** When I first saw the press notice about this new play with music written by Marilyn Campbell-Lowe, I was pretty excited. First of all, I adore Theo and its amazing work over the years I have covered. Secondly, we have recently watched Dani Pike in “Tell Me On A Sunday”, as well as other area theaters such as Metropolis, Oil Lamp, Citadel and Music Theatre Works, and loved her , as well as some of the other ladies that have graced the areas stages, so I was sure that with the women cast, it was sure to be exciting. Even more enchanting was that the play was being directed by Christopher Pazdernik. Upon my radio show ending, Jane and I sped to be in Evanston on time. We made it!

I walked into the theater in Evanston, and because it was a Sunday, the Chicago meters were FREE, so I stepped up the bar and ordered a drink, ready to relax and watch a 90 minute production at one of my favorite “storefront” theaters.  The play is more than a play, it is a love letter to the woment of the feminist movement. We all know about the male secret societies for which many of the Ivy League schools are known.  I am certain they exist, but could a similar situation take place with all women?

“Sentinels” is a story about women in college taking the lead to do what their male counterparts have done for eons. Is this a real story? Is it actual? Or even factual?. Campbell-Lowe takes us back and forth through different eras in four flashback scenes. We begin at midnight, the present at the Joan of Arc Univeristy in Milwaukee Wisconsin ( pretty close to home for us) and then proceed into flashbacks in the following: October 1967, December 1952, September 1945 and we finish in January of 1973.

The five women who form this alliance are  different over the years and played by five actresses: Arwen-Vira Marsh, Maliha Sayed, Joryhebel Ginorio, Sophia G. Dennis and the previously mentioned Dani Pike. There is one more performer in the story. The role of the President of this university is played by Anne Sheridan Smith.. The aforementioned five ladies play different roles at different times which became confusing as the times were changed, and they still appeared the same. I truly feel that this should be considered a work in progress and hope that the producers will take a step back and look at how they can add some songs of the times to the show. I know that the songs that are a part of the show ( music Kim D. Sherman who also wrote lyrics with Campbell-Lowe) but perhaps, some songs of th etime would help to keep the audience from becoming bored. note: I did look around the audience and see many people drifting off at times. The performers were terrific with the material they had to work with and I belive that Pazdernik did an admirable job with the material given.

I found myself entranced with the story and the evolution of women and their abilities. Earlier this week Jane and I were at Chicago Shakepeare at navy Pier for their production of “Billy Jean” which took a high road towards opening our eyes to the “Women’s Movement”. I was hopeful that this play would continue the high from that one, and perhaps with some work, it will. At the very end, when they unveil the myriad of women who were part of the women’s movement, it was cool to see my wife’s name on the board- there it was and there it belongs!

On the tech side, I felt the lighting (Brenden Marble) was right on, but the sound itself lacking. I know it is a small venue, but if they own the microphones, why not use them? The costumes by Anna Rogers were terrific and the specialized robes/sashes and bears ( that were on tables and part of the play) by James F. Radloff, just perfect. This play is quite “herstorical” in nature and I truly feel can become one that is seen by every young girl showing them that they are indeed capable of anything they want to do or be!

 

 “Sentinels: a play with music” will continue ONLY Thru – Aug 10th with performances as follows: