Powerful and Thought-Provoking

Anatomy of a Suicide

I must confess that I wasn’t prepared to like this play, let alone love it. But I was amazed. In this superb production, the many characters, as well as the play’s powerful and thought-provoking messages these actors convey, will seep into the theatergoer’s very bones. The horrible ramifications of trauma and suicide within one family will haunt each audience member and live in their memory for days to come. 

British playwright, Alice Birch has composed a heartbreaking drama that is as unique, as it is poignant. The follows the lives of three women, and is constructed in a way that their stories play out simultaneously. Ms. Birch employs an awe-inspiring synchronized and interlocking structure to convey the parallel emotional experiences of Carol, her daughter Anna and  Anna’s daughter Bonnie. The result is an often breathtaking, sometimes comic, and always affecting production. 

This impressive, bittersweet play is magnificently directed by Alex Mallory ( THE CAVE, at A Red Orchid Theatre), who also happens to be half of Junkheart. The subject matter, as well as the script itself, must’ve posed a huge challenge for this director, but she’s formidably faced every demand head-on. Except for some difficult, partially obstructed sight-lines for the theatergoer (a common problem with staging any production at Redtwist Theatre) the long, narrow performing space manages to bring this trio of heartbreaking stories up close and personal. The skillful way that Alex Mallory has kept her actors in continual motion allows each character’s story to be available every moment to the entire audience.

The setting is also a challenge, both for Ms. Mallory, as well as scenic and lighting designer, Daphne Agosin. The play’s set all over the place: in a house, a hospital, a commune, a garden, a coffee shop, and on and on. The way Ms. Agosin has established a fluid playground for all of these locales is with a few simple platforms and a handful of furnishings and props (courtesy of Lolo Ramos). Often, Ms. Agosin’s clever lighting directs the audience’s attention to a new area where an actor is delivering a monologue or sharing a scene. This is pure artistry at its finest.

But even more artistry is continually centerstage in this truly gifted cast. Any theatergoer who has difficulty understanding the concept of an ensemble cast, need only visit Redtwist for ANATOMY OF A SUICIDE. Alex Mallory’s terrific production demonstrates how a troupe of ten talented actors seamlessly mesh to become twenty-six characters. Leading the cast are the incredibly brilliant Tatiana Pavela (HOW TO TRANSCEND A HAPPY MARRIAGE at Redtwist) as Carol, the exquisite Isabel Lee Roden (ROMEO AND JULIET at The American Shakespeare Center) as Bonnie and the absolute mind-blowing performance by Taige’ Lauren (EELPOUT at Shattered Globe) as Anna. These three unbelievably splendid, standout performers are alone worth the admission price. But then, so is the rest of the cast.

This wonderful ensemble cast also includes Josh Razavi as John, Raul Alonso as Jamie, Allyce C. Torres as Jo/Laura/Lola/Woman, Wisterman as Dan/Dave/Nurse/Felix/Luke, Jocelyn Maher as Emma/Karen/Adult Daisy/Esther/May/Diane, Laila Malak as Young Daisy/Young Anna/Child, and Faiz Sidique as Toby/Tim/Mark/Man. Just a warning that nowhere in the theatre will the audience find a cast list, the director, nor anyone connected with this production—including the name of the playwright. All the theatergoer receives is a tiny piece of heavy paper with a QR code. If anyone’s interested in specifics, one has to use the camera on his cell phone. To me, this is not only frustrating but unacceptable.

To say more about Alice Birch’s marvelous, moving drama, or this capable and creative cast, or even the incredibly talented unseen artists, like director Alex Mallory, whose collective work burns brightly in this production, would spoil the future theatergoer’s theatrical experience. My advice to prospective audiences is to go into this play knowing only what the title provides: this is an ANATOMY OF A SUICIDE. Let you, each intelligent and empathetic theatergoer, take it from there. Leave preconceived notions at the door. Give yourself over completely to this powerful and thought-provoking, incredibly immersive theatrical experience and you’ll be a different person when you leave the theatre.  

Highly Recommended

Reviewed by Colin Douglas

Presented August 12-30 by The Metal Shop Performance Lab, in partnership with JunkHeart, at Redtwist Theatre, 1044 W. Bryn Mawr, Chicago.  

Tickets are available in person at the box office or by going to www.RedtwistTheatre.org.

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

Production photos by Mollie Menuck