“Working”

[rating=5]Studs Terkel is a Chicago LEGEND. He was perhaps the best interviewer ever, and his book, “Working: What People Do All Day and How They Feel About What They Do”, is still being sold. A compilation of interviews with people who work at all the jobs that for the most part are overlooked in importance, but to them, “this is who they are!”. The book was written in 1974. I am pretty sure the musical (original) had its debut sometime in the 1980’s with its adaptation by Stephen Schwartz and Nina Faso with additional contributions by Gordon Greenberg. It is in many ways also a revue, taking the individual interviews and converting some to musical pieces and others to monologues. The stories are far and wide and many of the originals have been replaced by others with additional music by people that were just kids when the original interviews were done. An example of this, Lin-Manuel Miranda has added two very solid numbers.

There was a revised version in 2012 and several years ago, we saw yet another version at The Broadway Playhouse. In that version, we were taken backstage and watched as the actors took on each of the characters. Last night, TheoUbique Cabaret Theatre opened up their version of this wonderful show. It is NOT TO BE MISSED!

Under the direction of Christopher Chase Carter, who also does the choreography, this slick production moves through the interviews with great ease. If you know this theater, you know that the actors perform about as close to the audience as they can get without joining them at their tables. The set for this one (Nicholas James Schwartz) is set up with three stage areas and while there may be a time or two where you need to move your chair, it is worth the turn, for sure!

Carter uses 6 actors to portray all of the characters depicted in this version, each one playing all types of characters: truckers, masons, waitress, firefighter, factory worker, UPS driver, housewife, mill worker, cleaning woman and many more. These are the people that built our city, and continue to make our world work. Many have great aspirations, others are happy with what they have contributed to our world.

The cast is composed of Stephen Blu Allen ( Man 2) , Jared David Michael Grant ( Man 1) and Michael Kingston (Man 3). Kingston is sort of the male Narrator along with his counterpart Cynthia F. Carter ( Woman 1). Carter and Kingston are both terrific performers and her vocal range is amazing. The other two women in the show are Kiersten Frumkin ( Woman 2) and Loretta Rezos ( Woman 3). Rezos rendition of “It’s An Art to be a Fine Waitresss” is striking and I loved Frumkin’s “Just a Housewife”.

This is a solid cast who become their characters with great ease and sell each one of them to us. Kinston as “Joe”,  the retired older man, presents his story beautifully and truly shows off his own acting ability. For many years, he was an ensemble member in many shows in town. While he was always good, he is now truly showing his growth in taking on major parts. Great work! Carter’s “If I Could Have Been” is both moving and shows her powerful voice off to its fullest. All six of these talented people bring life to all of the characters they bring from the pages of Terkel to the stage at TheoUbique at The Howard Street Theatre in Evanston.

The music under the direction of Jeremy Ramey ( conductor/music director/pianist and arranger) is amazing. His three musicians certainly make this vivid music come alive. Rafe Bradford ( bass), Perry Cowdery (guitar) and Carlos Mendoza ( drums). Great work and fun to watch.

There are some changes in the order and some interviews that are no longer included . I directed a version of the show about 20 years ago ( before the new songs) and we had “Big Al” in the parking garage and our big executive speech was different. As I said, the book is filled with stories. Some of them may never make it into the musical version, but others are sitting there, waiting for someone to take another look somewhere down the road for yet another revised version. If TheoUbique does it again, I will be sitting up front at my table number 5 again!

“Working” will continue at their new home, the Howard Street Theatre, located at 721 West Howard Street in Evanston thru January 26th with performances as follows:

Thursdays  7:30 p.m.

Fridays  7:30 p.m.

Saturdays  7:30 p.m.

Sundays  7:00 p.m.

Tickets range from $42-$57 and can be purchased at the website http://www.theo-u.com or by phone at 773-347-1109

Students / Industry Rush: 15 minutes before curtain all unsold seats will be released at $20 for those with either a student ID or performers with a headshot.

Dinner option available and of course, a full bar.

Parking on Howard Street is plentiful, but read the meters. There are two different sets of rules.

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