“Howards End”

[rating=5] Another World Premiere adaptation of a classic is on a Chicago stage. E.M.Forster’s classic novel, “Howards End” has been adapted for the stage by Douglas Post as commissioned by Remy Bumppo Theatre Company. This brilliant work is now on the stage of Theater Wit ( stage Two) located at 1229 West Belmont. English “drawing- room” comedies are not as easy to stage as one might think, because despite it being a comedy of sorts, the English concept of comedy is a bit different from our American style. So, it pays that Remy Bumppo has Nick Sandys to direct this piece and make it work!

The play takes place around 1908 thru 1910 in an area known as Howards End as well as other locations in and around London. The story is about change, Can the world be changed? Can the future cause changes to history? It is a time when the world is changing. Motor cars are something new and challenging. This story is mainly about the Schlegel sisters, Helen ( beautifully portrayed by Heather Chrisler) and Margaret ( played to perfection by Eliza Stoughton) who are out to change the world as they search for love, purpose and their identity. As it turns out, the other characters who become part of their story, are in all likelihood seeking the same things.

When closely examining the smaller stories that make the whole, one can see that even today, over 100 years later, people are in this same situation. If we add to the mix , seeing how they relate to others against the need for money, sex, class, fame and notoriety, one can see that with all the changes our world has taken, very little has changed. People are seeking the same things today.

In this two-hours-twenty-nine minutes of pure theater ( there is a 15 minute intermission) we meet the Wilcox family (of great wealth),  headed by Henry Wilcox ( deftly handled by Mark Ulrich) as they bury his departed wife. When they return to their home a note is found that she truly loved the attention that Margaret had given her during her illness and wanted one of their properties to go to her and her sister. The note is hidden and all of the parties disregard same.

The other story is about another family. Leonard Bast ( a terrific performance by Terry Bell) and his wife, Jacky ( Jodi Kingsly). The Bast family will intertwine their lives with both the Wilcox family and the Schlegel sisters. Due to the nature of these stories and how they fit into the puzzle, I will say no more as one needs to see the story unfold in order for the magic of the combination of Post and Sandys to work properly.

The cast members in addition to those already mentioned are: Paul Wilcox ( Tommy Malouf), Charles Wilcox ( Michael McKeogh), Evie Wilcox ( Natalie Santoro) and the incredible Emily Tate as Dolly. As find a cast of players one can assemble on a stage and they keep the flow of the action at a swift pace by being involved with the set changes as well. The set and projections by Yeaji Kim are amazing as is the lighting by Mike Durst. Kristy Leigh Hall does  the period costumes to perfection and the sound and original music by Christorpher Kriz is quite fitting. Jamie Karas did a great job with the props and I must say that the dialect coaching by Eva Breneman made us feel that we were on the other side of the ocean.

“Howards End” will continue thru Oct 5, 2019

Show Type: Drama

Box Office: 773-975-8150

www.remybumppo.org

Tickets range from $37.75- $62.75

Wednesday-Fridays  industry tickets are $20

Students with ID can get tickets for $15 subject to availability-day of performance

Audio Description and Touch Tour Performances are $20    9/7  1 p.m. touch  2:30 performance

open caption, Saturday 9/14 at 2:30 p.m.

Parking is available on the street-metered and a few free spots, but watch the signs for permit parking at night.

Valet parking is also available

To see what others are saying, visit www.theatreinchicago.com, go to Review Round-Up and click at “Howards End”.