** Chicago’s theater scene just keeps growing. In fact, almost every season, a new one finds us, or vice-versa. Last night, I attended the second production by ACE- Authentic Chicago Ensemble, “Safe Landing: Coyote Embrace” ( last year “Safe Landing: How The Owls Fly”), so it appears that “Safe Landing” is important to this troupe as they explore family relationships, the need for mental health services and human survival.
While I applaud the creativity of the playwright, Tim Kough, in attempting to cover all these bases, I feel that there are probably a few too many stories going on in this one hour and forty-five minutes (including an intermission) of storytelling. The play began with a video, showing coyotes and how they are very “family” orientated. We also had actors wearing masks ( very cleverly designed by Sara Kough) doing dances ( choreographed by Charlie Baker) as coyotes.
The overall direction by Jordan Ratliff on a set designed by Tim Kough ( who also composed the music and handled the owner of the bar/bait shop where the action takes place, makes this appear to be what one might call a “vanity production”. Often, when someone writes a play, produces it, stars in it and designs, they only see it through their eyes, and nothing can be changed from their concept. I , for one, felt that there were to many stories going on making portions of the play confusing.
The story is about a woman who has been hidden in Lake Villa ( of all places) at Jack’s and Jax bait shop, that becomes a supper club/night club in the evenings. She is a witness to a trafficking organization and as it turns out, Jax ( well played by Danielle Lorae Byas) is a federal agent assigned to protect her. She invites her sister and her group to come and play. There are also hired thugs who are searching for this witness in order to make sure she does not go to court. A married couple and an outsider, who evidently is there to make sure that they do their jobs.
The band arrives and they have a security guard who is there with his boyfriend as well as a lady, Dede (Susan Payne Anderson) who doesn’t seem to have a reason to be there, except to tell her story of why she got involved with the “hit-men” and why. It turns out that her medicine bills exced her ability to pay, and so she helps the bad guys to pay for them. A bit much, and guess what? Jax is convinced by the others to let her go.
Some hard work by the cast: Heather Elaine Abbott, Sara Kough, Emma L. Anderson, Joey Chelius, Melody Contreras, Izadorius Tortuga, Tommy Rothwells and the aforementioned Ms. Byas,Ms. Anderson and Mr. Kough.
“Safe Landing: Coyote Embrace” will continue at Theater Wit’s Theater TWO through July 26th with performances as follows:
Thursdays 7:30 p.m.
Fridays 7:30 p.m.
Saturdays 7:30 p.m.
Sundays 2:30 p.m.
For tickets call 773-404-7336 or 773-975-8150
Theater Wit is located at 1229 West Belmont Ave.
for information about this company www.authenticchicagoensemble.com
To see what oothers are saying, visit www.theatreinchicago.com, go to Review Round-Up and click at “Safe Landing: Coyote Embrace”.
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