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Keely and Du
By Jane Martin
Directed by Kurt Naebig
Produced by Infamous Commonwealth Theatre
At Raven Theatre
6157 N. Clark Street
Chicago, IL
Call 312-458-9780, tickets $20 students/seniors/industry $15
Thursdays thru Saturdays at 8:30 pm
Sundays at 3:30 pm
Running time is 2 hours, 10 minutes with intermission
Through March 23, 2008
RIGHTEOUSNESS: expressing or teaching a conception of right behavior
Radical Christianity’s tactics toward abortion dissected
Righteousness is the theme of Infamous Commonwealth Theatre’s current season. Keely and Du by Jane Martin (who ever she is?) deals with the righteousness of the right wing Christian activists who’ll do anything to stop abortions. This 1994 drama powerfully depicts Keely (Genevieve Thompson), a pregnant woman and rap victim who wakes up in a locked room handcuffed to her bed. Her nurse/handler Du (Joanna Maclay) is an elderly woman and dedicated right-to-lifer determined to help Keely give birth. Walter (Paul Joseph) is the self-righteous preacher/activist who organizes abductions of pregnant women who plan abortions. He tries to preach the value of life to Keely.
Keely deeply resists Walter and Du’s early psychological treatment bent on having her cooperate and have the baby willingly. Keely eventually forms a bond with Du who slowly sees Keely as the daughter she never had. When Keely has a birthday, Du gets her a dress and a six pack of beer. Walter strongly disapproves. Slowly we see Keely accepting the fact that she’ll be incarcerated until she gives birth. The show offers equal treatment to both the right to life and the women’s choice points of view about abortion. We obviously see the hypocrisy of kidnapping and imprisoning a pregnant woman in order to force her to give birth.
Just as we think Keely is giving in, we see her free spirit emerge when Cole (James Dunn), her violent estranged husband, visits and tries to convince her that he is “born again” and a reformed Christian who has found Jesus Christ. Keely’s response is emotional and true to her character. Keely and Du is a powerful story of relationships tested by unique circumstances. Joanna Maclay and Genevieve Thompson give impressive performances, Paul Joseph is eerily effective and James Dunn sincerity seems real. The resolution of this play is believable and true to character.
Jane Martin’s drama will certainly get the debate going about abortion and the extent one’s point of view could justify illegal activities. The work is a cautionary tale about the horrors of fanaticism. Kudos to Infamous Commonwealth Theatre for tackling such a controversial subject.
Highly Recommended
Tom Williams
Tom99@chicagocritic.com for comments
Talk Theatre in Chicago podcast
Date Reviewed: February 23, 2008
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