Remember Me 4Ever and Ever

Language of Angels – Three Crows Theatre

As Autumn leaves begin turning color and pumpkins start transforming into jack-o-lanterns, Three Crows Theatre kicks off their fourth season of always entertaining, thought-provoking stories. Their opening production is a psychological ghost story, just in time for Halloween. Written by the prolific and generously awarded playwright, Naomi Iizuka, this haunting one-act is, like most of her work, non-linear. First produced in San Francisco nineteen years ago, Ms. Iizuka’s drama plays with the conventions of time and space, with its nine characters telling their stories both in the past and present. The result is a sometimes confusing, but very well-acted production that will leave audiences thinking long after the lights fade to black.

Set deep in the North Carolina countryside, eight friends recall, as best they can, a night of adolescent drinking, drugs and love. Back when they were teenagers, this circle of friends entered a cave during the night, ready to party; but, by the early morning light, only seven of the kids leave the cavern. No one can recall the exact details, but the body of one of the girls was never found. Celie’s ghost appears throughout the play, hidden in the shadows, and haunting every character with their memory of the doomed young girl.

Directed with an artistic hand and just the right air of quixotic otherworldliness, Kristin Davis draws some powerful performances from her talented cast. She shines light on the shadowy, unsolved mystery that Naomi Iizuka presents, while raising tantalizing questions about life and death. Her drama is a multilayered, dreamlike story, coupled with a good deal of tension and apprehension. Although Iizuka’s script sets her play in several different locales, Ms. Davis has chosen to keep her production economical, by setting the three parts of the drama entirely in the cave, designed by Kelliann Keeler. The production is greatly enhanced by Marissa Geocaris’ scene-shifting lighting and Samuel Fitzwater-Butchart’s evocative sound design.

The cast is consistently excellent, with each actor giving a bravura performance, while working together with cast mates to create a powerful ensemble piece. Elizabeth Wigley is quietly ethereal and lovely as Celie, the ghostly spirit of the teenager whose disappearance haunts the lives of her friends. Sam Bianchini stands out as Danielle. Playing her teenage persona as a feisty, confrontational girl, she enjoys challenging the allegiance and affection of her friends and lovers. As an adult, Danielle hasn’t changed that much, but she’s more mellow, has given up drinking and has succeeded in shutting out the tragedies of her life…until the very end. 

Bouncing back and forth in time, Danielle has picked up a party boy named Michael, nicely played by Andrew Bailes, because he bears an uncanny resemblance to her deceased, teenage boyfriend, Tommy. Tommy died while under the influence when he was dared to jump off a cliff, by his best friend, Billy. Jacob Barnes plays Billy filled with anger and cynicism, always with a chip on his shoulder and bile flowing through his bloodstream. His hair-trigger anger drives this young man to kill Michael, a kid he just met, simply because he looks so much like his dead friend Tommy. Billy is adored by Allison, played with innocence and loving devotion by Caroline Kidwell. But even her tenderness can’t soften Billy’s hard demeanor.

Seth, as portrayed by Jake Jones, is filled with angst and guilt. Everyone suspected him to have been Celie’s murderer, even though Seth was her devoted boyfriend. Later, while losing himself in the same cavern where the teenagers once partied, Seth tells us that he will love Celie 4ever and ever. He confesses that her disappearance will always weigh heavily on his heart. Kendra, played by Rachel Mock, says she believes that Celie’s spirit still walks the underground caves, and she sometimes can still hear her friend’s lovely singing voice echoing throughout the cavern. 

JB, portrayed with strength and ferocity by John Wehrman, has become a police officer, following in his dad’s footsteps. While, as a kid, he loved the never-seen Joline, there’s indications that he secretly lusted for Celie, whom he describes as wild and dangerous. Ironically, Seth, Celie’s true love, recalls her as angelic and amiable. He even believes he sees her spirit climbing a ladder to heaven and back. JB’s girlfriend Joline died mysteriously in her sleep. He has two daughters, one of whom is the only person who knows that, burned into her father’s back, is the message, “Remember me 4ever and ever.” This ghostly tattoo from Celie haunts JB until the day he dies. 
An unusual, psychological ghost story, this play takes many liberties with time and place. Kristin Davis’ production of this often confusing play is always mesmerizing. Naomi Iizuka is a playwright who creates thought-provoking and haunting dramas that stay with her audiences long after the final curtain. It’s a great way for the cerebral theatergoer to really get into the Halloween spirit.

Recommended

Reviewed by Colin Douglas

Presented October 10-November 3 by Three Crows Theatre at the Piven Theatre Workshop, 927 Noyes St., Evanston.

Pay-what-you-can tickets are available at the door, by calling 312-469-0274 or by going www.ThreeCrowsTheatre.com.

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