“Guess Who’s Coming To Dinner” reviewed by Michael Horn

[rating=5]It has been 50 years since the movie “Guess Who’s Coming To Dinner” brought our attention to interracial marriage and race relations.  It was ground breaking at the time, but it was based on 1967 attitudes so how can a stage play drawn from the film be relevant today?  Well, it is! Todd Kreidler’s smartly written adaptation adds a few updates to the classic film script and stays true to the story with a 21st century interpretation. It is the perfect product for the Court Theatre and this production, directed by Marti Lyons with Associate Director Wardell Julius Clark, is outstanding!

Matt and Christina Drayton are living a white, upper-class life in the late 60’s San Francisco, but their comfortable life is muddled when their daughter, Joey returns home with John Prentice, a black physician whom she has known for 10 days and intends to marry.  John is the epitome of the perfect fiance, a super successful young man with integrity, who anyone would want in the family; if they could accept the color of his skin. John asks for Matt’s approval of the marriage, placing their future in Matt’s hands. Suddenly, Matt and Christina’s longtime progressive values are challenged, and  they find themselves facing difficult personal questions about the future of their daughter and their family.

Helping them solve their “problem” is longtime family friend Monsignor Ryan, the Drayton’s black maid, Tillie, Christina’s business associate, Hilary, and John’s parents; John Sr. and Mary.  Throughout the play, each character makes their position on the potential union very clear. Can attitudes and deeply seeded biases be changed by eloquence? What happens when principles are challenged by reality and reality is impacted by principles?

Tim Hopper plays Matt Drayton with vigor, showing his character’s vulnerability and uncertainty. Mary Beth Fisher plays Christina Drayton with strength and great comedic timing.  Bryce Gangel wonderfully portrays Johanna Drayton, oh so optimistic and oh so hopeful.  Michael Aaron Pogue plays Dr. John Prentice with feeling and understanding, passionately fighting to save his future. Dexter Zollicoffer is John’s father, John Sr., and he gives a stoic performance of a shocked father who knows what reality can bring to his son.  Jacquelline Williams plays Mary Prentice with understanding and a soft touch, who in the end is a stabilizing factor for her son.  Rachel Sledd as Hilary, the business associate and Dan Waller as Monsignor Ryan add some comic relief when the story heats up.  Sydney Charles plays Matilda“Tillie” Binks, the Drayton’s maid and her timing and droll performance tie many of the scenes together. This is a cast that knows how to work together and their chemistry and professionalism show in every scene.

Marti Lyons with Associate Director Wardell Julius Clark direct this production with deft hands and make certain that each scene smoothly transitions to the next.  They build the intensity in the play and diffuse it with the right amount of levity, without losing the significance and importance of the subject matter.

The set, by Scott Davis, is awesome, a modern replica of a successful upper class San Francisco home, replete with patio and succulents.  The stark white color of the design subtly suggests society’s struggle at the time.

The costume design by Samantha Jones are lovely and fit the period perfectly.  The lighting by Lee Fiskness and sound by Andre Pluess add the right amount of ambience and drama.

“Guess Who’s Coming To Dinner” is a terrific production with a cast that has chemistry and works so well together.  It is timely and focuses attention on an issue that today has expanded beyond just race.  The Court Theatre continues to bring important works to the community and “Guess Who’s Coming To Dinner” should not be missed.

“Guess Who’s Coming To Dinner” will run through April 15, 2018

Schedule:  Wed & Thurs.:   7:30PM

                   Fridays:              8:00PM

                   Saturdays:         3:00PM & 8:00PM

                   Sundays:           2:30PM & 7:30PM     

Location:   Court Theatre, 5535 S. Ellis Avenue, Chicago, IL

Tickets:      $44-$74

Box Office: (773) 753-4472 or www.Courttheatre.org

Parking is available in the garage next to the theater.

To see what others are saying, visit www.theatreinchicago.com, go to Review Round-Up and click at ” Guess Who’s Coming To Dinner”