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Beggars In The House Of Plenty
By John Patrick Shanley
Directed by Kevin Christopher Fox
Produced by Mary Arrchie Theatre Co.
At Angel Island
735 W. Sheridan Road
Chicago,IL
Call 773-871-0442, tickets $18 - $20 - $22
Thursdays thru Saturdays at 8 pm
Sundays at 7 pm
Running time is 90 minutes without intermission
Through July 6, 2008
Raw, weird memory play features dazzling staging and excellent performances
Mary Arrchie Theatre always likes to challenge their audiences with gritty, in-your-face plays. John Patrick Shanley’s “Beggars In The House Of Plenty” sure qualifies as a challenging work. Billed as an autobiographical memory play depicting Shanley’s family, “Beggars” tackles the demons from his past as a surreal comedy filled with wit, insight together with confusing twists. I wonder why Shanley chose to mount this work? It is a raw, often vulgar and brutally honest work about an Irish-American family on the brink of destruction. Who would want to explore the painful memories of such a loveless and violent family? I have much trouble with Shanley’s treatment but not with Mary-Arrchie’s fine staging and the powerful acting by the entire ensemble. This is a strong, abstract show that will rock you to your bones as it both engages you and confuses you.
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Johnny (Carlo Lorenzo Garcia) is a five year old child going on adulthood who has a violent father (Karl Potthoff) who loves working as a butcher in a slaughter house. Ma (Mary Jo Bolduc) is the wacky unloving mother. We witness events in the household through the eyes of 5 year old Johnny. There is Sheila’s marriage, the return of older brother Joey (Daniel Behrendt), the sailor who threatens Joey with a beating if he disrespects Pop and the arrival of Sister Mary Kate (Laura Shatkus), the aunt. We hear the family dynamics in adult language as each try for lover and acceptance. This absurdist style produces many funny moments despite several long ranting speeches. There is no love in this family and Johnny doesn’t seem to have a place here.
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The play then shifts years later when Johnny is now a young adult—he is a loser having been kicked out of everything from kindergarten to college. He starts fires, lies and fails at everything. Joey is even more of a loser but the two brothers have tender moments and terrifying fights. Johnny still sees Joey as his hero despite Joey’s self destruction. The last scenes take place in the basement of the family’s old house. The set becomes alight with a red glow that suggests hell and Pop emerges as a meat clever armed demon. He challenges Johnny and seeks out Joey for destruction. This scene is powerfully scary as it shifts into abstract illusion.
“Beggars” is a disturbing yet engrossing work that can be hard to follow with its non sequiturs and screwball comedy and it dark undertow. It is a brave rendition of the destruction of a family seen through the eyes of a gifted playwright. Carlo Lorenzo Garcia, Karl Potthoff and Daniel Behrendt anchor the excellent ensemble. This play will shake your world.
Recommended
Tom Williams
Tom99@chicagocritic.com for comments
Talk Theatre in Chicago podcast
Date Reviewed: May 25, 2008
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