Playwright: Hank Boland and Strawdog; Mikhail Fiksel and Andre Pluess ( music )
At: Strawdog Theatre Company, 3829 N. Broadway
Phone: ( 773 ) 528-9696; $20
Runs through: July 23
If this original musical is what Strawdog can come up with its first time out of the gate, then the future of musical theater at Strawdog bodes well. This magical heartland musical, set sometime around the turn of the century, is credited to Hank Boland ( book ) and Mikhail Fiksel and Andre Pluess ( music ) , but was born out of a series of improvisational workshops, jam sessions, and staged readings. A lot of times, such creativity by committee can fall short, but The True Ballad of Fall's Blessings is consistently involving, evocative, and entertaining.
The story begins when the unwed Hennessy sisters bury their father and wonder how they will hold on to the Kansas farm he has left behind. The father's death sets in motion a series of events that will lead those in the sisters' orbit away from the farm, all on separate quests: some for spiritual redemption, others for fame, others for fortune and glory. And the magical thing about all of their journeys is that each are led back to the farm, by what some might consider bewitched, broken possessions of the Hennessy sisters' late father, possessions lost in a game of chance to someone who bears an uncomfortable likeness to a being far south of Kansas. The sisters' story is one of hardship. Caroline ( Jennifer Avery in a subtly nuanced performance ) is careworn and no-nonsense, clinging to her bible and hope for fruitful crops. Elizabeth ( Shannon Hoag, all repressed fire and longing ) wants more and finds it in the arrival of a farmhand ( the charismatic Christopher Hainsworth ) . The farmhand replaced Joe Young ( Kyle Hamman, earnest and sympathetic ) who longs for a career on the stage and who hooks up with a band of thespian circus freaks. All of their lives rest on the outcome of a bet made by Phineas Q. Waterman ( a strong turn from Carmine Grisolia ) , who, unbeknownst to all, holds the deed to the Hennessy farm and has wagered it for a magic band that could bring his own traveling show great fame and fortune.
The story is gripping and its narrative arcs clear and compelling. Director Nic Diamond pulls everything together with an inspired execution, coaxing layered, subtle performances from his cast ( even the circus freaks are appropriately over the top ) and keeping the pace squarely on the beat for the entire running time. Musical director Mikhail Fiksel makes his seven-piece band an indispensable part of the story; their six bluegrass, folksy songs adding depth to the proceedings. They band is also a part of the play, ghostly western figures wandering with their instruments throughout.
The True Ballad of Fall's Blessings is a true winner. For $20, you won't find a better, or more enjoyable, musical in Chicago this summer.