“How to Catch Creation”

[rating=5]Headline: Another World Premier on a Chicago theater stage! Of course! Playwrights love our city and the audiences that we bring to see their works. As I have said many times, Chicago theater audiences make us other than the “second city”. This play is “How to Catch Creation” written by Christina Anderson. It is a play that depicts the lives of three artists, who with their partners take us on a trip through time and the trials and tribulations of lives that are “different”, both in the past and present.

Directed to perfection by Niegel Smith on a set (Todd Rosenthal has done a superb job) that turns and moves the action from place and time to place and time with just the right touches. This allows the action to continue from scene to scene ,never taking us out of the story ( or should I say stories).

The six actors who take us on this powerful trip through time are all amazing. Since the stories that make up this production are linked and filled with some surprise that will hold you spellbound, I will not tell you a great deal more. The actors and their roles are as follows:

Tami ( the always reliable Karen Aldridge) is an artist. She is “best friends” with Griffin ( deftly handled by Keith Randolph Smith) a single man, who has spent a great deal of his adult life behind bars ( for a crime he did not commit). Griffin wants nothing more that to have a real life and to be a father. Smith is very natural and his comic timing, perfect. Aldridge, as always is flawless!

The second couple in the story! Stokes ( Bernard Gilbert), an artist who has yet to be found or even to find himself and his girlfriend, Riley (Maya Vinice Prentiss, making a huge splash in her Goodman debut) a computer wizard. They become “pregnant” as well, but under the circumstances of the story are caught between a rock and a hard place.

By the way, these two couples become friends of sorts as the story progresses. Their lives and paths kind of pushe this to happen. As it turns out, Griffin, during his prison years, became an avid reader and a great fan of one author, G.K. Marche and he gets Stokes to follow his lead. In fact, he becomes a mentor to the young artist.

The third couple is one that takes us back in time and history: G.K. Marche (Jasmine Bracey is divine) a writer and her other-half, Natalie ( played to perfection by Ayanna Bria Bakari). Yes, they are a couple, back when this was kept in the closet. It is an event that takes place between these two that changes the course of many lives some fifty years later and that is all I can say without revealing more than I desire to. I can tell you that the action and story telling you will see will keep your attention from start to finish. I did not see a yawn or anyone in the audience dozing off during this one. Every detail said and done is of importance to following this powerful story about  love, forgiveness and finding happiness.

The technical aspects of this production, as always are spot on perfect. In addition to Rosenthal’s amazing set, the costumes (Jenny Mannis ), lighting (Allen Lee Hughes), sound (Joanna Lynne Staub) and that original music (Justin Ellington) all add to the wonder of this theatrical experience. And it is just that. Two hours and twenty -five minutes ( one intermission) of great story-telling.

“How to Catch Creation” will continue on the  Goodman’s Albert stage thru  February 24th with performances as follows:

Tuesday, February 19th  7:30 p.m.

Wednesdays  7:30 p.m.

Thursdays  2 p.m. and 7:30 p.m. ( no afternoon on 2/7)

Fridays  8 p.m.

Saturdays  2 p.m. and 8 p.m.

Sundays  2 p.m. and 7:30 p.m. ( no evenings on 2/10 or 2/24)

Tickets range from $31-$85 and are available at the box office, 170 N. Dearborn, by calling 312-443-3800 or online at www.GoodmanTheatre.org/Creation

The regular programs on discounts: MezzTix and $10Tix can be found on the website and accessibility performances are found at www.GoodmanTheatre.org/Access

Discussions are also found on their site. I would imagine these would be great as the story is one that should bring a lot of things to talk about.

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