|
Landscape of the Body
By John Guare
Music & Lyrics by John Guare
Directed by John Mossman
At The Artistic Home Theatre
1420 W. Irving Park
Chicago, IL
Call 866-811-4111, tickets $20 - $23
Thursdays at 7:30 pm
Fridays & Saturdays at 8pm
Sundays at 5pm
Running time is 2 hours, 10 minutes with intermission
Through April 15, 2007
Bizarre mystery titillates
The Artistic Home, one of the finest storefront Equity theatre troupes in Chicago, has mounted a first-class production of John Guare’s weird comic murder mystery (that’s not a typo). Complete with live music and five John Guare songs (this is a comedy with music), Landscape of the Body is a surreal look at personal loss and disillusionment set in the decadent New York City, circa 1977. This absurdist mystery introduces us to strippers, cross-dressing conmen, teenage gay hustlers, corrupt detectives all converging in Greenwich Village trying to solve a murder.
Betty (a fabulous performance from the talented Michele Graff) arrives in NYC with her son, Bert (Kevin Mose in a convincingly smart performance). They are from Maine and they arrive to rescue Betty’s sister, Rosalie (Betsy Elizabeth Ann McKnight in a brave and sexy turn) from her part-time role as a stripper and porn star. Rosalie is suddenly killed in a freak bicycle accident so Betty and Bert move into her apartment and Betty takes over her day-job while Bert becomes a gay hustler. In a series of random circumstances filled with weird characters, Guare unravels a strange story that forces a quirky and comic look at the underbelly of society set in a violent NYC. Bert ends up beheaded as the mystery unfolds in flashback.
This is a most compelling show filled with unique and unpredictable events that will keep you guessing as you laugh through the morbidly flawed characters undergoing provocative situations. Michele Graff’s Betty is affected greatly by the bizarre events, but once she accepts the reality of things, she moves on as she realizes that life is fist about survival, period.
Director John Mossman deftly moves the mystery along sprinkling it with sexy tunes by Rosalie who acts as a narrator. Betsy Elizabeth Ann McKnight’s Rosalie mirrors the Guare’s comedic sense. I liked the work of high schooler Kevin Mose as the 14 year old Bert. Mose lands the troubled teen’s mother complex nicely and he lands his song in a fine voice. Christian Castro is a hoot as the flamboyant cross-dresser Raulito. Victor Doylida as Holahan and Matt Welton as Durwood Peach added excellent performances. This ensemble piece is raw, weird and compelling—it hooks us and never lets go until the twists solve the mystery.
You’ll be pleasantly surprised by this strange show. I liked the production and the writing. Landscape of the Body is a treat for Guare lovers and those searching for a different show.
Recommended
Tom Williams
Tom99@chicagocritic.com for comments
Talk theatre in Chicago podcast
Date Reviewed: February 11, 2007
Jeff Recommended
|
