“Today,Tonight, Soon”

** Those of you who have been reading me for the past 20-plus years know that I love to work with and help young theater companies. In fact, there are times when I am the only reviewer for a new troupe, but I feel the need to help where I can and if nothing else, I feel that the exposure will help them mature.

Tonight I was introduced to theatrel’acadie, a newer company of young people who are inspired to be creative in their works and presentations. Frank and I went to the new show, a World Premiere play, “Today. Tonight, Soon”, an 80-minute production that takes place on the sandy beach at Lunt Avenue Beach in Chicago. Yes, that is the truth. You park your car in the lot and head East to Lake Michigan. The sandy area and a portion of the lake are the stage and the audience sits on blankets or chairs facing this “stage” watching this unique story written by Melanie Coffey.

The two actresses in this production, Laura Rojas (Lorelei) and  Brandii Champagne (Eloise) are sisters who are on the beach with a mission. They are awaiting the last man on Earth, known as the “Rowboat Man” who will be the man to help them repopulate the world. There are some confusing parts of this play regarding a typewriter that Eloise carries. She never types on it ( and if she did, there is no paper in it, so why?), but instead speaks into it. She communicates with her mother who has instructed these sisters to repopulate their worlds. Why not make it a laptop to make it easier to understand?

We have no idea as to when this is taking place. The sisters appear to be in togas-type costumes, but they could be any time or any country’s style and fashion. It seems that Eloise has decided that she will be the one to seduce this man and will allow him to make her pregnant. From the dialogue, it seems that she is a virgin, but has had many dreams and thoughts about this part of her life. They talk about the world coming to an end! They talk about the ocean where they are located! They speak about a world where no males have been born, which leads us to believe that the  “Rowboat Man” is indeed, the last man on Earth and that would also mean that to re-populate the world he would be the only one to get the job done. That was a bit confusing as well.

The two ladies were great together (they wore microphones, but it seems that  Ms Champagne’s was not up to the quality of Ms Rojas. The play with each other and the water play in the lake, directed by Erin Sheets allows us to get into the minds and souls of these two sisters. The play touches on many topics that relate to our world today, so the actual story is not on its own. It is in many ways a political look at today’s America and the struggles that we have. Could our world as we know it fall apart? Can we save it by repopulating the world with pure minds and souls? Why not bring a comfy folding chair , or lay on a balnket and come to the beach at Lunt Avenue ( although it is called Loyola Beach) and enjoy the sunset as you watch these sisters wait for the last man on Earth to save the world.

“Today,Tonight, Soon” will continue thru September 3rd at 7 p,m (Weather permitting)

FYI- the sounds of the beach and the lake are very real. You will hear planes, radios, Gulls,  and some kids playing in the water. In many ways that added to the evening and the theatrical experience that no other theater company will bring you. The play is a pay what you can ( $15 is suggested). The meters at the lot (1120 West Lunt) are FREE at 7 p.m. when the show starts, so you can either park and wait until 6:59 or if you come early and enjoy the beach, spend $2

They do sell water and other refreshments and there is no intermission. For tickets https://www.eventbrite.vom/e/today-tonight-soon-by-melanie-coffey-presented-by-theatre-lacadie-tickets-641596671917

For special arrangements contact the theater lacadieboxoffice@gmail.com

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