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Loose Knit
By Theresa Rebeck
Directed by Tim Curtis
At The Actors Workshop Theatre
1044 W. Bryn Mawr
Chicago, IL
Call 773-728-7529, tickets $20 - $25
Fridays & Saturdays at 8 PM
Sundays at 3 PM
Running time 2 hrs, 10 min with intermission
Through April 30, 2006
Loose Knit weaves a splendid, insightful spin on personal fulfillment
Playwright Theresa Rebeck’s Omnium-Gatherum, produced last year at Next Theatre, is testimony to her talent. In her 1994 play, Loose Knit, we see her comic, feminist side where she has much to say about women versus man and man verses women. Told through five middle class 30 something’s women in NYC whose bond revolves around a knitting circle, Loose Knit is a smart, satirical comedy of manners. At first, I thought the play was going to be another cliché-ridden sitcom-ish male bashing work. But it is amazingly balanced and ultimately delivers a fresh perspective on personal fulfillment and the angst suffered by both men and women.
I like the five sassy characters from Liz (Carrie Corrigan), the foul-mouthed complaining, negative and frustrated journalist who hates her sister, Lily (Rebekka James), who is the proper, manipulative one whose marriage to Bob (Jason Daniels) has gone sour. Other knitters are Paula (Dawn Perry), the black self-possessed psychotherapist, Gina (Christine Rosencrans), the obsessive-compulsive knitter desperate and lonely and Margie (Diane Hren), the motor-mouthed, horny man chaser and dim wit.
The group meets weekly to knit and to communicate their frustrations about men and their unfulfilled lives. There are cute, telling moments in the knitting circle especially when several of the girls go on a blind date arranged by Lily, the only married member of the circle.
Enter the erudite, impeccably dressed multimillionaire Miles (Eric Hoffman, who almost steals the show) whose idea of a date is more like a job interview as he takes notes while asking penetratingly personal questions. His smugness and ultra-male chauvinistic attitude is a turn off to the girls despite his good looks and opulence. These well written scenes are sharp and insightful. "I like blind dates; they're like business negotiations," Miles coldly tells one of the girls. First Margie, then Paula (to whom Miles states: “This is the first time I've dated a woman of color, and I find it quite stimulating." The reaction to each date is unpredictable and Liz jousts with the arrogant Miles in a marvelous dance of dominance that is wonderfully written and staged. Corrigan’s Liz and Hoffmann’s Miles sparkle in those scenes.
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The complex plot has plausible twists, bitingly funny dialogue as we see the five woman struggle to find love, companionship and meaning in their lives. While there several references to the women not needing men, there is also a poignant exchange between Bob (whose cheating on his wife Lily with her sister Liz) and Miles as they lament not understanding, yet needing woman.
Loose Knit is a thoroughly original show filled with fine performances from the seven member cast. I especially liked Eric Hoffman and Carrie Corrigan and Tim Curtis’ intelligent direction.
So get to The Actors Workshop Theatre to see a gem of a play that once again demonstrates the value in Chicago’s vibrant storefront theatre. Loose Knit will leave you in stitches.
Highly Recommended
Tom Williams
Tom99@chicagocritic.com for comments
Talk Theatre in Chicago podcast
March 23, 2006
Jeff Recommended
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