A Satirical Look at Hypocrisy

Adirondack Chair Circle

Did you know that the unique style of outdoor furniture known as the Adirondack chair was invented back in 1903 by Westport New Yorker, Thomas Lee? He wanted a sturdy, comfortable piece of outdoor furniture that would sit level on the steep, rocky terrain of his family’s Adirondack Mountain summer home. Each wooden chair featured a slanted seat, a high back and wide armrests that could also serve as side tables for drinks and snacks. And in Stephanie Alison Walker’s new comedy, having its World Premiere this Fall at Steppenwolf, these comfortable chairs, arranged in a circle around a fire pit, form the ironic uncomfortable setting for this dark, political story, a searing and satirical look at hypocrisy.

A small group of suburban moms meet every week in Banna’s backyard to discuss what they believe is the most urgent matter in the lives of their children: banning controversial books from their school’s library. Banna hosts the weekly meetings, impressing her friends with her trademark presentation of a charcuterie board of imported crackers, meats, cheese and other treats. In this single gesture, Banna tells us everything about how she perceives her social standing and what’s most important in her affluent life. Leading a concerned parental effort to inflict academic literary censorship has become this group’s reason for living.

Banna, beautifully played with calm confidence and command by talented actress, Katrina Lenk (COMPANY; THE BAND’S VISIT; ONCE, Broadway), keeps the group of militant mamas on their toes. She deftly inspires each of her fanatical ladies to spread the message that the school library is promoting pornography and it must be stopped. But the ironic thing is that while Banna is spearheading the movement to control what students at school can read, she can’t control her own family. In fact, Banna’s daughter, Charlie, hates her mother and Banna’s husband is not only the teenager’s favorite parent, but is equally at odds with his wife.

The two other ladies in this group are as different as day and night. Libby, portrayed with spit and vinegar, by Sadieh Rifai (YOU WILL GET SICK, Steppenwolf; THE TARGETED and THE GREY HOUSE, A Red Orchid) is the more militant of the three women with the vocabulary of sailor. She’s a social media fanatic and seems to know what everyone else in the community is doing. What’s strange is that while she’s out to ban questionable books at the school that Banna’s daughter attends, her own teenager is a student at the suburban Catholic school and thus isn’t personally affected by the group’s proposed censorship issue.

The much more likable, and thus relatable, member of the triumvirate is sweet and ditzy Winona. She’s enthusiastically portrayed by winning actress, Wendy Mateo (BEYOND CARING; BIG LAKE BIG CITY, Lookingglass Theatre), making her auspicious Steppenwolf debut. Ms. Mateo brings the humanity and provides much of the comedy in this production. Winona is the loving mother of a teenager, as well as a caregiver of her “man child” husband. But Winona is the only woman in this group willing to bridge the gap between the censorship set and the one liberal-minded individual in the school community that the ladies consider “the enemy.”

Portraying “enemy” Evelyn Grace, Caroline Neff is a brilliant Steppenwolf ensemble member and one superbly talented and versatile actor. She’s been enjoyed in so many wonderful productions, all over Chicago. Ms. Neff’s impressively long resume includes recent Steppenwolf productions of MR. WOLF, FOOL FOR LOVE and the hilarious POTUS, to name but a few. She masterfully plays Evelyn as a delightfully funny free spirit, a concerned mom and an advocate for freedom of speech, in all its forms. Evelyn is also an avid pickleball player, and it’s through an unexpected partnership with the openminded Winona that creates tension between the book-banning group.

There’s one other character in Stephanie Alison Walker’s comedy who serves as narrator and also plays a couple of other smaller roles. David Darrow, remembered for his mesmerizing portrayal of the waggish wunderkind, Mozart, in Steppenwolf’s much-acclaimed AMADEUS, is Crow. Adding a little surreal, magical realism, to the play, as well as plenty of humor, Mr. Darrow is hilarious and sometimes touching. Portrayed with comical attention to avian detail (watch how Crow descends the theatre aisles and onto the stage), Crow watches Banna’s every move, providing aggressive antagonism to the lady and her immaculately manicured chair circle.

Nicely directed by Drama Desk and multi-Obie Award winner, Pam MacKinnon, her production makes sense of the unusual and provides excellent use of the Ensemble Theater space. Ms. MacKinnon stages her production utilizing every inch of the grass-lined stage, as well as the stairs, aisles and the sky above (all created with artistic detail by scenic designer Todd Rosenthal, enhanced by lighting designer Barbara Samuels and projection designer Nicholas Hussong). Much credit must also go to Mikhail Fiksel for the color added by an excellent sound design and original music, as well as a carefully chosen costume design by Izumi Inaba, that adds much to each character.

Steppenwolf’s latest production is a biting comical and satirical look at hypocrisy. The members of a conservative Right Wing action group, and their righteous obsession with censoring freedom of speech, results in a do-or-die push to ban the library books they deem pornographic. Fueled by crows, charcuterie boards and Kombucha, the moms call this the fight of their lives. But their burning battle contradicts the lives they’re living. Portrayed by a cast of gifted actors in peak form, Pam MacKinnon’s expert direction transforms a familiar topic into a story that’s as timely as today’s headlines. And how playwright Stephanie Alison Walker spins this tale of suburban terrorism, especially during the play’s final moments, is played out by a trio of hypocritical, maniacal mammas who pretend to want only what’s best for their community.

Highly Recommended

Reviewed by Colin Douglas

Presented October 22-December 13 by Steppenwolf Theatre Company in the Ensemble Theater, 1650 N. Halsted St., Chicago.

Tickets are available in person at the box office, by calling audience services at 312-335-1650 or by going to www.steppenwolf.org.

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

Photos by Michael Brosilow