Playwright: Rob Florence. At: Interrobang Theatre Project at Den Theatre, 1333 N. Milwaukee Ave. Tickets: Interrobangtheatreproject.org; $15-$20. Runs through: Oct. 4
There's plenty of horror and human resilience to be shared in Katrina: Mother-in-Law of 'em All, now making a very timely Chicago premiere courtesy of Interrobang Theatre Project to mark the 10th anniversary of Hurricane Katrina hitting the U.S. Gulf Coast.
Authored by Rob Florence, Katrina: Mother-in-Law of 'em All is drawn from true stories of six New Orleans residents who alternately share what happened to them and their loved ones before the hurricane hit and the harrowing aftermath once the city was flooded. But far from being a solemn affair, Katrina: Mother-in-Law of 'em All continually fascinates as you get drawn into each story to find out how everyone survived to tell their tales and why they returned to New Orleans.
The six storytellers ( plus David Finke as an ever-present "Lounge Regular" who sings and strums the guitar ) all gather at the Mother-in-Law Lounge bar to regale each other with survival experiences.
Right off the bat lounge owner Antoinette ( RjW Mays ) commands attention by suggesting that someone named Ernie was stored in three pieces in her closet once she was evacuated, while Judy ( Danon Dastugue ) stands out since she owns ferrets.
Raymond ( Darren Jones ) is surprisingly grateful for the storm since it allowed him travel once he was evacuated, while Rodney ( Aaron Spencer ) had the added stress of caring for his elderly parents throughout the crisis.
But on the humorous and dramatic ends of the spectrum, you have tour guide Sonny ( Peter Goldsmith ) dealing with potential looters and trying to use whatever story or method to get out. But Franklin ( Christopher McMorris ) had it the hardest as he recounts the chaos of being corralled into the stifling and stench-filled Superdome and Morial Convention Center.
Director Georgette Verdin adeptly directs the production with Greg Pinsoneault's cozy bar set design center stage. The upsetting magnitude of the disaster is also amplified by the great sound design work of Eric Backus and especially by projection designer Chris Owens who strategically draws from photographs and video footage to underline the desperation of the situations.
Katrina: Mother-in-Law of 'em All is gripping throughout, though there are some quibbles. Dastugue continually tripped over her lines at the opening performance. And in his drive to provide jolt of New Orleans rah-rah resiliency to his play, Florence neglects to include any stories of the thousands of Gulf residents who were permanently displaced by the storma very glaring omission.
With its blend of humor and horror, Katrina: Mother-in-Law of 'em All is certainly a strong way for Interrobang to kick off its sixth season dedicated to Unnatural Disasters. And if nothing else will prod you get emergency supplies ready for your home, this play is it.