“Dana H”

NOTE: I have always said that my job is to advise the consumers who read my reviews as to what they will get for their  entertainment dollar. The following production, while done in a superb manor with a sparkling performance is not for everyone and so, the “star” rating is not as accurate a way to describe the production.

Somewhat Recommended ** It is not often that a theater audience bears witness to what might be called a “documentary play”, but watching the brilliance of Lucas Hnath’s “Dana H” tonight on the Owen  stage of The Goodman, one feels that they are. What we witness over the 80 plus minute ( no intermission) is an actual history of events that Hnath’s mother, Dana Higginbotham lived through . Dana, who was a nondenominational hospice chaplain , and had worked with many people of many various backgrounds, was helping a mentally ill ex-convict turn his life around. This was what she did and did well!

In this particular case, she went from being a helper to those who needed her assistance to becoming captive prisoner, enduring all types of mental and physical abuse as her captor and her moved throughout Florida, from cheap motel to cheap motel for five months.

This is a tough play to digest. It is a true story and has been brought to the stage , adapted  by Dana’s son, Lucas Hnath and contains the original interviews conducted by Steve Cosson. What is unusual about this production, directed by Les Waters, is that the words we hear from Dana, are in fact her words and that Deirdre O’Connell ( who plays the lady to perfection) is in reality in “lip-sync” mode. Yes, she does the entire 80 minutes plus of interviews, sitting in what appears to be one of the cheap motel rooms ( the set  by Andrew Boyce is quite realistic) that dots the highway. 

Watching Ms O’Connell is mind- blowing. She appears to be right on as if she herself is talking to the interviewer. Steve Cuffo is responsible for the training of this feat and has done a masterful job.

The Tech parts of the show are perfect. Sound (Mikhail Fiksel), lighting and supertitle design ( Paul Toben) and costume ( Janice Pytel) do a great job. There is another character in the play, one that gets no mention, but does spend a bit of time on the stage. During one of the motel changes, a housekeeper enters the room, clears off the bloody sheets and dirty towels that are the remains of what took place in this room, and in general cleans away the events that took place. I guess we might look at those minutes as a symbol representing the escape of Dana H.

What we learn from the interview can be eye-opening for many. Not wanting to give away the story, I will tell you that there is a lot to think about as we hear her story and the tapes of what took place over the five months. Why did she not escape earlier? Was there an attraction that could not allow her to leave? Was she protecting him? Was he protecting her? If so, from what ?

The story is real and for some, it will not be their best investment for their entertainment dollar. For others, it might be “just what the doctor ordered”!

“Dana H ” will continue at The Goodman Theatre located at 170 N. Dearborn Street thru October 6th with performances as follows:

Tuesday, September 24th  7:30 p.m.

Wednesdays  7:30 p.m.

Thursdays  7:30 p.m.  September 19th added 2 p.m.

Fridays   8 p.m.

Saturdays  8 p.m.

Sundays  2 p.m. and 7:30 p.m. ( no evening on 9/22 or 10/6)

Tickets range from $15-$45 and are available at the box office, by calling 312-443-3800 or online at www.GoodmanTheatre,org/danah

EVENTS

Thursday 9/19 7:30 POST SHOW DISCUSSION

Sunday, 9/22  2 P.M. POST SHOW DISCUSSION

accessibility

TOUCH TOUR AND AUDIO DESCRIBED: 9/29 AT 2 P.M.

ASL 10/5 2p.m.

OPEN CAPTION 10/6 2 p.m.

Visit www.GoodmanTheatre.org/Access for more information

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