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The Children’s Hour
By Lillian Hellman
Directed by Nick Bowling
At Timeline Theatre
614 W. Wellington Ave.
Chicago, IL
Call 773-281-8463, tickets $25
Thursdays & Fridays at 8 PM
Saturdays at 4 & 8 Pm
Sundays at 2 PM
Additional Wednesday, Nov. 29, Dec. 6 & 13 at 8 PM
Through December 17, 2006
Terrific teen performances add depth to classic drama
Timeline Theatre’s stunning production of world-class playwright Lillian Hellman’s 1934 provocative and controversial drama, The Children’s Hour. It was banned in Boston and Chicago until 1952 because it dealt with a lesbian theme. But the play is really about the power of lies and perception. This marvelously crafted piece comes alive with steady work from the young girls: Grace Parker, Barbara L.W. Myers, Mia Akers, Natalie Watts, Rayna Ben-Zeev, Oliva Cygan and the amazingly strong work from Laura Noigebauer and Zanny Laird.
Director Nick Bowling’s excellent cast features marvelous work from Mechelle Moe (one of this reporter’s favorite actors) and equally fine work from Helana Kays as the two friends who started a girl’s boarding school in Vermont in the early 1930’s. Martha and Karen hired Martha’s aunt Lilly (Mary O’Dowd) to teach speech and literature. The story opens as the girls are having elocution class and Lilly tries to tech the girls her Victorian values. We see that Mary Tilford (Zanny Laird) is the spoiled brat who resists discipline.
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When Mary is punished for her behavior, her anger leads her toward revenge against Martha and Karen. She overhears the girls talking about Lilly and Karen’s argument, she fabricates a lie with the help of Rosalie that Karen and Martha are sexual lovers. The lie works since Mary’s aunt Amelia is the influential rich school benefactor whose propriety makes the charges easy to believe when Rosalie verifies Mary’s story. We witness the power of a lie and the fear of homosexuality and see how these two forces can destroy people.
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Bowling’s ramp staging and clever use of furniture including the “L” word painted on the stage floor gave the show an intimacy that underscored its drama. The Children’s Hour is still a moving play that still translates today. With fine supporting work from Sean Sullivan as Joseph, Karen’s fiancé, Mary O’Dowd and Ann Wakefield, this engaging show reaches us as its tragic consequence reminds us that lies can be devastating. Michelle Moe and Zanny Laird are particularly wonderful in this worthy show. Once again, Timeline Theatre demonstrates that it is among Chicago’s premiere theatre troupes.
Recommended
Tom Williams
Tom99@chicagocritic.com for comments
Talk Theatre in Chicago podcast
Date Reviewed: November 5, 2006
Jeff Recommended
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