“Hang”

 Recommended *** Watching the latest production of Remy Bumppo, the U.S. Premiere of “Hang” by Debbie Tucker Green , I found myself captivated by the three women who are indeed the characters that make this play work. The three women are on the stage of the downstairs Main stage at The Greenhouse Theater Center for approx. 85 minutes of non-interrupted story telling. The time is “nearly now” and based on their accents and the story itself, I would have to imagine that we are on English soil. Woman 1 ( an incredible performance by Eleni Pappageorge) and Woman 2 ( Chicago favorite Annabel Armour) have escorted Woman 3 ( deftly handled by Patrese D. McClain) into the room, which appears to be a government office of some type. They are asking her to decide on the end of a man’s life.

While we never know the full extent of what this man has done, we do know that he has been found guilty and that the agency is allowing the injured party the right to select the punishment. Tucker Green examines closely the feeling of the Woman 3 and her decision as either retribution or could it be revenge? Women 1 and 2 ask her to decide on what will appease her and make her feel comfort once again, and we watch as she questions the government agents about what she can or cannot do, and why!

We also find that the guilty party has written a letter to Woman 3, and that this letter has been in the hands of the agency for months, but it is only this day of days, the day of reckoning, that the letter has even been mentioned. Is this fair and equitable? Should they have shown this letter to Woman 3 earlier? Is the letter an apology or a request for leniency? The only problem with this tense play is that while it is well written ( almost poetic at times) and very well- directed by Keira Fromm, with sensational character development by the three actresses, I found that there were some pieces of the puzzle that never were placed on the table, so we could not finish the picture as most of us would have wanted to.

The stark set ( (Linda Buchanan) is just bright lighting and some chairs. The lighting (Christine A. Binder) and the sound ( Christopher Kriz who also did the original music) along with the props ( Amanda Herrmann) and costumes ( Christine Pascual) were up to the usual high standards that we expect from a Remy Bumppo production, but in this case, it is the poetic dialogue and the top-notch acting that convey us thru the story of this woman, facing the man who caused her pain and suffering, having to decide what fate he must face in retribution for the deed he did.

“Hang” will continue at The Greenhouse Theater Center, located at  2257 N. Lincoln Avenue thru April 29th with performances as follows:

Wednesdays  7:30 p.m.

Thursdays  7:30 p.m.

Fridays  7:30 p.m.

Fridays  7:30 p.m.

Saturdays  7:30 p.m.

Sundays  2:30 p.m.

Special 2:30 p.m. on Thursday 4/19

Special Events:

4/7  1 p.m. audio described performance- touch tour prior to curtain

4/15  between the lines- pre-show lecture at 1:30 prior to show

Post-Show talk-backs  Thursdays and Sundays

Tickets range from $42.50- $52.50 ( $57.50 for Between The Lines)

Students  $10

Industry  $15

AD/TT  $27

Tickets can be purchase by calling 773-404-7336 , at the box office or online at www.RemyBumppo.org

Parking is available on the street ( metered and by permit) or there are limited spaces available at The Former Children’s Memorial Hospital parking garage $10

do not park in the DePaul marked spaces. Place your paid sticker on the dashboard to make sure you are not towed.

The running time is 85 minutes with NO INTERMISSION

To see what others are saying, visit http://ww.theatreinchicago.com, go to Review Round-Up and click at “Hang”