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Before I Wake
By William J. Norris
Directed by Marc Rita
Produced by Tin Fish Productions
At Victory Gardens Greenhouse Studio Theater
2257 N. Lincoln Ave.
Chicago, IL
Call 773-871-3000, tickets $15 - $20
Thursdays thru Saturdays at 8:30 pm
Sundays at 5 pm
Running time is 80 minutes with intermission
Through July 29, 2007
“It’s amazing what eats at you for so many years.” Molly from Before I Wake
Thoughtful look at forgiveness suffers from lukewarm acting
William J. Norris’ a veteran Chicago Equity actor and playwright, has remounted his 1995 work Before I Wake at Victory Gardens Greenhouse Theater. This two-hander is a swift-paced and provocative look at an estranged couple seeking forgiveness and reconciliation before life runs out for each. I like Norris’ script but I have trouble with the acting here. Tom Viskocil and Lorriane Freund as Dan and Molly gave a bland, stiff and emotionally void performance making the short piece seem forced and tedious.
Molly enters Dan’s life at his white shrouded set (design by Brad Sauper). Dan isn’t too thrilled to see his ex after ten years. They get interrupted by phone calls from their children. Dan keeps telling Molly to leave but with enough conviction to get her out. The two trade insults and go from attacks to warm-hearted compassion. Norris’ script demands a gradual change from stoic indifference from each character to move from acceptance to reconciliation. Molly, we finally learn, has already died and Dan is on the verge of dying. Molly returns to offer Dan a chance to make things right with her and their children. She admits that: “After all you have said and done to me, after all I’ve said and done to you…I still love you.”
How Dan reacts to his eventual demise is aptly played out as a cold-hearted, brittle retired cop would require by Tom Viskocil, a middle aged actor who has the ‘cop look’ but lacks the emotional acting range to move from cold-hearted to empathic man. We feel nothing for these two embattled folks despite Norris’ telling tale of a loveless marriage of twenty-five years. Neither Viskocil nor Freund have understood nor internalized their characters enough to emote the necessary emotions to give the show the dramatic tension necessary. Hopefully, the two will grow into their roles over time. Norris’ script deserves that.
Somewhat Recommended
Tom Williams
Tom99@chicagocritic.com for comments
Talk Theatre in Chicago podcast
Date Reviewed: June 15, 2007
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