Catch-22

By Joseph Heller

Directed by G.J. Cederquist

At Steep Theatre

3902 N. Sheridan

Chicago, IL

Call 312-458-0722, tickets $15

Mondays thru Wednesdays at 8 PM

Running time 2 hrs, 20 min with intermission

Through November 9, 2005

Catch-22 comments:

Catch-22 is "heads I win, tails you lose." If you can, you can't, and if you can't, you can. Fair is foul and foul is fair. Whenever you try to behave sensibly in a crazy world, there's a catch.

"Everyone in my book accuses everyone else of being crazy. Frankly, I think the whole society is nuts, and the question is: What does a sane man do in an insane society?"

"For the most part, what they try to do is survive in any way they can."

--Joseph Heller

Steep Theatre delivers Heller’s difficult anti-war satire

Steep Theatre’s ensemble works hard and delivers the biting satire complete with some hilarious moments in a most difficult play, Catch-22. You’d be hard pressed to find a better production of this classic work. This show is impressive, funny and bittersweet. Did I say entertaining?

Catch-22, now an idiom referring to a dilemma and an absurd, no-win situation, is a dramatization telling the story of American flyer, Captain Yossarian (James Elly) who is convinced everyone is out to kill him.  Terrified that he will have to fly more missions, he hatches a bulletproof plan to be discharged: he tells the doctor hi is unfit to fly by reason of insanity. There is only one catch: Catch-22. If proven insane, he won’t have to fly the missions, all he has to do is ask. But as soon as he requests not to fly, he will no longer be insane because a sane man would refuse to repeatedly put his life in danger.

From this clever premise, Heller weaves a satirical comedy where death and annihilation and the airmen’s struggle to survive turns on the question, “Who’s crazy?” Attacking religion, military leadership, big business, the medical establishment (especially doctors) and American society, Catch-22 uses outrageously absurd situations and over stated characters to satirize the lack of common sense in warfare. Yossarian only wants to exercise his right to live and survive the war, not win it.

From Krista Forster, as the horny nurse to Ray Kurut as the doctor who only wants to treat his own ailments to Trey Maclin as Sgt. Tower to Matt Engle’s Texan CID investigator to Jim Poole’s Major Major, the squadron leader who never wants to meet with anyone—this cast delivers the manic, sometime physical comedy, with skill and deft timing. Peter Moore, as the liar chaplain was effective while Jim Poole loud-mouthed Col. Cathcart brought the satire home in a hoot. Ray Kurut in various roles, particularly as the psychiatrist, was extremely funny.

James Elly made Yossarian an empathic human only trying to free himself from the madness around him while also filling his basic need for companionship and understanding. Elly anchors the fine ensemble as he asets up many funny moments for the other players to shine. Alex Gillmor, Brenndan Melanson and Bob Turton offer effective moments as director Cederquist keeps the action roaring to set up the humor.

You’d be hard pressed to find better entertainment especially on off days (Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday). I liked the energy of this show.

Recommended

Tom Williams

Tom99@chicagocritic.com for comments

Chicago Stage Talk Radio Show

This show eligible for a C.S.T. Non-Equity Theatre Award

October 11, 2005