“Bill W. and Dr. Bob” returns to the Greater Chicago Area.

For those of you who missed the play that shows the story behind AA, you now have that chance.

“Bill W. and Dr. Bob” is back, but this time in a larger venue, the North Shore Center for The Performing Arts in Skokie Illinois.

*** We are all aware of “Alcoholics Anonymous”, but for the most part only “of it”, unless we have had personal or family reasons to learn more or even participate. How does a program such as this get started? What type of person or people take the bull by the horns and find a way to help the people who are addicted to alcohol?

Currently, in the recently re-opened Victory Gardens/Biograph Theatre in Lincoln Park, a theater company( Theatre 68)  has set up “house” in the upstairs Richard Christiansen “studio” to bring such a play to life. The play is called “Bill W. and Dr. Bob” written by Samuel Shem & Janet Surrey, and it is the story of a stockbroker, Bill Wilson ( played to perfection by Ronnie Marmo) and a surgeon, Dr.Bob Smith ( deftly handled by Steve Gelder), both alcoholics, and how together they were able to not only conquer their own problems, but to collaborate and create a program where those who were ready to quit and go forward could, and more importantly would!

This production, directed by Marmo is done on a very sparse set ( a table and 4 chairs are the main pieces of furniture) and there are some props, including a bottle of scotch. The back wall is made up of black curtains as the main thrust of this story is about people and the program, not glitz and fancy sets and props ( there are few of each). The costumes  are also pretty simple as are the lights and sound ( I think some microphones would make it easy for the back row t get every word).

Tonight’s audience had quite a few people who knew each other from their meetings, so they of course were more knowledgeable about the program and in all likelihood knew more about the start. I was unaware of some of the fact and thta this all began in 1929. The other performers who complete the picture and the story are Katherine Wettermann as Lois Wilson ( Bill’s wife) , Elizabeth Rude as Anne Smith ( Dr. Bob’s wife) and two other actors who play all the other roles, Phil Aman as “the Man” ( his final character is powerful and shows just how solid he is) and Marla Seidell as “the Woman”. This is a solid cast, making each of the snippets that tell this powerful story work

This is not a show for everyone. There are people who may not be able to handle the subject matter for personal reasons, but if you have a family member who you are concerned about, this may be the perfect place to bring them. They may just see things that we cannot tell them, but that this story speaks to. Who knows? This play could save a friend or at least get them over a hump!