“Midsummer ( A Play With Songs)

Highly Recommended ***** The Greenhouse Theater Center is undergoing changes. They are fixing the building from top to bottom, making the many improvements that this landmark house of theaters has needed for decades, and at the same time, the  management is bringing to its public new theater productions, innovative and unique for this building of theaters that once housed Chicago’s Victory Theatre. A Midwest premiere- “Midsummer ( A Play With Music), now on the main stage on the first floor, is an absolutely amazing two actor piece of story telling that will have you smiling and laughing and falling in love with the story and the characters.

The story is written by David Greig with music by Gordon McIntyre, and is a 90 minute production ( no intermission) that might remind you of last year’s sensation “Once” in its ability to tell a story with music at its soul. Directed by Randy White with musical direction by Jeremy Gentry, this is a delightful tale of two people and how their lives, which are very different, become as one  when their paths cross in a pub in Scotland. The set ( Mark F. Smith) is unique in that it converts easily by the actors allowing us to be in their homes, in the pub, at the church and many other locations.

As powerful as this book is and as lovely and traditional as the music is, this play cannot work without the perfect male and female performers who can play many characters, sing, dance and play musical instruments. Knowing that in the past, Chaon Cross and Patrick Mulvey have worked well together and that they possess the specific needs that these characters must have, they are indeed the perfect actors to take on the roles of Helena and Bob!

They meet, by chance in a pub at the start of a weekend.  Looking at them from the very start we know they are mismatched and should not spend a moment together. Helena is a divorce attorney and Bob is an on again-off again auto thief. Helena is stood up and lonely, so she hooks up with Bob, who is also stood up and they drink and have sex and a wild drunk night with zero intent of ever seeing the other again. A night of mis-adventure by two very lonely people!

What we find as the weekend continues is that these two do come into each others lives again. Helena is off to her sister’s wedding ( which is an internet meet so “will never last a year”) and Bob has a stolen auto that he needs to sell for his boss. They meet again, by chance and their adventures are both thrilling and adventurous as they take on the roles of many and accompany themselves on a wide range of stringed instruments. As the weekend goes on, what started off as a lost weekend becomes a true love story without the Hollywood ending, but some great chemistry between two characters with whom the audience will fall in love. Yes, both of them are loveable. Sitting in the first row, we came very close to some actual contact with them and as Jane ( my wife) said, they were both cute and huggable. This is the epitome of GREAT!

If you truly enjoy different theater, this is for you! If you enjoy love stories, this is for you! If you care about people, this is for you! IN FACT- if you are alive and have ever searched for love in the wrong places, you must find a way to clear your schedule and see this top-notch production that will bring a real smile to your heart. Forget your troubles and watch this production unfold with these two glorious talents!

“Midsummer ( A Play with Songs) will continue at The Greenhouse Theater Center located at 2257 N. Lincoln Avenue thru October 6th ( I hope they can extend so all of Chicago can see this sure to be Jeff Award nominated show) with performances as follows:

Wednesdays  7:30 p.m

Thursdays  8:00 p.m.

Fridays  8:00

Saturdays  3 and 8 :00 p.m.

Sundays  3 p.m.

Tickets range from $20-$25 ( open seating) and $15 for students and military (a bargain for theater of this quality )and can be purchased at the box office, by calling 773-404-7336 or online at www.greenhousetheater.org

To see what others are saying, visit http://www,theatreinchicago.com, go to Review Round-Up and click at “Midsummer ( A Play with Songs).”

NOTE: To William and Wendy Spatz, Thank you for what you are bringing your theater audiences!