“Fireflies”

Highly Recommended **** It is a special time! Our theater scene is coming alive as we climb over the hill also known as Covid-19. Yes, we still have a long way to go and there are people who are unwilling to help, but the theaters are following the rules (to a T) and everyone MUST show their vac card and a photo ID as well as stay masked for the entire performance. This protects not only the performers, but the other audience members who are also out for an entertaining evening, and from what we have learned, their families as well. We are attending theater again and serving as “heroes” to our community!

Ladies and gentlemen- Northlight theater is now presenting their next production of the 2021/22 season. After watching and being mesmerized by their first, “Mr. Dickens Hat”, I  wasn’t sure they would be able to duplicate the experience. While this production, “Fireflies” is not comparable to the other in content or spirit, I must say, the quality of the script, the set, the actors and all of the parts of the whole , were in fact, in-line!  “Firflies” written by Donja R. Love, is a love story of sorts that takes us back to the era pf the Civil Rights Movement as it ignited in the South in the 1960’s. It is my understanding that this title is part of a trilogy that explores Blackness and Queerness during key moments in American History.This is a two character play, that tells us the story of a married couple. They are childhood sweethearts who worked the tobacco fields as children, fell in love, married while finishing college. He goes on to become a preacher, she a homemaker. Olivia ( brilliantly played by Chanell Bell) is more than just a housewife. She writes the words that her husband Charles ( deftly handled by Al’Jaleel McHhee) preaches and wants to be more involved in what she sees taking place. The men are off protesting and helping others while the women are left at home, to mourn those lost and prepare for their funerals.

Olivia is with child and although Charles wants this child more than anything, Olivia feels that her marriage is a sham. There are some terse and very intense moments in this “love story” ( of a different nature) and over the period of 90 minutes ( no intermission) we see more about their lives and the present situation than we might have anticipated. One might think about Martin Luther king and his wife Coretta Scott King. Mrs. King did a great deal during the movement, but the glory all went to Dr. King. The women were not treated as equals when it came to The Civil Right Movement and this play with these two intense characters points this out in great detail.

The story also explores another love story. One where letters are written to another and later found by Charles. Olivia explains her letters and we learn even more about her relationship with Charles during this important scene. Due to this other storyline and its nature, I will not say more. I will tell you that a great deal is explained as the story comes to an end. A sad ending that appears to be justified. Oh yes, The “Fireflies” are a vision that Olivia has, each one representing a Black person’s life coming to an end. The back wall of the theater is filled with collanders that are lit , representing the “Fireflies” and from time to time we see them flashing and twinkling. Unlike the bells in “It’s A Wonderful Life” representing an Angel getting his/her wings, this represents the loss of someone’s loved one.

Directed to perfection by Michael Burke, Northlight has reconfigured its venue to make this production easy to see from every seat in the house. The set ( Scott Penner) is a typical kitchen in the period on a stage that is suspended and just out from the back wall. Gregory Graham’s costumes are quite fitting for the 1960’s and Erik Watkins has done a great job with the lighting. His “Fireflies” are chilling along with the music and sound by Christie Chiles Twillie. The props are sheer perfection, and I must repeat myself here by saying that while often the prop- master  goes unnoticed, in most plays, the props are the finishing touch on making the production whole. Bren Coombs, you got it!

“Fireflies” will continue at Northlight Theatre located in The Northshore Center for the Performing Arts located at 9501 N. Skokie Blvd in Skokie thru February 20th with performances as follows:

Tuesday  7:30 p.m. 9 February 8th only)

Wednesdays 1 p.m. and 7:30 p.m.

Thursdays  7:30 p.m.

Fridays  8 p.m.

Saturdays  2:30 p.m. and 8 p.m.

Sundays  2:30 p.m. and a 7 p.m. on February 20th

Tickets start at $30 ( to $89) Student tickets are always $15

call the box office at 847-673-6300 or visit www.northlight.org

Plenty of free parking.

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

Chicago Theatre Week- February 17-20  $30 tickets www.chicagotheatreweek.com