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Four Places
By Joel Drake Johnson
Directed by Sandy Shinner
At Victory Gardens Biograph Theater
2433 N. Lincoln Ave.
Chicago, IL
Call 773-871-3000, tickets $20 - $45
Tuesdays thru Thursdays at 7:30 pm
Fridays at 8 pm
Saturdays at 5 & 8:30 pm
Sundays at 3 pm
Running time is 90 minutes without intermission
Through May 11, 2008
Controversial family story is all too real
Joel Drake Johnson’s world premiere, Four Places, now playing at Victory Gardens Biograph Theater, is both outrageously funny and painfully human. It is a family drama full of surprises. It deals with the dilemma middle aged children face when they discover that their parents are slipping into child like irrational behavior. Anyone who has ever had to deal with aging parent’s foibles will easily relate to this story. The awkwardness Warren (Peter Burns) and Ellen (Mag Thalken) feel is apparent as they take their cantankerous, elderly mother, Peggy (Mary Ann Thebus) out for their usual lunch date.
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Four Places, indeed, is a dark comedy as it alternately moves from sweet to acerbic. We see Peggy take command of events from the moment she gets into the car. She initiates barbs at Warren and Ellen as she senses something’s afoot. At Peggy’s favorite family restaurant, Barb (Jennifer Avery), the waitress, cheerfully greets the family. Barb know this family a tad too well. During the meal, Peggy skillfully maneuvers the conversation away from Warren and Ellen’s purpose. Peggy knows her power over her children is waning. We learn that the family has been dysfunctional for years as both Peggy and the father are alcoholics who argue often. Warren and Ellen speak to that as they attempt to get Peggy to talk about how she is treating her sickly husband. Along the way, we learn about Warren and Ellen’s ill-fated marriages and their childhood.
Without revealing key plot points, let me say that Warren and Ellen must come to grips with the fact that their parents, at any age, may have lives entirely independent of their children. The children must determine Peggy’s ability to care for her husband. She admits that she could possibly do physical harm to her husband. What should children do when they believe their parents are behaving irrationally?
Playwright Johnson nicely presents shades of gray as to the facts. He leaves many questions unresolved. We realize how complicated family events can become especially with aging parents. You’ll laugh often and commiserate with the painful truth presented here. Johnson offers no easy solutions but he does present the problems effectively.
Mary Ann Thebus is a marvel to behold as she commands the stage as the “every mom.” Thebus moves deftly from spot on comedy to earthy pathos. Peter Burns and Meg Thalken effectively convey their pent-up tension as the children desperate to avoid a family crisis. They sincerely want to do the right thing. Jennifer Avery, as the waitress, sweeps in and out offering comic relief.
Four Places is disturbing, truthful, and thought provoking. Mary Ann Thebus’ performance alone is reason to see this play.
Recommended
Tom Williams
Tom99@chicagocritic.com for comments
Talk Theatre in Chicago podcast
Date Reviewed: April 7, 2008
Jeff Recommended
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