Playwright: William Glick. At: The New Colony at The Den Theatre, 1333 N. Milwaukee Ave. Tickets: TheNewColony.org; $20-$25. Runs through: Aug. 14
Lucy and her siblings would make the perfect poster family for transitioning. They're about to sell their home and relocate to the Chicago area. Lucy's perfectionist sister Mary has reinvented herself as video celeb, Mary-Beth, a blogger whose You Tube offerings include how-to segments instructing the proper way to clean, cook and even pack. Her sister Eleanor has recently come out as a fully transitioned transgendered female, and is now trying to navigate her way through the dating world. Toby, Lucy's handsome husband, is a minister who's discovered that his relationship with both God and his wife are in a state of flux. And Lucy herself is undergoing her own dramatic change: she's transitioning into bcoming a dragon.
This world-premiere fantasy by William Glick cleverly winds between the real world and a non-human, magical kingdom called Otherkin. Staged on John Wilson's adaptive set, blending reality with fantasy, the production owes much to the beautiful projection, sound and lighting designs by Paul Deziel, Morgan Lake and Heather Sparling. Kate Kamphausen's imaginative, often titillating costumes enhance each character and display a fair amount of skin. Director Evan Linder keeps this perplexing, inventive play in constant motion, although the audience's view is sometimes obstructed ( except from the front row ) when the action occurs below the elevated platform.
Lucy, portrayed by company newcomer Annie Prichard, is a woman on a unique, personal journey. The actress effectively conveys her character's obsessive belief in this exotic, magical world with honesty and conviction, balanced with understandable moments of self-doubt and confusion. Lucy's continuous transition toward becoming the dragon, Kreeka, is accomplished with compassion, skill and ferocity.
Generous support is provided by Prichard's costars. Quirky Steve Love, as the stalwart elf Arethin, lumbering Andrew Hobgood, as a pot-smoking giant gnome named Blubberwort and Stephanie Shum playing a lady-loving werewolf named Dusk portray the non-humans. Chris Fowler displays versatility and strength as Lucy's faith-challenged husband, Toby. In a heartfelt soliloquy, he begs God for help, while Toby's sex scene with Lucy is both erotic and humorous, and includes the use of a certain unique sex toy. Both Alexia Jasmene and Elise Spoerlein are terrific as happy homemaker Mary-Beth and newly transgender Eleanor, journeying through their own changes while trying to understand and support their sister Lucy.
Change is constant for everyone, but seldom will audiences find an entire family for whom transitioning has become almost a way of life. Changing one's residence, gender, religion, identity and even species all co-exist in this bizarre, 85-minute work. Especially for fans of fantasy fiction, Comic-Con and The Game of Thrones, here's a unique comedy that speaks volumes about the need and universality of kinship.