Opposites Attract

The Official Biography

Two people could hardly be more different. The pair of characters in this play come from different races, generations, cultural backgrounds and schools of thought. Henry Percival is a highly successful author of popular novels and is approaching his eightieth birthday. Xan Smith is an up-and-coming twenty-something, a dedicated writer of critical essays. Henry is a grumpy recluse, content to live out his years alone in a rural, woodland setting. Xan lives in an apartment in the bustling, metropolitan jungle of the city, a three-hour drive from Henry’s country cottage. Mr. Percival is an elderly caucasian author who has enjoyed a life writing creative fiction. Xan is a young African-American woman who strongly feels that truthful, exploitative nonfiction is far more relevant today than phony, fabricated stories that are a waste of time in our troubled world. But when Xan pushes her presence into Henry’s home, eventually opposites attract.

THE OFFICIAL BIOGRAPHY is a fascinating two-hander that brings a pair of completely different individuals together over the course of several months. Henry and Xan begin this 90-minute one-act as antagonists. But as playwright Kurt McGinnis Brown’s intriguing play winds its way through time, attitudes change, perspectives readjust and the relationship between the two writers becomes closer. During her journalistic investigation through Henry’s notes and unfinished works, Xan accidentally discovers what appears to be a real-life murder mystery. Suddenly, the young woman who’d planned to expose an old poop of an author as outdated fool finds something far more exciting to pursue. 

Veteran actor Gary Houston (GEM OF THE OCEAN, JOE TURNER’S COME AND GONE, at the Goodman Theatre) returns to the stage in a role that seems tailor made for him. In addition to parts in a number of popular films, and a long history of performances at Northlight, Writers Theatre, Steppenwolf, and others, Mr. Houston was a books and arts staffer at the Chicago Sun-Times. He’s also the current managing editor of the Chicago Quarterly Review, as well as a working member of AEA and SAG-AFTRA. Here Gary is outstanding as Henry Percival. His dry humor and glib delivery of off-the-cuff quips and criticisms are textbook perfect. Mr. Houston has beautifully created the persona of an ornery old-timer who says he just wants to be left alone in the twilight of his life. But, from the beginning, theatergoers will see through the man’s crusty character and recognize a lonely soul searching for someone with whom he can share his feelings and ideas. The bottom line is that, in the hands of talented Gary Houston, Henry Percival is really a lovable, if cantankerous, curmudgeon.

Actor, musician and solo performer Shelby Marie Edwards makes her auspicious debut with Her Story Theater as Xan Smith. Ms. Edwards exudes the determination of a hungry young writer of nonfiction, whose only reason for driving all the way out to interview this old, white man is to expose the writer for being a fool. Xan is a strong proponent of current social campaigns, such as the Black Lives Matter and the Me Too movements. She definitely feels fiction is an outdated genre in the 21st century, and Xan hopes to make her mark with an expose about a writer, whose time and popularity has passed. But watching her slow, subtle transition from antagonist to protagonist is captivating in the hands of this talented new performer. I predict that Shelby Marie Edwards has a long, successful acting career ahead of her.

Like Gary Houston, director Richard Shavzin is also a veteran of Chicago theatre. He’s been on the ground floor of so many world premieres, including staging the first presentation of RACE, by Studs Terkel, while serving as the artistic director of Strawdog Theatre. Once again, Mr. Shavzin demonstrates his talent and finesse by orchestrating the first professional showing of Kurt McGinnis Brown’s latest play. Richard uses a subtle hand to guide his actors and stage this story. He’s an expert at focusing on the characters and the emotional and intellectual journey they’re making together. The result is an intriguing mystery story and a satisfying character study of how opposites attract.             

Recommended

Reviewed by Colin Douglas

Presented March 28-April 19 by Her Story Theater at the Den Theater, 1331 N. Milwaukee Ave., Chicago.

Tickets are available at the Den box office, by calling 773-697-33830 or by going to www.thedentheatre.com.

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

Photos: Michael Brosilow