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Miss Julie
By August Strindberg
Adapted & Directed by Sean Graney
Original music by Kevin O’Donnell
Produced by the-hypocrites theatre
At Chopin’s Studio Theatre
1543 W. Division Street
Chicago, Il
Call 773-472-7352, tickets $20
Thursdays thru Saturdays t 8 pm
Sundays at 2 pm
Running time is 90 minutes without intermission
Through March 2, 2008
Unique stage propels provocative production of Miss Julie
August Strindberg’s 1888 Miss Julie is know as the start of Naturalism on stage. Strindberg chided directors to create a new style of production with new concepts of character. He offered unheard of innovations for the 1880’s—references to menstruation, blasphemy, lust, and bodily functions. Director Sean Graney sure heeds Strindberg’s call for a new style of production. Graney uses a promenade performance style that has the audience standing and moving to spots around a large wooden box (set design by Marcus Stephens) that opens to depict different locations. He has three “Farm Workers” (Ryan Bourque, Lila Collins and Jack Tamburri—on cello) act as narrators, stage hands and singer/musicians. Graney uses Kevin O’Donnell’s original pop/rock music to underscore the singing of parts of the preface and during several key scenes of the play.
This provocative work is testimony to Strindberg’s misogynist fetish come through as he paints the lustful Julie as a sexual predator. The struggle of class and sexual desires containing lust and obsession renders Miss Julie as controversial for an 1880’s audience. Graney’s innovative stage and the terrific work from Samantha Gleisten (Kristin), Gregory Hardigan (Jean) and Stacy Stoltz (Miss Julie), make the 90 minutes a thrilling and unpredictable evening of adventure. Graney breathes new life in Strindberg’s classic as he experiments with presentation styles. His Miss Julie would make Strindberg smile.
Recommended
Tom Williams
Tom99@chicagocritic.com for comments
Talk Theatre in Chicago podcast
Date Reviewed: January 20, 2008
Jeff Recommended
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