“The Cake”

Recommended *** Often, I look closely at our tiny venues, the “store-fronts” that define Chicago’s true theater scene, and tell people that  this is what makes our city great! One of these smaller venues is Rivendell, a company that has been around since 1994 (over 20 years) bringing to our city the only Equity company dedicated to producing new work with women at the very core. They are in an unusual space, next to a pizza joint on Ridge Avenue, about one block south of Senn High School. Their current production, in its Midwest premiere is “The Cake” written by Bekah Brunstetter.

Directed by Lauren Shouse on a cleverly designed and built set (Arnel Sancianco) that is an adorable bake shop and doubles ( or should I say quadruples) as all the other spaces with just a bed coming out of a wall, or another coming out of an oven. Cleverly done and designed to never let the flow of action come to a stop ( or even a “slowness”). This is a 100 minute story (without an intermission, that is ideal, as is), that  takes place in North Carolina and I would have to say the time is “now”!

The play begins in Della’s bakery. Della ( Tara Mallen in a role that seems to have been written with her in mind) is a local, almost personality who is known for her wonderful cakes. In fact, so legendary are they, she is now a contestant on “The Great American Baking Show”. Her husband , Tim ( the always reliable Keith Kupferer) is a plumber and a man who cares about his wife, but in a way that we learn is not what she wanted. Enter Jen ( deftly handled by Tuckie White) a long-time friend of the family who has come to town from Brooklyn in order to have her wedding and of course, wants her “almost aunt Della” to do the cake. Della is excited for her and to do the cake, until she finds out that the wedding will not be a traditional one and that a young lady who she assumed was a reporter interviewing her, Macy ( an incredible character study by Krystel McNeil) is not a reporter, but, in fact the intended “Bride”!

The next scenes are ones of self- examination on the part of the characters that Brunstetter has created. Jen and her “partner” Macy have to look at just what their love is all about and how far to push any buttons over the relationships of their past lives. Tim and Della are forced to look at their lives and what has happened since they found out that they could never have the children that they had hopes their union would create. Jen must look at her long-time relationship with Della and how her thoughts have changed these, just as Della must evaluate her religious feelings relative to her not wanting to bake that special cake for a young lady that is the daughter she could not have. Faith, love, family and one might say frosting collide in this moving story that will remind you of the recent headlines about a baker who refused to do a cake for two men who wanted to have their wedding cake done by this noted baker. Does life imitate art, or is it art imitating life?

My complements to the staff of the Rivendell Theatre Ensemble. Janice Pytel ( costumes), Danielle Myerscough ( props), Shannon Marie O’Neill (sound and original music), Cat Wilson ( lighting), Erin Martin ( cake choreographer- a hard one to understand, but when you view the play, it will make sense), and based on the program, I am assuming that the cake served to the audience at the end of the show ( yes, folks, there is cake!) is from ECBG Cake Studio at 6730 N. Clark Street (good stuff!).

“The Cake” will continue at Rivendell thru May 20th with a performance schedule as follows:

Thursdays  8 p.m. ( except May 10th)

Fridays  8 p.m.

Saturdays  8 p.m.

Saturdays also at 4 p.m.

Sundays  May 6th and May 20th ONLY  at 3 p.m.

Tickets  ( open seating in this 48 seat theater)  are $38 ($28 for veterans/active military , seniors and students )

To order call 773-334-7728 or visit www.RivendellTheatre.org

The theater is located at 5779 N. Ridge Avenue

Free parking is available at Senn High School lot located at Thorndale Avenue, behind the school, about a block away) and street parking is fairly easy to find. Public transportation will get you within a block.

Special performance notes:

Friday, 4/27  Mama’s Night-after the show, conversation and drinks in their rehearsal studio next door.

Thursday 4/26 open captioned performance $15 tix with the code ACCESS

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