The Earl Extended!

Just got the word that The Inconvenience will extend their run of The Earl, showing right here at A Red Orchid Theatre, until March 2.  The show has been called "A stunner" (Time Out Chicago), "A thrilling little piece of pulp fiction" (Chicago Theatre Blog), and "A quality piece of work" (Around the Town Chicago).  This is a great show and a great group of young artists, so come out and show your support.

The New York Branch

With all of the excitement of The New Electric Ballroom, the great reviews, and the exciting Jeff Recommendation, we don't want to forget about our New York ensemble in Mistakes Were Made.  Mike Shannon and Mierka Girten will be closing the New York production on February 27, so a hearty Congratulations and Job Well Done goes out to them.

The Earl at Red Orchid

Don't forget that The Earl is also playing at A Red Orchid.  This one is scheduled to close February 23, so get out and see it while you can. 



Industry Night

A quick reminder that Industry Night for The New Electric Ballroom will be this Monday, February 14.  Tickets are pay what you can, but you should still call us to reserve your seats.

What a great way to tell someone special, Happy Valentine's Day.

Family

It's hard to ignore the common elements of the two shows currently running here at A Red Orchid Theatre, especially when you realize that it wasn't exactly intentional.  Both shows are about siblings and family.  The New Electric Ballroom delves into three sisters' emotional and psychological scars, while The Earl depicts three brothers giving each other actual scars. 

Both shows also question the appropriate role of the siblings within the family.  The older sisters in Ballroom obsessively relive their past in hope that the youngest will learn from their mistakes, teaching her to fear the world outside and to find safety in their home.  So what are they ultimately denying her?  The long-absent brother in The Earl returns home and is chastized for leaving.  The brothers who remained at home have been involved (at least somewhat) with the care of their mother, and have (at least somewhat) the care of the brutal game the brothers play.  Was he wrong to leave, wrong to trust his brothers as keepers of their tradition?

Both shows offer an interesting story, intriguing characters, and as many layers of meaning as you are willing to peel away. 

Both will make you feel better about your disfuntional family.

Both are showing at A Red Orchid Theatre.

Tickets for The New Electric Ballroom can be purchased here, or by calling the box office at A Red Orchid Theatre.

Tickets for The Earl can be purchased here, or by calling the box office at The Inconvenience.

Warm Up at The New Electric Ballroom

Tickets are 2-for-1 through Sunday, so that means two tickets for $30.  The Chicago Tribune called it "Fearless and intense,” the Examiner said it's ...“maddening, provocative and at times wildly comic,” and the Chicago SunTimes raves "A Red Orchid's Ballroom is simply electrifying."

This is a great deal for a show that is Jeff Recommended, so take advantage of it while you can.

The Blizzard vs. The Earl

What incredible timing.  To have one of the worst blizzards hit Chicago just when The Earl is ready to open.  While most of us decided to stay warm and cozy in our homes Tuesday night, The Inconvenience went ahead with their scheduled performance of The Earl at A Red Orchid Theatre.  Last night's performance went on as well, and everyone in the nearly-full audience was invited to the reception afterwards.  The entire cast from Red Orchid's 2006 production of The Earl was in attendance, as was Brett Neveu, the playwright, and Red Orchid ensemble members Kirstend Fitzgerald and Guy Van Swearingen.

Anyone who saw The Earl at A Red Orchid in 2005 should be ready to see some major changes this time around.  Director Duncan Riddell (also Literary Manager at A Red Orchid) offers plenty of blood in his version, as well as some hard hits and hearty laughs.  Danny Goldring returns as the title character, but the rest of the cast is brand new. Christopher Chmelik, Walter Briggs, and Ryan Bourque (all members of The Inconvenience) are the three brothers who delight in beating each other to bloody pulps while telling jokes and discussing their mother's well-being.  All the performances were great, and this is a show that no one should miss.

Congratulations to The Inconvenience on their first full theatrical production, and we're glad that A Red Orchid Theatre could be a part of it.  Tickets are available through The Inconvenience, either by calling their box office or through their website.