Playwright: John Callaway
At: Pegasus Players, 1145 West Wilson (Truman College)
Tickets: $15-$19
Phone: 773-878-9761
Runs through: April 15
I've seen a man play Beethoven on tissue paper-and-comb, and a woman tear a telephone book in half. I myself can wiggle my eyebrows independently of each other. Each of us has some hidden "talent" that suitably amuses our friends and briefly impresses strangers before they continue with life's more serious business. The trick that celebrated TV broadcaster John Callaway has mastered is the no-step drop kick, a lost football move that once figured prominently in collegiate and professional games. Now 64 years old (and, frankly, looking older than that), Callaway demonstrates the no-step drop kick twice during John Callaway Tonight, his one-person show at Pegasus Players.
It isn't enough upon which to hang an evening's entertainment, and neither is Callaway himself. His show isn't dull and is mildly plesant, amusing and poignant, as he recounts stories of his childhood in West Virginia, his arrival in Chicago in 1956 with $.71 in his pocket, and his early career in journalism. But at two-and-a-half hours including intermission, it's far too long, because Callaway's personal history really is no more interesting or profound than yours or mine. Furthermore, Callaway isn't an actor (nor does he pretend to be) or even an authoritative raconteur (he's not bad, but certainly isn't a master storyteller). Many of his anecdotes appealed to me as a fellow journalist old enough to share his frame of reference. But I kept asking myself: if people didn't know who John Callaway was, why would they care about the small change of his life? Why would they want to see this show? And my answer was that they wouldn't.
In addition to his personal stories and the drop kick, Callaway sings several songs in a youthful and above-average voice, with a good sense of phrasing. In this respect, he proves himself a worthy father of Broadway babes Liz and Ann Hampton Callaway (both of whom were present on opening night). He also shows clips of interviews from his distinguished PBS career (longer clips would add to the show), and answers questions submitted by the audience. This improvisational section is the strongest, as it lets Callaway showcase his fast wit and play the pundit commenting on a variety of subjects.
John Callaway Tonight has been nominally directed by Dan Foster, simply but cleanly designed by Jack Magaw and lit by Dave Gipson.
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