious worker (Alyse Kittner), and force them to interact.
Allison Shoemaker’s creative staging emphasizes the ensemble’s isolation. Mitch Vermeersch and Aaron Dean’s script confidently plays with the genre, although the narrative muddies key plot points. The real fun’s in watching the ensemble negotiate their surroundings. Mayfield is zaftig sex on a stick; Davis’ longing is painful. Aker and Lambert’s intimacy attempts fail epically; but there’s comfort in the effort. (Lisa Buscani)
The Ruckus Theater at The Side Project, 1439 West Jarvis, (773)769-7257. Through June 26.
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