A Hand Reaching Out in the Darkness

The Sound Inside – Goodman Theatre

Just as a cool glass of water slakes our thirst on a hot summer day, the Goodman Theatre has returned, quenching a need that audiences may have forgotten was missing. One of Chicago’s best-loved theatres has returned with a polished, new, live production. And it’s not simply a streamed version of an old presentation: it’s all-new and first-rate. In the premiere of Goodman’s series of live, televised productions, we have three great, new scripts brought to life in fully-produced, live-acted presentations. After more than a year, audiences are finally going to be able to replenish their souls and intellects with another superior Goodman production.

Robert Falls, Goodman Theatre’s masterful producing Artistic Director, kicks off the trio of dramas with “The Sound Inside,” his production of Adam Rapp’s 2019 one-act. In a long line of plays, Mr. Rapp began his career twenty-one years ago with “Finer Noble Gases,” and a year later with “Nocturne.” His reputation as a playwright was elevated in 2005’s “Red Light Winter.” But this latest play might be Mr. Rapp’s finest, since it also marked his Broadway debut. This Goodman presentation is the first live production of “The Sound Inside” since it debuted at Studio 54; and Rapp’s 90-minute mystery will undoubtedly soon become a standard on stages all over the country.

The challenge of staging this two-hander during the Covid-19 pandemic has been met with sublime artistry and creativity. This is a socially-distanced production that truly works. Instead of a Zoom meeting presentation, or a live audience filling the seats of the Owen Theatre, the space has been redesigned as a TV studio. Working together seamlessly with Emmy Award-winning television producer Christiana Tye, the videography employs three cameras. Ms. Tye, along with Gabe Hatfield, of Hatfield/Post Productions, collaborates with Robert Falls, helping capture the play, as it was intended.

Together, they direct the audience’s focus where they feel is most necessary. Sometimes we’re viewing the scene at a distance; at other times a closeup works much better, so as to observe an actor’s face. The production is sparsely enhanced by a minimal scenic design, courtesy of Arnel Sancianco, and is lit in startling light-and-shadows and framed in darkness, by Jason Lynch. Richard Woodbury’s haunting soundtrack of original music and auditory design complete the look and sound of the production.

The stars of this play are two exceptionally fine, first-rate Chicago actors. Playing Bella, a Yale University creative writing instructor, is the incomparable Mary Beth Fisher. Trying to motivate young writers of fiction by employing the works of popular novelists, Bella often sees her character as a hand reaching out in the darkness. As this 53-year-old, unattached college professor, a self-proclaimed mediocre author and somewhat of a recluse, Ms. Fisher gently underplays her role. Her portrayal is captivating, seeping into the cracks and shadows of the story to come out shining. But, just when the viewer thinks he knows where this story is headed, Rapp changes his trajectory and surprises us. This is, after all, a mystery play. To her credit, Mary Beth Fisher proves that she’s a true Renaissance actor, able to meet both the demands of the TV camera as well as the live stage. 

As Christopher, her equally secretive and solitary Freshman writing student, John Drea makes his stellar debut on the Goodman stage. Hopefully we’ll be seeing more of Mr. Drea in the near future. The two actors are perfectly matched, constantly challenging each other dramatically. Sometimes sparring together, more often finding moments over which to bond, their relationship grows and blossoms. We eventually come to care deeply about these characters and are ultimately shocked by what finally unfolds. So as not give away too much, or to spoil the suspense of Rapp’s play, suffice it to say that this story gently draws the audience in, scene by scene, gets a firm grip, and never lets go until the very end. And, even then, the audience will have a difficult time letting go of Bella and Christopher.      
Highly Recommended

Reviewed by Colin Douglas

Presented May 13-16 is performed live, in a televised performance, by the Goodman Theatre.

Tickets are available at www.GoodmanTheatre.org/Live.

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