|
Horton Foote Festival: One-Act Plays
Blind Date
Directed by Steve Scott
The Actor
Directed by Rick Snyder
At the Goodman’s Owen Theatre
170 N Dearborn
Chicago, IL
Call 312-443-3800, tickets $10 - $38
Tuesday, Feb 26 at 7:30 pm
Thursday, Feb 28 at 7:30 pm
Saturday, Mar.1 at 8 pm
Sunday, Mar. 2 at 2 pm
Running time is 2 hours, 5 minutes with intermission
Through March 2, 2008
Outstanding Horton Foote one-acts are life-affirming treats
Prolific playwright/screenwriter, Horton Foote, know as “the Chekhov of the small town” is at the top of his craft with Blind Date and The Actor, two one-acts now in a limited run at the Goodman’s Owen Theatre. These are “must see” plays that are beautifully written and truthfully acted. If you have never seen a Horton Foote play, get to the Goodman and witness a writer in tune with the sensibilities and heart of small town America.
 |
In Blind Date, Foote’s 1985 one-act, Sarah Nancy (the intensely wonderful Kathleen Romond) cannot get past the first few minutes of a date with a boy. Her Aunt Dolores (Judy Blue) is determined to find a suitor for the socially lacking niece. Dolores calls every unattached young man in their small east Texas town. Finally, she finds Felix (the spirited Dan Hale). Dolores tries to shape Sarah Nancy with quick lessons in etiquette teaching the young woman conversation-starting questions. The result is a funny, warm-hearted look at the repressed social rituals of 1920’s courtship. The interplay between Romond’s Sarah Nancy and Hale’s Felix was precious. The Blind Date goes through rough sledding as Sarah Nancy struggles with communication. Blind Date is a fine snap-shot of Foote’s feel for nostalgic small town American life in the 1920-30’s. Kathleen Romond is outstanding.
In Horton Foote’s 2002 semi-autobiographical one –act, The Actor, we meet fifteen year old Horace (Patrick Andrews in a flawlessly truthful performances) as he narrates his story of how he became an actor. Living in a rural east Texas, Horace became inspired to be an actor after a new teacher, Dorothy (Audrey Frances) helps Horace win an acting medal. Horace feels he is “called” to become an actor to the horrors of his loving and supportive family. In 1932, during the Depression, wasting money on an acting school seems foolish. Foote’s understanding of family dynamics renders The Actor a lovely, life-affirming and truthful play filled with enough love and understanding to makes us want to stand up and cheer. This is a brilliant play—one of the finest one-acts I’ve seen! Patrick Andrews was magnificent as the star-stuck want-to-be actor. Philip Earl Johnson was terrific as the firm, fair-minded and loving father. Foote nails the essence of the American Dream and the spirit of a supporting family in this gem.
Get to the Goodman fast since these two treasures have only 4 more performances each.
Highly Recommended
Tom Williams
Tom99@chicagocritic.com for comments
Talk Theatre in Chicago podcast
Date Reviewed: February 24, 2008
|
