My night off...Remy Bumppo style
Ugh...if there was ever a play that could trigger that drive to get back to the theater it is Remy Bumppo's "The Goat, or Who is Sylvia?" by Edward Albee.
I left John at home with the baby for the evening (tough job...I put him to bed before I left...ha!) so I could go see my dearest friend Michael Joseph Mitchell in his first show at Chicago's fabulous Remy Bumppo Theatre. What a fantastic night!
As an actress I am slightly ashamed to admit this was my first time seeing an Albee play. Sure, I've read "Who's Afraid of Virginia Wolf", "Seascape" and a couple other plays...but have never seen one performed. And as a newbie to the Chicago area, I was a Remy Bumppo virgin as well. Well now I'm hooked. On Albee, on Remy Bumppo, on the Chicago Theatre scene, WOW! What a play, what a cast, what a fantastic production. This show has everything I could ever want out of a night out at the theater. I am still shaking with excitement and the curtain call was nearly 4 hours ago. Four heartfelt characters all with incredibly rich emotional journeys. I found myself laughing and nearly weeping with each character at different moments in the tragedy of their situation. Annabel Armour is a vivacious, hilarious and tortured Stevie. Nick Sandys, who plays Martin, has the incredibly challenging job of trying to explain himself over and over through countless interruptions but remains honest and bewildered throughout. Sandys' careful and loving moment with his son in the final scene sent chills down my spine and brought me to peace with any prior reservations I had about the character. Will Alan, as Billy, brings moments of comic relief in the second scene but made my heart break for him in the final scene. And my dear friend Michael Joseph Mitchell, as Ross, has a killer first scene and really sets the tone for all that is to come in this roller coaster of a play (so proud to know him...such a talent!).
I can honestly say it's been a long time since a play has made me feel so alive. I was on the edge of my seat, excited and nervous for every character...the perfect evening at the theater. If you live in Chicago...DON'T MISS THIS SHOW!! SEE IT!!!
And now...I'm inspired. It's been one year and one week since I closed my last production. One year, new city and a baby later it's time to introduce myself to the Chicago theater scene.
I left John at home with the baby for the evening (tough job...I put him to bed before I left...ha!) so I could go see my dearest friend Michael Joseph Mitchell in his first show at Chicago's fabulous Remy Bumppo Theatre. What a fantastic night!
As an actress I am slightly ashamed to admit this was my first time seeing an Albee play. Sure, I've read "Who's Afraid of Virginia Wolf", "Seascape" and a couple other plays...but have never seen one performed. And as a newbie to the Chicago area, I was a Remy Bumppo virgin as well. Well now I'm hooked. On Albee, on Remy Bumppo, on the Chicago Theatre scene, WOW! What a play, what a cast, what a fantastic production. This show has everything I could ever want out of a night out at the theater. I am still shaking with excitement and the curtain call was nearly 4 hours ago. Four heartfelt characters all with incredibly rich emotional journeys. I found myself laughing and nearly weeping with each character at different moments in the tragedy of their situation. Annabel Armour is a vivacious, hilarious and tortured Stevie. Nick Sandys, who plays Martin, has the incredibly challenging job of trying to explain himself over and over through countless interruptions but remains honest and bewildered throughout. Sandys' careful and loving moment with his son in the final scene sent chills down my spine and brought me to peace with any prior reservations I had about the character. Will Alan, as Billy, brings moments of comic relief in the second scene but made my heart break for him in the final scene. And my dear friend Michael Joseph Mitchell, as Ross, has a killer first scene and really sets the tone for all that is to come in this roller coaster of a play (so proud to know him...such a talent!).
I can honestly say it's been a long time since a play has made me feel so alive. I was on the edge of my seat, excited and nervous for every character...the perfect evening at the theater. If you live in Chicago...DON'T MISS THIS SHOW!! SEE IT!!!
And now...I'm inspired. It's been one year and one week since I closed my last production. One year, new city and a baby later it's time to introduce myself to the Chicago theater scene.
Inspiring Kirstin! Fun to read even though I have no clue about the theater world!
ReplyDelete...and let me tell you, the Chicago theater scene NEEDS Kirstin! I've worked with her. She is brilliant. There will be NO stopping her. Hope we do it again, Kirs!!!! XOXO MJM.
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