Interludes

VIEWPOINTS – A summer roundup of theater in Chicago: PASSING STRANGE, ANOTHER MARRIAGE, TOMMY, and PERSONALITY

• By drediman
• August 1, 2023
• No Comments

Over the past couple of days, I had a chance to catch up with some of Chicago’s summer theater offerings before they closed up shop for August. Here are my thoughts on these diverse theatrical outings during my visit in the Windy City.

PASSING STRANGE
Theo Ubique

First up on the trip, I attended Theo Ubique’s production of Passing Strange (RECOMMENDED). Featuring a deeply personal book and lyrics by Stew (whose own trans-continental coming-of-age story forms the basis of the musical) and emotive blues music by Heidi Rodewald, the Tony-nominated musical lends itself beautifully to Theo Ubique’s intimate and immersive cabaret aesthetic. Speaking of cabaret, as the show’s narrator — a stand-in for Stew himself — Jordan DeBose makes for a formidable and enthusiastic emcee for the evening, leading a cast of young, wonderfully animated cast, who jump into multiple roles with ease. Directed with freewheeling energy by Tim Rhoze, the staging envelops the audience, shooting us headlong into the mind of our searching, developing protagonist.

ANOTHER MARRIAGE
Steppenwolf Theatre Company

Then over at the Steppenwolf Theatre Company — perhaps Chicago’s flagship theater company — I had the chance to catch ensemble member Kate Arrington’s new play Another Marriage (SOMEWHAT RECOMMENDED). Ms. Arrington is best known as a notable actress, and her distinct voice is evident throughout her play. However, as much as I enjoyed much of the play’s subtle, observant dialogue, I found her overall depiction of a emotionally turbulent turbulent, long-standing romantic relationship to be both forced and frustratingly vague. Terry Kinney’s deft staging tries valiantly to smooth out the play’s unevenness, as do the performances from the production’s quartet of actors, particularly Judy Greer — who gives a beguilingly sensitive performance — and Tim Hopper (admirably replacing Ian Barford during the play’s extension) in the central roles of Sunny and Nick, respectively.

THE WHO’S TOMMY
Goodman Theatre

The next evening at the Goodman Theatre, I attended the much-hyped revival of The Who’s seminal rock opera Tommy (RECOMMENDED). Given that seeing the original 1993 production on Broadway at the St. James Theatre was one of the defining experiences in my early theater-going, I approached the new Goodman production with both excitement and trepidation. The new staging by Des McAnuff (who also helmed the show in 1993) is sleeker and less overtly bombastic than the original production, fully taking advantage of the significant technological advances in projection and lighting design since the 1990s. What’s noticeably lacking in McAnuff’s update, however, is the humanity underlying the messianic story, which results in an experience that’s as chilly as it is flashy. Nevertheless, Pete Townsend’s iconic, thrillingly-performed score  remains terrifically theatrical and operatic in its rock’n’roll grandiosity.

PERSONALITY: THE LLOYD PRICE MUSICAL
Studebaker Theater

The last show of my visit was surprisingly the most fulfilling of the bunch — the new jukebox musical Personality: The Lloyd Price Musical (HIGHLY RECOMMENDED) at the beautifully-restored Studebaker Theater in downtown Chicago. The question that came to my head as I enteredthe theater was — do we really need another jukebox musical? In this case, absolutely yes, if only to exclaim early rock pioneer Lloyd Price’s legacy. As a Black musician and businessman in changing, precarious times, Price’s story is one that bears telling, if only to serve as a reminder of how much farther we need to to go as a society. Refreshingly, B. Jeffrey Madoff’s book takes its time time in establishing characters and relationships — to immense emotional pays-off. Sheldon Epp’s tightly-staged production stars the tireless Saint Aubyn, who invigoratingly shares the role of Price with the sweet-voiced Darian Peer. The rest of the superb cast inject energy and soul in every step of Price’s journey.