Chicago Theatre Review

Chicago Theatre Review

Overstuffed With Facts and Fiction

October 9, 2019 Reviews Comments Off on Overstuffed With Facts and Fiction

Mosquitoes – Steep Theatre

Like the titular insect, in the US premiere of Lucy Kirkwood’s latest drama, the author of “Chimerica” and “The Children,” tiny things appear bigger than they actually are, while larger problems sometimes unfortunately fade into oblivion. Kirkwood shows how as our scientific knowledge expands our personal understanding of each other diminishes. Yet, in a play overstuffed with so many facts and ideas, the playwright creates an argument for her theme that this is an epoch of erudition, but also an era of fear.

Alice is a brilliant experimental scientist working in Switzerland, as part of a team with the Hadron Collider. Her sister Jenny, who has come for a visit, couldn’t be more different. Addicted to booze, cigarettes and reading her horoscope, Jenny plays caregiver to the sisters’ super intelligent, yet resistant and incontinent mother, Karen. Ironically, she was mother to a young daughter who, because Jenny believed hearsay, rather than her doctor, died recently because she hadn’t been immunized against measles. Alice has a high school-aged son named Luke, who, like the father who abandoned him years ago, is depressed and destructive. 

The two women couldn’t be more different. Alice is realistic and analytical, while Jenny completely relies on intuition and popular opinion. As beautifully portrayed by Cindy Marker, Alice is usually calm, reasonable and seemingly in complete control of her life…until things begin to fall apart. Played with guts and gusto the magnetic Julia Siple, Jenny is volcanic and filled with self-loathing, guilt and sorrow. When, in the final moments of this play, Jenny seems to be turning her life around, we cheer for her strength and perseverance. It may not be a permanent fix, but Jenny seems to be well on the road to some modicum of happiness. In the course of this powerful, all-involving drama, laced with select moments of dark humor, facts and feelings confront each other. As the Collider is turned on, the media generates worldwide fear, playing up the possibility that it will be the cause of the end of the world.

Directed with precision and focus by Jaclynn Jutting, this production boasts an excellent cast of actors. In addition to the already mentioned Cindy Marker and Julia Siple, who lead this cast and set the tone for the entire play, Meg Thalken is wonderfully believable and humorous as their mother, Karen. Alexander Stuart, making his Steep debut, is commanding, captivating and deeply concentrated as Luke. Another actress appearing for the first time on the Steep stage is Upasna Barath. She’s excellent as Natalie, Luke’s schoolmate and possible love interest. The always reliable Peter Moore brings amiable humanity and emotional power to Henri, Alice’s gentleman friend. Richard Costes is dynamic as The Boson/Lyn Evans, while Elle Walker and Amber Sallis each do a fine job in the supporting roles of Gavriella and the Journalist.

The Steep production staff has created an intimate environment for the actors to play in, while keeping the audience no more than a few feet from the action. Sotirios Livaditis’ scenic design is circular. His stage is spherical, a circle within a circle, with Brandon Wardell’s loop of illumination suspended above the acting area. Along the upstage wall, a curtain parts, from time to time, revealing moving images that comprise Stephan Mazurek’s well-researched projections. Sound designer and composer Kevin O’Donnell has fashioned a soundtrack that nicely enhances the production; and Emily McConnell has tastefully costumed her cast in contemporary clothing.

No lighthearted, frivolous comedy this, Steep’s new production opens its 19th season with an offering for the serious theatergoer. At almost three hours, with intermission, Lucy Kirkwood’s drama is like an overstuffed baked potato: it’s a story chocked full of facts and fiction. It can be a test of the patience for some, but for those who enjoy a challenging play, and give it their undivided attention, the rewards are great.

Highly Recommended

Reviewed by Colin Douglas   

Presented October 4-November 9 by Steep Theatre, 1115 W. Berwyn, Chicago.

Tickets are available at the box office, by calling 866-811-4111 or by going to www.steeptheatre.org.

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


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