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.

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. 

Major Happenings

The opening for The New Electric Ballroom is almost here!  There are still tickets available for the previews this weekend.  Tickets for previews and all other shows can be purchased here, at our website. 

In this show by Irish playwright Enda Walsh, three sisters relive memories of something resembling romance with hilarious and horrible effect.  Interruptions from the local fishmonger only remind of the dangers of love and life outside.  Words, in Mr. Walsh’s harsh but illuminating vision, are both the making of experience and its destruction.  How do we share our history and how does it shape us?

Also, we will be welcoming The Inconvience back to A Red Orchid in February, for their production of The Earl.  You can catch them February 2nd through the 23rd, and more information (and a great picture of the actors) is available here.

And finally, a heartfelt congratulations to Mike Shannon, who was named one of Newcity's 50 People Who Really Perform in Chicago.  At No. 23, he even made into the top half.  You can see the whole list here.

Between Shows

Since the Iliad has closed, and with the opening of New Electric Ballroom a couple weeks away, things have been deceptively quiet here at Red Orchid.  Rehersals are ongoing for the cast of Ballroom and set construction has begun for the show, as well.  The ensemble has also been reading through scripts, looking for potential shows for next season.

Keep in mind that Ballroom has previews on January 21, 22, and 23, and tickets for those shows are only $15. 

Also coming up, The Inconvience will be back at A Red Orchid in February to perform The Earl. The dates and times are on their website.

The Reviews Are In

The reviews for The Iliad are coming in, and they're good.  The show is "Highly Recommended" by Hedy Weiss at the Chicago Sun-Times, who wrote that the actors "impress with the ferocity of their emotions, the sureness of their intellectual attack and the force and clarity of their diction" and that the show is a "highly unusual but rewarding take on a story that bares the truth about how ego, envy and the sheer addiction to war can result in unbridled savagery."  (Full review here)  The Chicago Tribune also gave it a great review, calling it "a most remarkable theatrical experience," and adding "Wright has given these girls quite a gift. But while many people are understandably reluctant to watch children — or, at least, children to whom they have no relation — this one offers glory on all sides." (Full review here)  The Chicago Critic review is also good, claiming "The girls DID make the Trojan Wars come to life. Amazing!"  It also includes some great photos from the the performance.

And in another news, last night The Inconvenience took over A Red Orchid's theater space for their Fresh Mean Reading Series.  The play, "The Triple Dog Dare of King Pluto the Dark," was written by Aaron Weissman, and performed by five talented actors, including Walter Briggs, who was seen recently in A Red Orchid's The Louis Slotin Sonata.  The Fresh Meat Reading Series continues on Dec. 8, and more information can be found on their website.  This was my first time seeing this group, and I have to say, they have a great energy.  Before the show, the audience buzzed with chatter.  The opening acts were firery.  And the reading was funny, heart-felt, and immensely entertaining.  How refreshing to see a group of performers doing what they love, simply because they love doing it.