“Relentless”

Highly Recommended ***** Welcome back Timeline Theatre!  After 707 days, Timeline is back at their home away from home, Theater Wit. They are back with a vengeance. They are doing a World Premiere that tells us a family story filled with moments of every possible emotion called “Relentless” written by Tyla Abercrumbie and directed by Ron OJ Parson. I must tell you that unlike most of the area venues, that are trying to do 100 minutes or less ( without intermission), this piece is three hours long, with one intermission. It is however the shortest three hours of theater you will experience!

The time goes by swiftly as the story is so powerful. The year is 1919, After the death of their mother, two sisters come home to Philadelphia to settle her estate. It is a beautiful house with lots of wonderful memories for these girls. They are now adults with lives of their own. Annelle ( Ayanna Bria Bakari ) is a socialite living in Boston with her husband Marcus (Travis Delgado) a doctor. Her sister, Janet ( Jaye Ladymore is a powerhouse) is a nurse and very single. Annelle is planning to change that while they are working on Mother’s house. She does so by bringing Franklin ( played to perfection by Xavier Edward king) a wealthy young man into her life.

While it appears that we are going to experience a love story in the making of this couple, “Relentless” is really more about the lives of these girls and how one simple thing can change it. Janet and Franklin are both Black people with a mission. Remember, this is 1919 and the world is supposedly changing for the African American community. Or is it? Franklin is ready to take on the world that has held him back because of his color. Marcus also has an agenda. He wants to help those in need of medical attention and feels that doctors should heal all that need help, not based on their race, but on their need. Now let’s look at the life changing parts.

It begins with Janet’s discovery of journals or diaries that her mother kept. There is a trunk filled with these volumes. Janet begins reading them and starts to learn a whole different side to her mother. I will not get into the specifics  but will tell you that what they learn from her journals is that the entire life they thought was their mother’s past was wrong.  Have you ever asked yourself the question, “what if everything I thought about my parents was a lie?” What these girls find out is exposure of hidden truths and secrets. They never really knew the woman that they called Mother.

Some of these moments are brought to life as they are reading them. Their mother, Zhuukee/Annabelle Lee ( a dynamic performance by Demetra Dee) was a slave , owned by Mary Anna Elizabeth ( played to perfection by Rebecca Hurd). Their story is both intense and loving. Again, we must consider the time period. The world was changing and neither Annelle or Janet had been privy to who their mother had been in her early life. These journals open their eyes and at the same time civil unrest is happening in America. Seems like some things never change!

This is a sterling production with an amazingly powerful cast bringing these characters to life. The set ( Jack Magaw) is flawless and makes the venue seem so much larger. Christine Pascual’s costumes are just right and Heather Gilbert’s lighting perfect. Christopher Kriz as always does original music that is perfect for the story in addition to handling the sound, and the props are handled by Jennifer Wernau. This play was part of Timeline’s “First Draft Playwrights Collective Festival and had its first reading in 2018. It has taken awhile to get from paper to stage, but what they are bringing to Chicago is a wonderful story told to perfection. What would one expect? This is Timeline Theatre.

By the way, Timeline regulars know that part of their production is the “Lobby Experience”. Since there is no space to do so- you can do so by visiting www.timelinetheatre.com/relentless-lobby.

“Relentless” will continue at Theater Wit located at 1229 West Belmont Thru February 26th with performances as follows:

Wednesdays  7 p.m.

Thursdays  7 p.m.

Fridays  7 p.m.

Saturdays  2 p.m. and 7 p.m.

Sundays  2 p.m.

Tuesday, February 22nd there will be a 2 p.m. show.

Tickets range from $42- $57 ( student discount 35% off with valid ID. First responders and military, $25 per ticket.

Box office773-281-8463 ext 6or visit www.timelinetheatre.com

Timeline offers some discussions with their schedule:

Post show-February 2nd, February 6th and February 17th

Pre-show- 25 minutes prior to performance February 10th and 20th

VIRTUAL DISCUSSIONS- February 20th at 7 p.m.

POST 30 minute discussion Tuesday 2/8 at 7 p.m. and/or 2/22 at 7 p.m.

THESE ARE FREE!

Parking around the theater is mostly metered and zoned. Public transportation can get you almost to the door. Do not park at the lot behind Kubo’s ( you will be ticketed) but if you are looking for a great before theater dinner, you will find an interesting menu of Filipino- American dinners.

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