Playwright: Thomas Bradshaw. At: Goodman Theatre, 170 N. Dearborn St. Tickets: 773-443-3800; www.GoodmanTheatre.org/Carlyle; $10-$40. Runs through: May 1
Main character Carlyle Meyers goes from Democratic to Republican beliefs and we, as an audience, are along for the bumpy ride in the world premiere of Carlyle. From bullying to gun control, nothing is off limits in a story where being a Republican trumps being Black. This is a play that is not afraid to tackle this tough terrain and deals with many racial issues that have carried over from the past until today.
The show is presented in the Goodman's Owen Theatre, which is utilized in exactly the right way. Entrances and exits are sometimes in the aisles with minimal set pieces keeping the focus on the characters.
There are off-color jokes that tackle controversial subjects, including sex and abortion, with one character exclaiming "Only Gays get AIDS." Setting the show in the '80s and '90s allows plenty of ignorance to be spotlighted, and Carlyle does not shy away from that.
House lights are brought up at one point while planted actors ask questions to the performers on the stage. This backfired a bit on premiere night when a Republican lady in the audience spoke up and clapped at uncomfortable places throughout the performance. The actors played right along, though, and kept things moving.
James Earl Jones II, as Meyers, leads a strong cast from prep school to the GOP. He keeps the character likeable even while stating some daring ideas. Costume pieces are dropped center stage hilariously at times. The sparseness doesn't distract from the action until the world's biggest flag arrives.
Theater is a reflection of our society, and this satire has plenty to keep our minds stirring. We have political shows now hitting the Windy Citylike Hillary and Clinton last week and now Carlyleto make us wonder what comes next. How about a play with a gay Republican's life story?