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[Im]Propriety
An evening of short plays
What is a Woman’s Place?
At Rogue Theater
5123 N. Clark Street
Chicago, IL
Call 773-561-5893, tickets $15
Thursdays through Saturdays at 8 PM
Sundays at 3 PM
Running time is 1 hour, 45 minutes
Through August 19, 2006
The Case of the Crushed Petunias
By Tennessee Williams
Directed by Kerstin Broockmann
The first of the four comedies is by Tennessee Williams, The Case of the Crushed Petunias is a cute allegory about an oppressed woman, Dorothy Simple (Ashley Blake) who discovers there’s more to life than her small store.
When Kevin Kingsman’s Young Man admits he crushed her petunias to get her to stop hiding behind them and start living life vicariously. The Man wants her to grow wild roses and he also offers her entrance into Life, Inc located on Highway 77, her chance for love, romance and sexual encounters. She resists but eventually the opportunity to chance her life is compelling.
This is a smart piece of writing nicely performed by Ashley Blake and Kevin Kingsman.
The Twelve Pound Look
By JM Barrie
Directed by Nate White
JM Barrie’s story of an English gentleman, Harry Sims (Ryan McCabe in a smart British accent) is Kate (Victoria Kallay) on the eve of his knighthood when his wife hires a typist to help get the word out. The typist turns out to be Harry’s ex-wife. This intelligent story is an early ‘women’s liberation’ piece where Kate has everything; wealth, social status and a husband. But all these are on her husband’s terms. She wants her personal freedom, his success smothers her so she decides to gain her freedom.
She realizes that once she can earn 12 pounds, she will be able to become independent and make her own way without her husband. She acquires a typewriter and eventually becomes a proficient typist. One day she simply left a note saying she had found a lover and was leaving Harry. This witty piece is an early bold statement written in the early 20th Century that hints at the oppressive role women felt in traditional loveless marriages.
Adam and Eve on a Ferry
Tennessee Williams
Directed by Craig Joseph
Another Tennessee Williams one act features DH Lawrence (one of Williams’ literary idols), the author of sexually charged novels who becomes a sexual counselor to a woman who has ignored her sexual urges despite an encounter and offer from a chance hug from a man on a ferry boat. Lawrence’s instincts lead him to get her to acknowledge her urges. This smartly paced piece featured Keith Neagle as DH Lawrence and Allison M. Weiss as the sex starved Ariadne Peabody.
The Problem
By AR Gurney
Directed by Kipp Moorman
In a funny story, wife (Cynthia Castiglione), in full pregnancy talks to her husband (David Marcotte) about why they have a problem since they have not had sex in over five years. She confesses that she has a black lover. He confesses that he leaves the house only to return to the basement to dress up with black body makeup to depict a black man. He reenters to become her lover. Several unique twists occur to make this a most hilarious take on sexual role playing.
Kudos to Rogue Theater in their new venue for mounting four engaging short plays that deal with gender balance that woman face. These stories are worth seeing. I liked all four.
Recommended
Tom Williams
Tom99@chicagocritic.com for comments
Talk Theatre in Chicago podcast
Date Reviewed: July 28, 2006
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