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Otherwise Engaged
By Simon Gray
Directed by Michael Colucci & E. Malcolm Martinez
At The Actor’s Workshop Theatre
1044 W. Bryn Mawr
Chicago, IL
Call 773-728-7529, tickets $25
Fridays & Saturdays at 8 pm
Sundays at 3pm
Running time is 1 hour, 35 minutes with intermission
Through March 4, 2007
I make a point of not sleeping with friends, or the wives of friends or the wives of acquaintances.
---- Simon Hench
Scathing dark comedy delivers
British playwright Simon Gray’s 1970’s look at the newly open sexual freedom of modern English society is a funny dark drawing room comedy. His name sake, Simon (Gray claims Simon isn’t actually himself), played with restraint and cutting wit by Jim Poole, is a brilliantly successful publisher who attempts to isolate himself from the daily hassles of family and friends with disastrous results. The mundane issues bore and irate Simon. He simply wants to sit and listen to Wagner's Parsifal.
But he is interrupted by Dave (Brian Dongarra), his young, poor and uncouth boarder who is impatiently trying to get laid but needs a loan from Simon. Simon’s attempt to withdraw inward while maintaining a clever, buoyant passive aggressiveness whenever his isolation is threatened is the root of witty comedy. This show creeps up on us as we tune-in to Simon’s cryptic, subtle humor. Jim Poole is terrific as the sassy, articulate and erudite publisher. He succeeds in cutting to shreds several unwelcome guests who dare to keep him from his beloved music.
His obnoxious friend Jeff (Dan McNamara) arrives to whine about his sexual relationships and infidelities. Simon and Jeff unleash some of the funniest dry wit and stinging banter heard on a stage in recent memory. If you listen closely, you’ll appreciate the wit and laugh heartily. These self-absorbed English snobs are so banal that we delight in their folly. From Stephen (Jim Morley), Simon’s brother frets over his possible appointment as assistant headmaster at a public school to Dave’s frantic wooing to the arrival of Wood (Bob Wilson), a self-loathing and sexually starved loser, Simon becomes reached down to his core despite his best efforts to remain aloof.
His own extramarital sexual romps and his learning about his wife Beth’s (Lauren N. Goode) affair rattle Simon’s world. This intelligent play has something to say about our personal boundaries and rules of engagement. This little gem is a fine way to become otherwise engaged.
Recommended
Tom Williams
Tom99@chicagocritic.com for comments
Talk Theatre in Chicago podcast
Date reviewed: January 27, 2007
Otherwise Engaged
By Simon Gray
At Steep Theatre
3902 N. Sheridan
Chicago, IL
Call 312-458-0722, tickets $18
Thursdays through Saturdays at 8 pm
Running time is 100 minutes with intermission
Through March 24, 2007
Sharp, witty British comedy delivers
Steep Theatre, a terrific ensemble based theatre troupe has a nice production of British playwright Simon Gray’s sharp, satirical comedy, Otherwise Engaged. This show is a treat. We she Peter Moore playing Simon Hench in the 1975 play that focuses on the changing sexual romps of the British upper middle class. This witty comedy is part Noel Coward and part Herold Pinter—but full of laughs. One must tune in closely since the cast has terrifically authentic British accents. Peter Moore occasionally speaks a tad too fast thus making his biting dialogue hard to understand. Yet, Moore anchors the work with his fine command of his character as he tries to relax and, listen to his beloved Wagner but one-by-one he continually is interrupted by unannounced family and friends.
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Gray uses wit and blunt honesty to weave Simon’s world as he reacts to his friend Jeff Golding (James Allen) to his brother Stephen Hench (Alex Gillmor) and his young boarder Dave (Levi Petree)—each want to vent their troubles and ask for Simon’s approval as each visit him. These sexually liberated folks have no shame nor guilt for their betrayals. When the quirky Bernard Wood (Kevin Gladish) challenges Simon’s sensitivity and Simon’s brother Stephen reveals a secret, Simon’s world is shaken up. The result is a smart comedy of manners. This show demands paying attention to the words, but it delivers enough laughs to make the experience worthwhile. The Steep ensemble lands their characters deftly. I like this show.
Recommended
Tom Williams
Tom99@chicagocritic.com for comments
Talk Theatre in Chicago podcast
Date Reviewed: February 16, 2007
Editor’s Note: It is too bad that both Actor’s Workshop Theatre and Steep Theatre has productions of Otherwise Engaged running in Chicago. I like both productions.
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