There is nothing like a good revenge tragedy; pitiful protagonists taking temporary leave of their senses to attack their enemies with blind fury. MacArthur “Genius Grant” goddess Suzan-Lori Parks takes a stab at the genre and misses an important vein.
Hester (Kelly Owens) is an abortionist in a post-apocalyptic society. She toils to pay for privileges to see her imprisoned son (Lance Newton), incarcerated for stealing meat from the wife (Amrita Dhaliwal) of her town’s mayor (Kamal Hans). With the help of her lover (Madrid St. Angelo) and best friend (Lyndsay Rose Kane), Hester plots revenge.
It’s a formula for a bloody fine tale, but the clunky script keeps the piece from striking home and the performances are uneven at best. St. Angelo shines as Butcher; his monologue detailing his family troubles is the centerpiece of the evening. Shame; if the writing and performances met that standard throughout, it’d be a cathartic evening. (Lisa Buscani)
Urban Theater Company at Pegasus Players, 4520 North Beacon, (312)239-8783. Through April 15.
A Second Company's Saga: The Spirited Story of Fifty Years of Chicago Opera Theater Chicago Opera Theater began as a handful of vocal students of company founder Alan Stone. It was formed by Stone to give his students actual performance practice and experience. Stone’s decision to present operas in English was a considerable break with convention back in 1973.
