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Tooth of Crime (Second Dance)
By Sam Shepard
Music & Lyrics by T. Bone Burnett
Directed by Nic Dimond
At Strawdog Theatre
3829 N. Broadway
Chicago, IL
Call 773-528-9696, tickets $20
Fridays & Saturdays at 8 PM
Sundays at 7 PM
Running time is 2 hrs, 15 min with intermission
Through May 27, 2006
Weird Shepard play with music unintelligible
Tooth of Crime is some kind of weird “post-apocalyptic rock and roll anarchy.” Strawdog Theatre, know for excellent ensemble work, has gone way, way out with this muddled affair. Filled with zombie-like figures in a Mad Max outfits, Tooth of Crime seems to be about Hoss (Carmine Grisolia), an aging rocker who seems to be at war or is haunted by some evil rocker type? I’m not sure since all of the dialogue in this confused work is quite unintelligible.
The characters are speaking some type of rocker-speak filled with incoherent references to rockers, their songs and rocker slang. Add some old time gear-head car slang and the show uses references and terms no one can understand. It is as if Sam Shepard was high on acid when he penned this play.
The rock songs were the best part of the show since few expect to understand the rock lyrics. I have no idea what this play was about. It is some kind of musical, macho battle to the death that featured six rocking songs. The kelpie band sounded fine and Carmine Grisolia and John Henry Roberts (Crow) were energetic and emotional as the two gladiators. Too bad this work is so difficult to understand. The ensemble seemed to be quite involved and somewhere there may be a worthy story here but I couldn’t find it. Several audience members could be heard mumbling: “What was that play about? I couldn’t understand anything they said.” I just shook my head.
Maybe I’m too old or too square for this play? Maybe. Amazingly, some consider this as a Shepard masterpiece. If you see this show, send me an email telling me what it is about. Strawdog Theatre usually does excellent work on terrific plays. Here they do fine work on a terrible play. Better to just have a rock concert with the kelpie band.
Not Recommended
Tom Williams
Tom99@chicagocritic.com for comments
Talk Theatre in Chicago podcast
Date Reviewed April 16, 2006
Jeff Recommended
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