**** Tonight I realized why A Red Orchid Theatre could not do the World Premiere of “Turret” at their venue on Wells Street. The set for this play is larger than the venue on Wells Street, by itself. The set designed by Grant Sabin is a cross between a space module, a huge tent-like structure, a submarine, and any other large metal protective dwelling. We are told that this facility is somewhere in the Pacific Northwest, possibly underground. There are levels and ladders, a table with chairs, a boiler room of some kind and two men. They are survivors from some type of war or battle and are unsure of what or who may be outside of their “domain”.
There is a computer, mostly operated by the elder of the two, Green ( a wonderful character handled with style and grace by Michael Shannon) and his protégé, or perhaps ward or even, son “Rabbit” ( played to perfection by Travis A. Knight) who is constantly on the move, exercising and doing all the deeds that Green tells him to do. The script, written by Levi Holloway, is a thriller of sorts and there are a few points where confusion rises to a place that will make you think. We all know that they say a cat has nine lives, but can that be said for a human? Or in fact, are the characters in this story truly human?
Living as they do, these two men are caught in a web of every day being pretty much like the previous one. Yes, they do their checklist each morning, and we do see a few changes, albeit, minor, but all in all it is like “Groundhog Day” with every day being like the day before, until we meet a 3rd character. His name is Birdy ( played by Lawrence Grimm, who will take over the role of Green on June 19th), who Green invites in to their “home” so that the routine is broken.
During this meeting ( which takes place in the second act, something happens that will shake you up as it does Rabbit and from that point on the beauty of the kinship of Green and Rabbit that we have seen changes to fear of the unknown and we see the love that they shared slowly dissolve. The story is about this relationship and the love that they shared as perhaps a father and son or an inventor and his invention. It is a tale of living with isolation from the outside world and learning to live with only one other person, and for what seems a lifetime.
There are highs and lows, laughs and sadness inn this story. The play runs for 2 hours and 25 minutes with one 10 minute intermission. I will not give away any of the special moments in this slick production, and will tell you that the lighting effects ( (Mike Durst) and sound ( Jeffrey Levin, who also did the original music) along with the fight direction ( Max Fabian) make this a spell binder that will hold your attention and grab you from start to finish.
“Turret” will continue thru June 22nd at the Chopin Theatre located at 1543 West Division with performances as follows:
Wednesdays:7:00pm
Thursdays:7:00pm
Fridays:7:00pm
Saturdays:3:00pm & 7:00pm
Sundays:3:00pm
From the 19th -22nd, as mentioned above Grimm will move into the role of Green and Drew Vidal will take over the role of Birdy.
Price: $70
Show Type: Comedy/DramaBox Office: 312-943-8722
Running Time: 2hrs, 15 minutes with a 10 minute intermission
To see what others are saying, visit www.theatreinchicago.com, go t Review Round-Up and click at “Turret”.
“Turret” is Levi Holloway’s stunning new play making its World Premiere with A Red Orchid Theatre, and playing at The Chopin Theatre thru June 22nd.
This is a stunning, futuristic, science fiction-esque story that will have you gripping at the edge of your seat from beginning to end. Two men, Green and Rabbit, survive an apparent world-ending event and are surviving in a deep underground facility somewhere in the wild woods of the Pacific Northwest. The men hide away from horrible forces located outside their haven, and the plot presents a loop of “endless tomorrows,” that becomes a bit more clear by the play’s end. It’s about masculinity, love, loss and isolation….hard to describe yet incredibly entertaining.
Michael Shannon best known for “Boardwalk Empire,’ “Knives Out,” “George and Tammy” and countless other credits on the big screens, small screens and Broadway returns again to the theater he helped found. His performance is beyond words and he is in the show until June 19th at which time co-star Lawrence Grimm takes the role. Make no mistake, all three actors, including the amazing Travis A. Knight who plays Rabbit are each worth the price of admission. You do NOT want to miss this show!!
The Chopin Theatre is located at 1543 W. Division in Chicago….Tickets can be purchased at the theater’s website at: www.aredorchidtheatre.org.
Wednesdays:7:00pm
Box Office: 312-943-8722
More Stories
“Throbbin Wood” reviewed by Julia W. Rath
“Royko: The Toughest Man In Chicago” revisited review by Julia W. Rath
“Falsettos”