Stand By Your Man

Support Group for Men – Goodman Theatre

 

In Ellen Fairey’s hilariously entertaining and often sensitive new play, audiences  are given a look at the seldom-seen secret lives of a bunch of realistic Chicago guys. Meeting every Thursday evening at Brian’s Wrigleyville apartment, Delano, Roger and new-to-the-group, Kevin, gather together for a few hours of soul-searching confession and nonjudgmental listening. For every laugh in this 90-minute play, there are also many moments of pathos. What begins as a familiar escapist “night-with-the-boys” comedy soon evolves into a beautifully rich and truthful comic drama that will haunt theatergoers long after the final curtain.

Staged and expertly guided by Kimberly Senior, one of Chicago’s most talented directors, Fairey’s play initially feels like a breezy, summer sitcom comedy. But, as we discover through the lives of the seven men and women who come to life in this wonderful script, looks can be deceiving. With a firm hand and a keen eye and ear for how real men behave and talk, Ms. Senior shapes a play that’s easy on plot, but big on character. She also further enhances that unique Chicago sensitivity that Ellen Fairey so expertly incorporates into her play. Not only does the playwright constantly reference recognizable Windy City locales and idiosyncrasies, but the characters are so real that anyone living in Chicago, will recognize them.

The always impressive Ryan Kitley is in full control as Brian, the youthful host of this Native American-inspired event. He enforces the rules and provides the refreshments. His apartment, realistically designed with texture and detail by Jack Magaw, becomes an urban version of the sweat lodge. There, every Thursday night, lubricated with rose wine, the guys take turns holding the talking stick. While in possession of this imagined magical baton, each man has the floor and gets to unload anything that’s on his mind. Each of the four friends, who’ve also adopted Native American names, grips the baseball bat, that Brian’s decorated with feathers and shells, and spills his feelings and concerns.

Anthony Irons plays Delano, Brian’s high school friend, with subtlety and sympathy. As the only African American in the group, Delano feels a little lonely and secretly wishes he could form his own sensitivity group with his black friends in Oak Park. Kevin is played by the talented and versatile Tommy Rivera-Vega, who’s as equally at home in musicals as in plays. He’s the youngest and newest member of the Support Group, having recently struck up a friendship with Brian at work. The likable Rivera-Vega provides much of the comedy in this production and his off-the-cuff confession surprises his new friends. The two men are both employees at the Apple Store, but Kevin is clearly the one headed for a promotion to the Genius Bar.

As Roger, the oldest member of the group, well-known and well-loved veteran Chicago actor, Keith Kupferer, is the heart of this production. This actor has always had the ability to play a man’s man in any play in which he’s cast. Roger’s clueless observations and reluctance to let go and be honest earns him the empathy and respect of everyone else in the room. He’s from an era when electronics didn’t rule our lives and he has problems being sensitive and understanding with 21st century males. As each man has his turn with the talking stick and vents his views, Roger soon confesses his own truths about his life that make the others appreciate this older man even more.

Some of Kupferer’s finest moments come when Alex, a young man in drag, played with grit and honesty by Jeff Kurysz, is discovered hiding in Brian’s closet. The group falsely thought he was a woman when they saw him from their window being badly beaten by street thugs. The hoodlums apparently took issue with Alex’s wig and women’s clothing and wanted to make an impression. At first Roger is confounded by Alex’s strange getup, but he eventually becomes the one member of the group who nurtures and cares for the kid. It’s in this tender scene that the play truly shifts from being a contemporary comedy of manners to a poignant portrayal of mankind in its finest hour.

Add to the story two typical Chicago cops, with Eric Slater perfect as pragmatic Officer Nowak, and Sadieh Rifai, as the more humane lady law enforcer, Officer Caruso. While the group’s turned off by Nowak’s almost callous, officious behavior, Roger finds himself attracted to the strong, yet more caring Officer Caruso. Together, these two characters add another dimension to this play. 

Although audiences will come to the theatre expecting a fun, perhaps superficial summer comedy they’ll be happily surprised that this is more than a theatrical beach read. Ellen Fairey’s new comic drama offers a message that makes the audience’s investment with this new play far more rewarding. Smartly directed by the always impressive Kimberly Senior, the one-act features an excellent cast, a gorgeous, realistic scenic design and so much spirit and local color as to make any Chicagoan feel happily at home.

Highly Recommended

Reviewed by Colin Douglas    

   

Presented July 2-29 by the Goodman in the Albert Theatre, 170 N. Dearborn, Chicago.

Tickets are available in person at the Goodman box office, by calling them at 312-443-3800 or by going to www.GoodmanTheatre.org/SupportGroup

Additional information about this and other area productions can be found by visiting www.theatreinchicago.com.