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Boneyard Prayer
Conceived and directed by Frank Maugeri
Written in Collaboration with Seth Bockley
Co-Directiom and Set Design by Tracy Otwell
Original Music by Charles Kim
Puppets by Jesse Mooney-Bullock
At Redmoon Theatre
1463 W. Hubbard St.
Chicago, IL
Call 312-850-8440, tickets $15 - $35
Thursdays & Fridays at 8 pm
Saturdays at 3 & 8 pm
Sundays at 3pm
Running time is 65 minutes without intermission
Through May 25, 2008
Entrancing hobo folk opera, Boneyard Prayer, a true work of art
Redmoon Theatre and Frank Maugeri plus 641 pounds of dirt are the basis of a most enchanting hobo folk opera. This beautiful show explores a couple’s struggle toward salvation from sorrow. Set in a Depression-era graveyard, Boneyard Prayer is the tale of one man’s fractured life and ultimate redemption using various forms of puppetry, shadow images with a miniature slide show plus large mounds of dirt.
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The 65 minute folk opera contains a haunting score by Charles Kim with lyrics by Seth Bockley contains a mixture of 1920 & 30’s Americana, labor, gospel, folk and modern pop music wonderfully sung by the Gravediggers. This show traces one man’s cycle of regret through the upheaval of his grave by five gravediggers. This burial site becomes the arena in which the gravediggers use song and performance art complete with large shadows images, big puppets and loads of dirt to recreate key moments from this man’s life story. We see themes of salvation, redemption, fatherhood and his amends after long bouts of alcoholism.
The sepia-stained imagery is a marvelous backdrop for a surreal railroad poem and a terrific hobo gospel opera. The Bum ra ku puppetry offer underscore of emotions as a prayer of pictures. This is audio visual treat and a fine piece of artistic story telling. This piece “is about spiritual justice and a journey of faith,” says director/creator Frank Maugeri.
Excellent music from Rob Cruz’s piano and fine voices from Alex Balestrieri, Kasey Foster and Alice Wedoff contributed stellar operatic elements to this wonderful show. This show is quite a special treat.
Highly Recommended
Tom Williams
Tom99@chicagocritic.com for comments
Talk Theatre in Chicago podcast
Date Reviewed: March 30, 2008
Jeff Recommended
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