***** Any of you that has been a family member that is left with the task of settling a deceased family member’s life, knows how difficult this chore can be. Yes, what seems to be something that should be nice and easy, never is. Now, try to imagine that this is the case and you and your estranged nephew are the last of the clan, and are assigned to do the cleanup. This is the case in the current Steppenwolf Theatre’s production of “Little Bear Ridge Road” now having its World Premiere on their “downstairs” stage.
Sharpley directed by Joe Mantello on a simple set ( (Scott Pask), this 90 minute ( no intermission) story relies on the words, actions and talents of its players to convey this story to its audience. The story , written by Samuel D. Hunter, is both sad and humorous, as we find ourselves in very rural Idaho. We are at the home of the Fernsby family, and the home of Sarah ( Laurie Metcalf returns to her “root theatre company” to bring this character to life) and her nephew, Ethan ( played to perfection by Micah Stock) who has returned to assist in the settlement of his father’s estate.
During their first conversation, we realize that this is taking place during the Covid period ( he is wearing a mask), we see that they are somewhat estranged and that Ethan and his father were not ever on the greatest of terms. Ethan, is gay, and seems to be somewhat lost in his choice of careers. He is a writer who doesn’t write. Each of these people has lived pretty much their own lives and neither knows much about the other. Yet, they are faced with figuring out what to do in the settlement of the loose ends left behind by a man that neither really understood.
I guess the real question is in having to deal with each other to get to what one might call “a happy solution” for both. This is not an easy task. During the course of the play, Ethan meets a young man who has ambition and as it turns out a healthy relationship with a father who has plenty of money. We also find that his aunt has cancer and as Ethan fears being alone, he opts to make sure that his aunt is not left alone during this ordeal. While aunt and nephew are very different , over the period in this play, they learn to live with each other and work with each other to at least make them feel that they are not alone.
I see Sarah adapting far better to Ethan and his lifestyle. Ethan still has fears to live with and in many ways resents his lover for having a parent who will do anything for his son. Knowing about his own father/son relationship allows us to understand why this bothers him so greatly. What we do see in this story is how people, if they will allow, can learn how to deal and cope with the problems facing others and together, understanding this can let the other person into their life, even if only for a short period.
These are the primary characters in the play. The fourth performer is the nurse in the final scene played to perfection by Meighan Gerachis. The telephone voices are done by Gerachis and Drea and the TV voices handled by Glenn Davis, Mary Beth Fisher, Drea and Gerachis.
This is a solid performance piece that will have you laughing at times, sad at others and for one brief moment, you will feel a tear swell in your eye.
On the tech side, the lighting (Heather Gilbert) and sound (Mikhail Fiksel) are perfect for mood and never detracting us from the experience of these two estranged family members reuniting and becoming a “family” again. There is one piece of furniture and most of the props are items you have in your kitchen and hall closet plus cell phones.
“Little Bear Ridge Road” will continue at Steppenwolf Theatre located at 1650 N. Halsted Street thru August 4th with performances as follows:
Tuesdays 7:30 p.m. (on 7/10 it will be at 2 p.m. and no performance on 7/16)
Wednesdays 7:30 p.m.
Thursdays 7:30 p.m. (NO performance on 7/4)
Fridays 7:30 p.m.
Saturdays 3:00 p.m. and 7:30 p.m.
Sundays 3:00 p.m. (on 7/28 and 8/4 there will also be 7:30 p.m. performances)
Accessible Performances
Sunday, July 7th Audio described/touch tour 1:30 touch/3 pm. performance
Saturday 7/13 at 3 p.m. and Thursday 7/18 at 7:30 p.m. OPEN-CAPTIONED
ASL-INTERPRETED Friday, 7/12 at 7:30 p.m.
Tickets range in price from $20 are are available at the box office at 1650 N. Halsted, by phone at 312-335-1650 or at www.steppenwolf.orghttp://www.steppenwolf.org
To see what others are saying, visit www.theatreinchicago.com, go to Review Round-Up and click at “Little Bear Ridge Road”
Laurie Metcalf is a legend from her work on TV (Roseanne, the Connors), and film (Lady Bird earning an Academy Award nomination), but her heart belongs where it all started: on Stage with Steppenwolf Theatre. Chicago gets the treat of watching Metcalf at her best in the world premiere of “Little Bear Ridge Road.” Directed by Joe Mantello (“Wicked,” “Angels in America”) and co-starring Micah Stock, John Drea and Meighan Gerachis, the play focuses on Sarah Fernsbe (Metcalf) who lives alone in a rural part of Idaho who gets a visit by her nephew Ethan (Stock). Awkward conversations, a search for relational overlap and finding a way to make sense of the difficult familial dynamics guide the play. Set on the most simple of sets (a couch on carpeting), director Mantello loved how that gave the scenery a chance to “get out of the actors’ way.”
This conversation is an in-depth look at the new play with wonderful insights shared by cast and director. If you saw the play, watch/listen to this…if you have not yet seen the play, you have until August 4th…and you should ALSO watch/listen. You’ll be glad you did.
Tickets can be purchased at www.steppenwolf.org
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