“The Pavilion”

[rating=4] Just an old fashioned love story! That is what one might call Craig Wright’s “The Pavilion”, now being presented by The Artistic Home Theatre Company. Think back to your youth- for example your high school reunion. We had several along the way. The first was only a year later ( just to see how college went), and the second 10 years, allowing each of us some actual “life” to discuss and brag about. The big one was twenty. Time had changed all of us. Some were married with kids, and deep in debt. Others were divorced, with kids and even deeper in debt. Some were happy, some were sad.

“The Pavilion” is the story of a couple, seeing each other for the first time at their twenty year class reunion. It is also the night that the local Pavilion, a meeting place for almost everything in their small town, was going to be gone forever, taking with it the memories that were shared by the community. The story is about  Peter ( a sharply played performance by John Mossman) and Kari ( superbly handled by Kristin Collins). They had been dating since junior year and as they graduated, for no reason at all, Peter said goodbye. FYI- As the story progresses we learn a great deal more about each of them and their relationship, then and now.

The play begins with us meeting the Narrator ( an amazing piece of work by Todd Wojcik, who not only tells us the story, becomes half of the class of 1982 revealing items of importance to the story). The Narrator introduces us to the main characters, to the town, the pavilion, and all of what takes place in our universe. The lighting (Levi J. Wilkin) and sound (Peter Wahlback) are also a part of the performance. Wojcik tells them what to do and when. Director Julian Hester is quite creative in the staging of this production utilizing a set (Chas Mathie) that allows for a complete transformation between the two acts. They end the first act by reversing the walls of the pavilion allowing audience members to move to the other side for the second act. Many made the move, but to be honest, it was not a problem remaining in my original seat. I heard and saw everything. The only problem was that since we were at a high school reunion, the band kept playing and at times overshadowed the actors. Never with Mr. Wojcik who is a hoot in all of the characters he brings to the story- just watching him is worth the price of the ticket.

I do not want to give away the complete story, but need to let you know that Kari is married, with no children. Peter is in a relationship, but one that is very fragile because he is still in love with Kari. Get the idea? The conditions are proper. They are in a space where they enjoyed each other 20 years ago. The stars above are perfect.  Two unhappy people that once shared a love have an opportunity to have a second chance. Or do they? Can they turn back time? Is it possible to turn one’s universe to reverse?  The play is 104 minutes with a 10 minute interlude/intermission. I often look at plays like this and ask why the intermission? Do we need to take ourselves away from this enchanting story at all? Are we better off going from start to finish and staying in their universe for a tad over an hour and a half?

This brilliant production will continue at The Den Theatre’s Upstairs Mainstage, located at 1331 N. Milwaukee Avenue thru June 5th with performances as follows:

Thursdays  7:30 p.m.

Fridays  7:30 p.m.

Saturdays  7:30 p.m.

Sundays  3 p.m.

Tickets are $35 ( seniors and students $15)

call 773-697-3830 or visit www.thedentheatre.com

Street parking is mostly metered, but there are a few spots that are free- read the signs. Public transportation is easy. The lounge is open for refreshments.

Covid rules are in place for entry into the theater, but in the venue, masks are optional.

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

For info about Artistic Home, www.theartistichome.org