“Spay” reviewed by Frank Meccia

[rating=4]For 25 years Rivendell Theatre is a leading theatre company dedicated to woman stories. Owned and operated by woman, with stories produced and written by woman, this store-front theatre always delivers a fresh perspective that encourages discussion on the issues. And tonight’s world premiere production written by Madison Fiedler, “SPAY” is no exception. As a man, I had to talk to a few of my female friends to get their perspective, as a man who has spent over 30 years in medicine the rest of the play is issues that I had to deal with. Let me first give you some up to date facts which might explain how I feel.

Three million Americans over the age of 12 have used heroin.
76,000 between the ages of 12 and 17 have used it.
574,000 between the age of 18 and 25 have used it
2% of High School seniors have used it, and half have injected it.
And as of 2021 100,306 Americans have died from drug overdoses.

If you thought those numbers were disturbing, read this: Mothers who used heroin while pregnant deliver babies who go threw drug withdrawal after birth, I will spare you the details of what that looks like. But their babies suffer from NAS, they also have low birth weight, and lower head circumference. They suffer from Hyperactivity, inattention, and behavior problems, and low IQ. As they progress and increase in medical disorders, delayed development, and mental disabilities, with underdeveloped cognitive abilities.

I hope I did not scare you too much, but this is what is told to the audience in this fast paced 90-minute show. With only a cast of 4, they deliver a hard punch on reality. The story about two sisters, the older one Harper played by Krystel McNeil a kindergarten teacher who is raising her younger sister’s child, and Noah played by Rae Gray the younger sister, who got pregnant at 15 and is in love with her heroin dealer. These two women were so convincing in their roles, their acting abilities were so fine in capturing the audience. Noah overdoses at her child’s little league baseball game, and while in the hospital her boy friend Jackson played by Spencer Hoffman, never visits, he is too busy dealing his trade. Harper convinces her sister, to go straight, to stop the drugs or she will never see her child again. While she is detoxing at home, she is visited by her boyfriend who convinces her she is OK, because he only deals with pure heroin and never cuts it with fentanyl, also he loves her and wants a family with her. Her sister finds out, frustrated one day she meets Aubry played by Tara Mallen, a social worker who reads a story about Noah in the newspaper, and decided to help. Her agency is designed to help by bring young woman into detox centers to straighten out their addiction and while their perform a sterilization procedures to help end the continuation of a child being born to grow older and use drugs and create a cycle that never ends. Now you see the conundrum that the family is faced with. It’s a show with no answers, but makes you think what she or in this situation others should do.

The great thing about this theatre is the fact they have discussions afterwards to talk about what just happened. But also, to help. They will provide audience members who want, 5 test strips that can be used for fentanyl presence. They will have medical counselors who will talk about drug addictions.

The play runs till April 17th. On April 9th they will have a special discussion after the show called a Family in Crisis. A community action approach to the drug problem in our area.
Rivendale theatre is located at 5779 N. Ridge Ave in the Edgewater area of Chicago.

Performances are as follows:

Price: $25-$35

Show Type: Drama

Box Office: 773-334-7728

www.rivendelltheatre.org

Street parking off of Ridge is available, also Senn High School is two blocks away and available for parking.
Ticket Prices are $35.00 general admission. $25.00 for seniors. Neighbors of Edgewater can use the code hello neighbors for $10 off. Students and educators and military email the box office for a special discount. boxoffice@rivendell.org.

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