|
Marathon ‘33
By June Havoc
Directed by Shade Murray
At Strawdog Theatre
3829 N. Broadway
Chicago, IL
Call 773-528-9696, tickets $15 -$20
Fridays & Saturdays at 8 PM
Sundays at 7 PM
Running time is 2 hours, 30 minutes with intermission
Through October 28, 2006
Marathon ’33 endures into entertaining period piece
Ever wonder what happen to Baby June after she left Mama Rose and Gypsy Rose Lee at the train station? Yes, June Havoc wrote about her experience in 1933 as a marathon dance contestant. Her loosely autobiographical play, Marathon ’33 tells of the former child star who lowered herself to find fame during the Great Depression as she, together with other down-on-their-luck vaudevillians, spent over 3000 hours trying to win a $1500 prize. This entertaining show is a master work of ensemble theatre proving once again how terrific Strawdog Theatre is in doing large cast, sprawling, ambitious shows.
Marathon ’33 itself is a marathon that creates a strong audience connection as it is a panorama, a true spectacle that contains comedians, singers doing ’30 tunes, dancers and acrobats who like to mix their enduring dancing with fist fights, corny jokes and elimination competitions similar to the old Roman Coliseum spectacles. The intimacy of Strawdog’s stage creates a compelling atmosphere that sends us into the enticing world of marathon dance contests. We laugh and cheer for our favorite couple as the day after day marathon dance keeps going and going. I got exhausted just from watching the contestants dance each hour with only a 15 minute break. If you’ve ever seen Sydney Pollack's 1969 film "They Shoot Horses, Don't They?" you’ll get the idea of what a major achievement this show is. The 40 actors dance, land vaudeville shtick, and energetically fight and endure physical bits to the tune of a bouncy 7 piece on-stage swing band.
Director Shade Murray creates a crowded, raw and gritty show that has two central characters, Patsy (Michael Dailey), a star marathon dance and June (Kat McDonnell) the former child vaudeville star down on her luck that anchor and narrate this ambitiously intoxicating show. We get a glimpse of each set of dancers who struggle to win the contest. We’re taken on an epic drama of personal and physical will power. The natural competitive spirit and the desperation of the Depression combine to motivate the dancers toward the $1500 prize.
I liked the variety of action where the live 1930’s songs and the spirited dances sprinkle about with rich humorous bits as the grueling endurance battle takes shape. The staging here is amazing, ambitious and clever. The play depicts the endurance battle where after 648 or 968 or 1120 hours of dancing can take its toll both emotionally and physically on the contestants and the staff of the marathon. The cast throws themselves into the dancing (and fighting) with vigor and an unselfish disregard for the physical punishments necessary to land the stark reality of the play. Even those who play the marathon’s spectators throw themselves recklessly into the show.
You’d be hard pressed to see a more engaging, energetic show that so strongly connects us with the action than Marathon ’33 at Strawdog Theatre. There are so many terrific performances in this show that delivers the essence and mood of the Depression Era struggle for survival that it dazzles with sheer vigor. This is a fun and thoroughly enjoyable night at the theatre.
Highly Recommended
Tom Williams
Tom99@chicagocritic.com for comments
Talk Theatre in Chicago podcast
Date Reviewed: September 30, 2006
Jeff Recommended
|
