It’s Snatching Season

OAK

Along with the other junk discarded in the gutter, an old television unexpectedly comes to life, announcing that it’s seven o’clock—do you know where your children are? Then a perky newscaster covers in graphic detail the recent disappearance of sweet little blonde white child. Her poor, weeping mother is shown pleading with the public for any information that might lead to her baby’s return. And—oh yeah—fourteen black children have also disappeared from the tiny town of Oak. But it’s Snatching Season, so…

Terry Guest is the award-winning actor, director and playwright of MILO IMAGINES THE WORLD, THE MAGNOLIA BALLET, MARIE ANTIONETTE AND THE MAGICAL NEGROES, AT THE WAKE OF A DEAD DRAG QUEEN, and many others. Now in its Chicago Premiere, Mr. Guest’s horrifying ghost story is chilling Windy City audiences to the bone. And, in addition to being a spooky folk tale in the vein of It, The Woman in Black or The Haunting of Hill House, Guest’s 

85-minute one-act ghost story is also an indictment of the unfair, unequal treatment given by the media, to the coverage of similar African-American tragedies.

Set in the small, Georgian town of Oak, the story centers around a lower-middle class family and how three Black youngsters react to and cope with the myth and reality of the Odella Creek Monster. Peaches is a hardworking single mother, trying to put food on the table for her two young kids. Pickle is her restless teenage daughter. She’s a feisty youngster who challenges the existence, but lives in fear of, the bloodthirsty Ghost. The Odella Creek Monster has been snatching dozens of children every year and taking them deep into the watery swamp. Peaches’ nine-year-old son, Big Man, tries to fill his deceased daddy’s shoes as the man of the house, but he’s still just a little boy. While Big Man’s false bravado denies the existence of the horrible swampland Monster, the kid’s fear of the cruel creature is renewed with the disappearance of each child. But these supernatural tragedies become personal when Suga, the children’s teenage cousin, suddenly disappears. Now Pickle and Big Man begin to realize that they could be next.

A Chicago university educator and Jeff Award-winning Director, Mikael Burke has a long history of taking many of Terry Guest’s creations from page to stage. He’s directed AT THE WAKE OF A DEAD DRAG QUEEN, among other Guest plays, as well as such additional highly praised productions as A TALE OF TWO CITIES at Shattered Globe and NOTES FROM THE FIELD at TimeLine Theatre. Mr. Burke has used all the artistic assistance at his disposal to stage OAK with mounting suspense, a moment of fairy tale storytelling and lots of unexpected humor. They all blend together to balance the story’s initial tension.

Mikael Burke’s talented quartet of actors spin Guest’s suspenseful story beautifully, adding a special air of magical realism to the evening. As Peaches, gifted Equity actress Brianna Buckley (THAT’S WHAT FRIENDS ARE FOR, Black Ensemble Theatre; THE RIPPLE, THE WAVE THAT CARRIED ME HOME, Goodman Theatre) plays a tough-as- nails single mother. She’s a tough cookie who works long hours at Krystal’s Cafe, while still trying to balance keeping house and raising her children. Ms. Buckley absolutely tears up the stage. While weaving a powerful spell of realistic robustness and indomitable defiance, Peaches tries to balance giving her kids the love and freedom they desire with the protection they require. Brianna also brings life to two other supernatural characters in the play, instilling each with a harmonizing humanity.

Pickle is portrayed by the lovely, talented and accomplished Jazzy Rush. Ms. Rush is making her Raven debut, but was last seen in Chicago at Shattered Globe in STEW. In an honest and layered performance, Jazzy brings a whole lotta teenage angst and a driving passion for independence to her character. Jazzy is also instrumental in motivating the mounting fear in this tale of terror.

Donovan Session is an ideal choice for playing Big Man. He looks like a nine-year-old and acts like a young boy, without giving in to stereotypes. Although finally making his Raven debut, the talented young actor has been enjoyed in productions all over Chicago. He was seen in THE HOT WING KING at Writers Theatre, IS GOD IS at A Red Orchid and THE MOST SPECTACULARLY LAMENTABLE TRIAL OF MIZ MARTHA WASHINGTON at Steppenwolf Theatre. In Terry Guest’s ghost story, Donovan portrays a young boy who likes to torment his older sister, barely tolerates his cousin, loves and listens to his mama, while trying to rationalize the existence of the Odella Creek Monster. This young actor is absolutely sensational in this role.

Both serving the production as their skilled Fight Director and playing the role of Suga, Stephanie Mattos is equally excellent. To the theatergoers, she fills us with fear and concern the young cousin who’s scared for her life. The teenager is terrorized and keeps everyone on the edge of their seats with Suga’s mounting fear. Her growing suspicion that she might be the next victim of the savage child-snatching swamp creature feels both realistic and unrelenting.

In addition to an expressionistic and versatile Scenic Design by Sydney Lynne, the production’s bathed in Eric Watkins’ appropriately eerie Lighting Design and made even more frightening by Ethan Korvne’s out-of-this-world Original Music and Sound Design. And talented Caitlin McLeod’s beautifully detailed Puppetry Design creates a fairy tale quality to the allegory that drives the horror home.

Although the ending is a little muddled and unclear, the overall impact of Mikael Burke’s powerful Chicago Premiere of Terry Guest’s ghost story is strong and unforgettable. Told by a talented cast of Chicago actors, led by the incredible Brianna Buckley, this is the perfect play for trick-or-treaters to enjoy and savor. Long after the Halloween season is merely a ghostly memory, the terrifying, red-eyed Odella Creek Monster may continue to haunt your dreams. Because, after all, it’s Snatching Season!                 

Highly Recommended

Reviewed by Colin Douglas

Presented October 2-November 9 by Raven Theatre, 6157 N. Clark, Chicago.

Tickets are available in person at the box office, by calling them at 773-338-2177 or by going to www.raventheatre.com.

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