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The Princes Club
Created and directed by Jim Lasko
Original music by The Bitter Tears
At Redmoon Theater
1462 W. Hubbard St.
Chicago, IL
Call 312-850-8440, tickets $15 - $30
Thursdays thru Saturdays at 7:30 pm
Saturday matinee at 4 pm
Sundays at 7:30 pm
Running time is 80 minutes without intermission
Through October 27, 2007
A Club for Princesses . . . and Hardware
There are five very talented actresses starring in Redmoon Theater’s original production, The Princess Club, but strong as they are, the show is nearly stolen by the incredibly creative set pieces that have become Redmoon’s signature. Part theatre, part puppetry, part performance art, director Jim Lasko’s creation blends the considerable talents of people both on and off stage into an artistic triumph that at times mesmerizes as much as entert ains.
The essence of the show is the exploration of the role of the princess in girl culture and in growing up as a girl. It is a female show that plays between the tensions of the fairy princesses of tales like Sleeping Beauty, Cinderella, and Rapunzel and the Valley Girl, Lindsay Lohan princesses of the MTV set, but it is equally appealing for men and women. Even if you are annoyed by both of these princesses (as I surely am), you are certain to be amused and engrossed in the story; and it is a story nearly without words. The five princesses say almost nothing and much of what they say is limited to omigod, really, really . . . omigod. The talent of the princess ensemble – Kasey Foster, Judith Lesser, Molly Plunk, Vanessa Stalling (who co-directed with show-creater Lasko) and Lauren Sharpe – is huge. With sounds, body language, gesture and facial expression, the ensemble peels back the layers of girl culture revealing the centrality of the princess in girl identity.
Where Blue Man Group relies on acrobatic skills to drive its plot line, The Princess Club relies on some of the most ingenious and downright beautiful set pieces in the business. The action takes place in a sort of warehouse where fairy tales are stored away in gigantic crates which rotate, open, close, pop up, slip and slide to reveal doll-house sets that the actresses and their dolls employ to weave their insightful story. Figuring out whom to credit with the success of the intricate set is impossible. Were one to present designer Andrei Onegin with an award for it – and the set is certainly that good – he would be flanked for his acceptance speech by more than 20 riggers, effects designers, pyrotechnic experts, doll house makers, puppet builders, and carpenters. Once all of these folks got off the stage, The Bitter Tears (Mike McGinley and Alan Scalpone) could step up and receive their award for the original music. Redmoon has more extreme talent per inch of program credits than any other company I know. Perhaps the highest compliment that can be paid to director Lasko is to note that he has managed to give everyone enough space to shine and brought it all together in an even and coherent package where no single individual or contributing element totally steals the show.
All of this is not to say that the show is perfect. It has some slow spots that occasionally allow a bit too much time to marvel at the set-piece side show. The whole princess idea – good or evil – will turn some folks off, not to mention that fairy-tale takeoffs for the stage are a bit passé. As revealing as the show is, the insight that it provides is less than earth-shaking and I suppose that I won’t exactly give the ending away by mentioning that there is a bridal gown involved. On the whole, however, The Princess Club is one of the finest examples of original, artistic theatre to be found at the moment. Redmoon continues to be an important contributor to the vibrant Chicago theatre scene and this very clever show is definitely worthwhile.
RECOMMENDED
Randy Hardwick
randyontheglobe@yahoo.com for comments
Date Reviewed: September 11, 2007
Editor’s Note: I agree with Randy Hardwick’s concise review and I’d add that creator/director Jim Lasko subtly satirizes the pop culture legacy of the princess dolls that affect the lives of many young girls. The effective use of a mask—a body mask really, allows a woman to become the lady of her dreams. Redmoon’s technically ambitious production contains enough surprises to make us gasp with amazement. Their art is pure creativity.
RECOMMENDED
Tom Williams
Tom99@chicagocrritic.com for comments
Date Reviewed: September 11, 2007
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