**** It turns out a movie can be converted to a play, and what we are seeing at The Windy City Playhouse right now is a production of the Academy-Award film “Network” adapted for the stage by Lee Hall. The film, written by Paddy Chayefsky, featured an all-star cast ( Faye Dunaway, Ned Beatty, William Holden, Marlene Warfield, Conchita Ferrell, Lane Smith, and of course Peter Finch in the role of Howard Beale, for which he won an Academy Award) came out in 1976.
It is hard to believe, but here we are some 48 years later and some of the same problems exist in our world. Yes, television is changed. Where we had 4 or 5 stations to deal with, we now have hundreds, and I am sure that some of the points are still relevant today. The story concentrates on Beale ( another sterling performance by James Turano, who should get yet another Jeff Nomination, and perhaps this time, the actual award). He is a newsman who is having a problem with his ratings and the behind the scenes business dealings of his network. He fears being terminated and decides to let it all hang out, starting with announcing that he will commit suicide on air.
When the station sees that his ratings are skyrocketing, they keep him on, and little by little, his popularity grows even strong as he tells America that it is time to stand up, open your window and shout out “I’m Mad As Hell and I am not going to take it any longer”! I must say that Turano is powerful in his portrayal of this character, creating his own persona instead of trying to imitate Finch’s portrayal. Under the direction of Charles Askenaizer, on the wonderful set designed by (Kevin Rolfs), we the audience feel that we are on the set, seated in the actual audience , if there was indeed an audience at a newscast.
We definitely see the wheels turning as each of the TV executives struggles to keep their power and position and with two TV cameras, there are some scenes that appear on the wall as well. There were however, a few scenes that were NOT in the studio, involving a relationship between an agent and a TV executive, that probably would have been better off without the cameras on, as I doubt very much they would have an affair with a camera and sound man in the apartment.
This is primarily a one man showcase with a strong ensemble to fill in the gaps. They are terrific: Chuck Munro, Anne Trodden, Joe Sergio, John Chambers,Joe Feliciano, Fred Wellisch, James Lewis, Whitney Minarik, Colin K. Jones, Thomas M. Shea, Patrick Blashill, Keisha Yelton-Hunter, Ophelia Harkness, Layke Fowler and Liam Ryan. Each cast member added to the tension, the pressure and the wonderful story-telling.
Hats off to the tech crew, who managed to put the audience into the studio with ease and never made us feel that we were in the way. Sound (Petter Wahlback), lighting ( Chad Lussier), costumes ( Jessie Gowens), props (Rachel Livingston), and the fight and intimacy designer (Jay Donley). As I said earlier, the audience does become part of the production as we have pins to wear, signs to wave and times to scream out the famous quote. FYI- there is some sexual tension in one scene and an ending that may be shocking for some, so parental guidance is suggested.
“Network” will continue thru September 29th with performances as follows:
Mondays 7:00pm
Fridays 7:00pm
Saturdays 2:00pm & 7:00pm
Sundays 2:00pm
All performances take place at The Windy City Playhouse
Located at 3014 West Irving Park Road in Chicago.
There is some street parking and some metered. Please check for meters hours.
By the way, The Leader Bar at 3000 West Irving Park is a great spot for a before show dinner and if you show them your ticket you get a 10% discount.
To see what others are saying, visit www.theatreinchicago.com, go to Review Round-Up and click at “Network”.
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Invictus Theatre of Chicago’s production of “Network” is stunning, immersive and unforgettable. Set in the 1970’s, one would think the message of the play has been lost over time or is no longer relevant. But, as Mark Twain wrote, “History doesn’t repeat itself, but it often rhymes.” The message of corporate greed, power of television and the media and so much more has evolved over the decades since Paddy Chayefsky film premiered in 1977. Invictus, through the meticulous direction of Invictus founding artistic director Charles Askenaizer, keeps the production relevant and connected to a modern audience.
In this conversation, Network lead James Turano, known on WGN Radio as Elton Jim (and who gives one of the finest performances of the year in this role), and Production Director and Founding Artistic Director of Invictus Theatre Charles Askenaizer join in to discuss their interpretation of what began as an iconic film and how they envisioned creating the production in the intimate space of the theater’s location at Windy City Playhouse.
Invictus Theatre of Chicago’s production of “Network” is stunning, immersive and unforgettable. Set in the 1970’s, one would think the message of the play has been lost over time or is no longer relevant. But, as Mark Twain wrote, “History doesn’t repeat itself, but it often rhymes.” The message of corporate greed, power of television and the media and so much more has evolved over the decades since Paddy Chayefsky film premiered in 1977. Invictus, through the meticulous direction of Invictus founding artistic director Charles Askenaizer, keeps the production relevant and connected to a modern audience.
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