|
WINDY CITY TIMES
|
|
|
THEATER REVIEW Queen of the Night
by Mary Shen Barnidge 2022-02-11
|
|
This article shared 1732 times since Fri Feb 11, 2022
|
|
When city men embark on camping trips (in fiction, anyway), they can be expected to a) bring their cellphones, b) discourse at length on confrontations with ferocious bears, c) return from fishing after catching only boots and tires, d) squabble over the correct way to build a fire, e) eat flame-scorched hot dogs, f) guzzle copious amounts of whiskey and/or g) suffer at least one comical false-alarm scare in the night. When the campers are a father and son (again, in fiction), the shift in literary genres will dictate that initial hostilities escalate into violenceverbal or physical, but rarely homicidalfollowed by tearful confessions and, ultimately, reconciliation.
Playwright travis tate checks all of these boxes, but adds three components not often invoked even by enlightened writers today. The avowed purpose of this nature excursion is a male-bonding retreat for blue-collar dad Stephen and openly gay offspring Ty (older-son Marshall's corporate lawyer duties compelling his absence); the piney-wooded state park they occupy is in Texas; and Stephen and Ty are both Black.
Playgoers steeped in demographical statistics and Hollywood stereotypes may assume these factors to significantly alter the filial dynamics under scrutiny, but why should it? Tate's narrative does not concern itself with social/political issues as much as it does the cultural barriers to intergenerational accord, articulated in lyrical apostrophes (tate's resume also includes several poetry collections) functioning like songs in a musical to reveal thoughts hitherto left unspoken within the spheres of masculine behavior.
The appropriateness of Victory Gardens Theater's post-pandemic return to live performance in the studio named for the late Richard Christiansena champion of artistry manifested at every level of developmentwas acknowledged with all due reverence on its opening night by Ken-Matt Martin, under whose direction Andrew Teamer and Terry Guest proceeded to deftly navigate the complexities of a text encompassing an unseen feathered predator addressed as "Mister Owl" and later, slapstick attempts to ward off likewise invisible ursine attackers. Indeed, both actors are to be commended for sustaining a palpable presence on a stage picture dominated by the immersive fantasy-realm of scenic designer Sydney Lynne, sound designer G Clausen and lighting co-designers Conner Sale and Sim Carpenter. |
|
|
|
This article shared 1732 times since Fri Feb 11, 2022
|
ARTICLES YOU MIGHT LIKE |
---|
|
| | SHOWBIZ Celine Dion, 'The People's Joker,' Billy Porter, Patti LuPone, 'Strange Way' 2024-04-19 - I Am: Celine Dion will stream on Prime Video starting June 25, according to a press release. The film is described as follows: "Directed by Academy Award nominee Irene Taylor, I Am: Celine Dion gives us ...
|
| | Kokandy Productions now accepting submissions for Chicago Musical Theater Fest returning Aug. 8-11 2024-04-18 --From a press release - CHICAGO (April 18, 2024) — Kokandy Productions is pleased to open submissions for the 2024 Chicago Musical Theatre Festival, returning this summer following a four-year hiatus. Kokandy is thrilled to ...
|
| | THEATER Blue in the Right Way's 'Women Beware Women' offers feminist, trans take on a troubling Jacobean tragedy 2024-04-18 - "Problematic" is a great go-to adjective to describe Women Beware Women. This 1621 Jacobean tragedy is by English playwright Thomas Middleton, who is probably best remembered as a collaborator with William Shakespeare on their pessimistic tragedy ...
|
| | Hubbard Street Dance Chicago announces programs for May 17-19 season finale 2024-04-17 --From a press release - CHICAGO — Hubbard Street Dance Chicago (HSDC) announced program selections for Spring Series: Of Joy, the final installment of Season 46, Abundance. The engagement will include four unique works, once ...
|
| | LGBTQ+ film fest Queer Expression to feature Alexandra Billings in 'Queen Tut' 2024-04-12 --From a press release - CHICAGO — Pride Film Fest celebrates its second decade with a new name—QUEER EXPRESSION—and has announced its slate of LGBTQ+-themed feature, mid-length and short films for in-person and virtual events in April and May. QUEER EXPRESSI ...
|
| | Open Space Arts's COCK offers a complex but compelling take on relationships 2024-04-08 By Brian Kirst - Premiering in 2009, Mike Bartlett's COCK was a comic revelation, exploring notions about fluidity and sexual labelling long before they became commonplace discussions. Granted, conversations about these issues will always ...
|
| | Jeff Awards launches submission period for Impact Awards 2024-04-06 - The Jeff Awards announced the opening period for applications submissions for its 2024 honors to help inspire early career artists of color in the Greater Chicagoland area. Two recipients will be selected for awards of $10,000 ...
|
| | SHOWBIZ Outfest, Chita Rivera, figure skaters, letter, playwright dies 2024-04-05 - For more than four decades, Outfest has been telling LGBTQ+ stories through the thousands of films screened during its annual Outfest Los Angeles LGBTQ+ Film Festival—but that event may have a different look this year because ...
|
| | SHOWBIZ Dionne Warwick, OUTshine, Ariana DeBose, 'Showgirls,' 'Harlem' 2024-03-29 Video below - Iconic singer Dionne Warwick was honored for her decades-long advocacy work for people living with HIV/AIDS at a star-studded amfAR fundraising gala in Palm Beach, per the Palm Beach Daily News. Warwick received the "Award of ...
|
| | WORLD Israel court, conversion therapy, death sentences, Georgia bill, fashion items 2024-03-29 - Israel's Supreme Court unanimously ruled that the Population Authority must register female couples as mothers on the birth certificates of their children they have together, The Washington Blade reported. The decision was made following a petition ...
|
| | City Lit Executive Artistic Director Brian Pastor talks theater, comics, queerness 2024-03-26 - City Lit Theater has announced its programming for the 2024-25 seasonwhich will be the company's 44th. It will also be the first season to be programmed under the leadership of Brian Pastor (they/them), who will assume ...
|
| | The Jeff Awards announces the 50th anniversary awards for non-equity theater 2024-03-26 --From a press release - A complete list of recipients can also be found online in the Non-Equity and News and Events sections at www.jeffawards.org. (March 25, 2024 - Chicago) — Celebrating its 50th anniversary awarding recognition for Non-Equity theater, the ...
|
| | SHOWBIZ Queer musicians, Marvel situation, Elliot Page, Nicole Kidman 2024-03-21 - Queer musician Joy Oladokun released the single "I Wished on the Moon," from Jack Antonoff's official soundtrack for the new Apple TV+ series The New Look, per a press release. The soundtrack, ...
|
| | THEATER Chicago's City Lit has anxiety on tap with 'Two Hours in a Bar' 2024-03-21 - Two Hours in a Bar Waiting for Tina Meyer by Kristine Thatcher with material by Larry Shue Text Me by Kingsley Day (Book, Music and Lyrics). At: City Lit Theater, 1020 W. Bryn Mawr Ave.. Tickets: ...
|
| | Jamie Barton brings nuances of identity to her Lyric Opera 'Aida' performance 2024-03-18 - Chicago's Lyric Opera is currently featuring a production of Giuseppe Verdi's Aida starring Michelle Bradley as Aida, Jamie Barton as Amneris and Russell Thomas as Radamès. The opera runs through April 7, 2024, with Francesca Zambello ...
| |
|
|
|
|