“Admissions”

**** Having just gone through the experience of a grandchild waiting for that special school to send her an acceptance letter, I was very interested in the latest production that  Citadel Theatre has put on their Lake Forest stage. Joshua Harmon’s “Admissions” looks at several parts of how being accepted at a prep school, a private school,  or a university can change the way a family’s lives can change course. It may be considered a satire, but as wonderful as the direction is (Beth Wolf does a superior job of keeping us into the story from beginning to end – 95 minutes/no intermission) as we move from the two scenes ( set design by Bob Knuth is powerful and almost looks liveable).

Sherri ( an incredible character study by Susie Steinmeyer) is head of admissions for a private prep school. Her goal is to increase their numbers relative to diversity and to begin to bring more Black, Hispanic and other brown skinned students to their school. In the first scene, she is working with her aide ,Roberta ( Elaine Carlson is quite funny), who just can’t seem to grasp what her boss wants ( and needs to gain momentum).

Sherri has a son, Charlie ( deftly handled by Justin Jarzombek) who is a student in her school and has applied to Yale ( with the parent’s blessing of course). He learns that he has not been accepted, but has been deferred, while his best friend, who is considered Black was accepted. It seems , for the most part, they are equal, with sports, grades and extra curricular activities, but he is in, perhaps, because he is Black!

Charlie’s dad, Bill ( an incredible performance by Tim Walsh) who is the headmaster at their school is upset over the situation and begins to find ways to get around the situation. After all, he knows people. Their son’s friend’s mother, Ginnie ( Tina Shelley) is upset with the way the mason family is taking this and as the play goes on, we learn that her husband is Black  and also teaches at the school, but was overlooked for the top job that Bill was hired for.

There are a number of questions in this story. It deals with race, it deals with number and quotas. While this play was written a decade or so ago, some of the topics touched are still relevant and of course will probably continue to be so for decades to come. The views we see are both serious, and yet comical. Charlie decides that if  Yale is not for him, perhaps it would be best for him to let his parents use that money to start a diversity scholarship, helping his mother to hit her goals, while he goes to a community college.

Of course, Mom and Dad cannot let this happen and so they pull strings to accomplish their own goals, but as solid as the performances are and as well directed as this production is, both Jane and I felt that the ending was not truly the end of the story. As Paul Harvey used to say …”Now you know the rest of the story!”. I would love to know more. Does Charley stay in the school his parents got him into? Does he end up getting to Yale, and back with his friend? Does Sherri ever satisfy the numbers she is looking for in reaching diversity? Can two opposite opinions ring true?

Perhaps Joshua Harmon will write a follow-up play, but even if not, the experience of seeing this play will open up your eyes to how the world, with all of its changes, is still very much what it was. I suggest you visit Lake Forest ( the perfect community for this play and subject matter). “Admissions will continue thru March 15th.

Performances are:

Wednesdays     1:00pm

Thursdays         7:30pm

Fridays               7:30pm

Saturdays          7:30pm

Sundays            3:00pm

Show Type: Drama

Box Office: 847-735-8554

www.citadeltheatre.org

Citadel is located in Lake Forest at

300 S. Waukegan Road

plenty of free parking

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