You Cannot Look Away

Heroes of the Fourth Turning

There isn’t a happy ending. The playwright doesn’t offer a single resolution. There’s no intermission to give the theatergoer a break in the play’s heavy sensory overload. Running for an uninterrupted two hours, Will Arbery’s one-act drama, which opens A Red Orchid Theatre’s 34th season, is performed with honesty and earnestness by a very talented cast. This Chicago premiere is dynamically directed by dado, a familiar face at A Red Orchid Theatre. During the course of this politically charged drama, five diverse characters each equally demand our attention. They never let the audience off the hook, bombarding the theatergoer with their individual viewpoints, physical and emotional traumas and their need for understanding and concern. It’s true that often a theatergoer will attend a production that asks the audience to relax, sit back and enjoy it. This play instead wants you to lean forward, think and engage. HEROES OF THE FOURTH TURNING is the kind of play where the audience will not be able to look away.

Arbery’s play is set in the yard of a rustic, rural Wyoming ranch. It’s late Summer in 2017. Donald Trump is the President, unexpectedly winning over Democratic candidate, Hillary Clinton. As the evening turns into late night on the day before a solar eclipse, four alumni of a tiny Catholic liberal arts school gather in Justin’s backyard. They await the arrival of their favorite professor and mentor, Dr. Gina Presson, who just accepted the presidency of their conservative religious college. Four former students have stuck around to honor Gina with their love and support, but the evening turns into something unexpected and ends with a surprise.

As the hours pass, the group argue about their various views of Catholic theology, the Great Boosk, conservative politics, abortion and drug and alcohol dependency. Each character’s personal responsibility and the feeling of an advancing end to the world consumes these young people. As each character owns their own individual moment, we witness the pithy debates, ideas and viewpoints of five extremely different individuals.

The title of the play references a complicated popular published theory of history. It purports that we’re supposedly moving through a four-period cycle of time called “The Fourth Turning.” All the characters in this play have known each another for several years and have formed personal bonds that fluctuate and change throughout the evening. Justin is a former Marine who writes songs and plays the guitar, raises horses and carries a gun. Working with the college’s outdoor program, Justin is the host of the weekend retreat that will culminate in the eclipse that’s forecast for the following day. Kevin is a heavy-drinking, disillusioned young man who is struggling with his faith, love interests and general purpose in life. Gina is the new president of the Catholic College and seems to be mired in an older conservative Goldwater doctrine. Emily is Gina’s daughter, who is more open and a bit idealistic. She’s disabled because chronic pain has dominated her life for years. And Teresa has arrived armed with controversial political and religious views.

The talented cast is sensational. Nate Santana, the Jeff Award-winning director of LOBBY HERO at Shattered Globe, (and a skilled actor in TAMING OF THE SHREW, the Court; THINGS WITH FRIENDS, at American Blues; IRONBOUND, at Raven) plays Justin with a quiet, almost menacing isolationism and guarded passion. Making his promising debut at A Red Orchid, Beck Nolan (KEERAH, at Definition Theatre) portrays Kevin as a disillusioned, self-doubting wild man-child. Filled with Catholic guilt, Kevin’s addicted to the bottle, but confused about where his life is taking him.

Not arriving until about three-fourths of the way through the play, the always magnificent Kirsten Fitzgerald is Gina (THE TARGETED, THE CAVE and THE GREY HOUSE, at A Red Orchid). A gifted actress and Artistic Director of this theatre company, Ms. Fitzgerald brings her, stature, power and naturalistic quality to a middle-aged professional woman who just transitioned from collegiate instructor to the head of the college. Tired and a little inebriated, she doesn’t quite know how to deal with the fanatical politics and beliefs of her former students. Magdalena Dalzell (THE SEAGULL, at Red Theater; BEATRIX POTTER HOLIDAY TEA PARTY, at Chicago Children’s Theatre) is Emily. She’s Gina’s reserved, pain-riddled daughter. Emily is vulnerable and harbors her some spiritual doubts. She’s easily the character with whom most of the audience will identify. Emily works in Chicago in publishing and provides the play’s kind attitude and empathetic voice of reason.

Teresa, definitely the most outspoken character of the group, is beautifully played by newcomer, Isa Grofsorean. Also making her debut at A Red Orchid Theatre, Isa portrays a fierce Trump supporter and an internet blogger. She’s had her ideals completely mesmerized and influenced by Steve Bannon. Teresa firmly believes that an apocalypse is coming. She likens their current period of time to the days of pre-Civil War economics, the Great Depression and WWII. Teresa questions America’s ongoing fight to save civilization, and criticizing every Liberal and especially President Obama. Eventually Teresa, as well as the other characters, turn against each other and form new alliances.

Will Arbery’s unique 2019 play, HEROES OF THE FOURTH TURNING, premiered Off-Broadway and garnered high critical praise and lots of accolades. It was a 2020 finalist for the Pulitzer Prize in Drama, as well. Called “a red-state unicorn” by The New York Times, Arbery’s play explores characters in transition filled with ultraconservative viewpoints and ideas, an unusual quality in today’s theatre. Beautifully directed with a steady fierceness by dado (director of A Red Orchid’s VEAL and SIX MEN DRESSED LIKE JOSEPH STALIN), this production is heavy with learned ideas and political theories. With superb technical support by scenic designer Grant Sabin, lighting designer Josiah Croegaert and original music and sound designer Ethan Korvne, as well a gifted cast of actors, visit HEROES OF THE FOURTH TURNING ready to lean forward and engage your mind. Because one thing is certain: As a theatergoer you cannot look away.

Highly Recommended

Reviewed by Colin Douglas

Presented October 29-December 6 by A Red Orchid Theatre, 1531 N. Wells St., Chicago.

Tickets are available in person at the box office, by calling 312-943-8722 or by going to www.aredorchidtheatre.org.

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

Photos by Evan Hanover