Playwright and Performer: Lisa Buscani
At: Neo-Futurarium, 5153 N. Ashland, Chicago
Phone: (773) 275-5255; $8-$12
Runs through Aug. 28
BY SCOTT MORGAN
Lisa Buscani is the kind of person who would own a bumper sticker that reads, 'If you're not outraged, you're not paying attention.'
Buscani pays plenty of attention all right, and she shares a series of funny and sharp observations in her insightful one-woman show Solid Citizen.
Buscani, a former Neo-Futurist gone solo, is back to visit Chicago following a stint in New York. The time away has given her plenty of random big-city experiences to expound upon.
Buscani reflects on her actions (and especially her prized anger) in several shocking situations, trying to jibe how she fits in with perceptions of what it means to be a good and upstanding citizen.
As Buscani points out, everything is fraught with difficulty and second-guessing. But more importantly, she looks at the choices people make and tries to see things from multiple perspectives without passing judgement.
Take for instance Buscani's reaction to seeing a man physically abuse his girlfriend on a train. We cheer her on for verbally standing up to the antagonistic man and laugh at her description of her 'emotional minimalist' boyfriend in warding off the abuser. But we later shudder when she realizes that her self-righteous outbursts might bring about a harsher retaliation against the abused woman.
Buscani vividly takes the audience along to a variety of places and situations that most city dwellers would prefer to avoid. She shares how life is working in a state home for abused and neglected children. There's also a painful day spend as a grand jury member in New York.
Buscani also analyzes her reactions on more personal levels. There's the dreaded phone conversations with a close friend who knows her husband is cheating on her. As much vitriol she spews out about the man, she also keeps it in check by saying she is only getting one side of the story.
Perhaps the most vivid piece is Buscani's volunteer stint as an abortion clinic escort. It's here that she points out the benefits of being a 'big girl' as she tries to dodge and speed clients past the wrath of anti-abortion activists. Though much is presented in an 'us vs. them' battle, Buscani does find some commonalities with her foes, though it doesn't ultimately shake her resolve or her stance on the matter.
Buscani has her material down well, save for a few tripping up of words and phrases here and there. She shows how she means business with her sharp pin-striped suit, though everything remains casual as depicted by her loosened men's tie.
The only thing really missing from the show is a worthy coda from Buscani to wrap things up. Things just end abruptly with a particularly devastating grand jury story of child abuse and how everyone wants to put the awful situation behind them.
Hopefully audiences don't feel the same way about the challenging issues and stories Buscani peruses in Solid Citizen in little more than an hour's time. We could all use some of the same introspection and analytical skills that Buscani brings to the forefront.