**** “Evil Perfect”, a world premiere from Bramble Theatre Company, is an immersive journey into a dystopian future where a rigid quest for absolute equity strains humanity to its limits. Written by Spencer Huffman and directed by Jonathan Shaboo, the play unfolds in a city where individuality is subordinated to stringent rules, and even simple actions require government-sanctioned permissions. This potent, 90-minute thriller compels audiences to question the cost of a perfectly equal society, as each character grapples with the psychological toll of living under constant surveillance and restriction.
The play opens with JO, a government enforcer and educator (portrayed with nuanced gravitas by Ebby Offord). Her dual role as both enforcer and counselor to the city’s matriarchal “Queen” reflects her complex position in this society—she is both an advocate for equity and a tool of the regime. JO’s attempts to impart a deep understanding of these ideals to the Queen’s son, Puck, reveal the schisms within her own beliefs. Puck, played with endearing simplicity by Danny Breslin, is a withdrawn young man bewildered by the omnipresent rules. For him, the city’s structure is “f*cked”—a refrain he repeats with a mixture of confusion and defiance as he encounters the foreign world around him.
The tension rises when Puck meets Lily, a rebellious woman harboring dangerous memories of the past, brought to life by Ashley Neal. In a society that has abandoned physical relics, Lily’s collection of items like vinyl records and a record player represents a forbidden nostalgia. However, her relationship with Puck takes a dark twist as he becomes mesmerized by her subversive worldview. Neal captures Lily’s volatility perfectly, transforming her into a catalyst for Puck’s psychological undoing.
One of the most intriguing aspects of Evil Perfect is how Shaboo’s direction subtly contrasts moments of repressed emotion against bursts of impulsive rebellion. JO’s relationship with her coworker Brian (played by Brandon Burns) reveals the invasive level of control exercised by the government. Each gesture between them—from handholding to a kiss—requires permission, underscoring the dehumanizing rigidity of this future society. Burns embodies Brian’s inner conflict as he struggles between rule-following loyalty and a yearning for genuine connection.
The play’s climax is both shocking and inevitable, as Puck’s descent into darkness propels him toward a choice that no one sees coming. The transformative arc he undergoes, from innocent to unhinged, captures the horror of a system that purges individuals of their moral grounding in favor of absolute control. Breslin skillfully depicts this transformation, making the ending feel haunting and inevitable.
Delena Bradley’s stage design is minimal but evocative, capturing the cold, sterile feel of society while allowing seamless scene transitions that maintain the story’s momentum. The open, industrial loft style of Bramble Loft Theatre enhances the play’s feel, immersing the audience in a world where privacy is obsolete.
Jonathan Shaboo’s direction is a triumph, seamlessly blending high-stakes drama with unexpected humor and vulnerability moments. Each actor seems to inhabit their character completely, drawing viewers into a world that feels unsettlingly plausible. Evil Perfect is a thought-provoking, adrenaline-filled experience that lingers long after the final curtain call.
“Evil/Perfect” runs through November 10, with a special night extension on November 11.
Tickets range from $5.00 to $40.00 and are available for performances:
Wednesday through Saturday at 7:30 p.m. and Sunday at 2:00 p.m.
Bramble Theatre is located at 5545 N. Clark Street, Chicago. Tickets can be purchased at .
To see what others are saying, visit www.theatreinchicago.com, go to Review Round-Up and click at “Evil/Perfect”.
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