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The Shakespeare Stealer
Adapted from his novel by Gary Blackwood
Directed by Matthew Reeder
Produced by Vittum Theater
Season for Young Audiences
As part of Northwestern University Settlement House
At Vittum Theater
1012 N. Noble Street
Chicago, IL
Call 773-342-4141, tickets: Adults $15, Seniors $12,
Children aged 14 & under $10
Weekend Matinees: Nov 11, 18, 25, 26; Dec 2, 3, & 9 at 2 PM
Weekday Matinees: Nov 7, 9, 14-17, 21, 28-30, Dec 1, 5-8 at 10:30 AM
Running time is 90 minutes without intermission
Through December 9, 2006
Adult friendly, energetic young kids play is thoroughly enjoyable
As much as I try to cover all theatre groups in Chicago, some fall through the cracks. I finally discovered Vittum Theater and was I pleased! This group specializes in mounting shows for young audiences, eight years old through high school. Their latest, Gary Blackwood’s The Shakespeare Stealer is a clever, often funny, drama refreshingly original and amazingly thrilling. Filled with 17th Century costumes, fine Yorkshire and British accents, the play engages and introduces the wonderful world of Shakespearian theatre to kids.
The Shakespeare Stealer follows a boy’s search for a place to call home and his personal identity. It is 1601 and Shakespeare just wrote Hamlet, his finest work. His London rivals are envious and plot to steal it. Widge (the extremely likable innocent Zach Laliberte) is an expert speed writer who can copy speeches deftly. He is sold as to Simon Bass as an indentured servant and is commissioned to steal Shakespeare’s Hamlet. He joins the theatrical troupe in order to get close to fulfill the task that he has been intimated into doing. His heart really isn’t in to this task as he understands right from wrong. Once he becomes apart of Shakespeare’s company, he realizes that acting is his passion and that this could be the home he has always wished for. He befriends Sander Cooke (Jackson Evans) and Julian (Nic Pellegrino) who both help him adjust to thespian life. Robert Armin (Michael Peters) teachers sword fighting as Nick Tooley (Kyle Gibson) quickly dislikes Widge.
This entertaining show has much energy as the players continually run on and off stage, wrestle with one another, falling down often as well as offering much sword fighting and stage combat as any show I’ve seen in recent memory. The production values here are first class with a terrific cast, stellar sound and lighting especially with the effective shadows to depict the play-within-the-play as we get a glimpse of snippets from Hamlet. The kids get a nice introduction to the Bard’s classic play.
Fine accents, lovable characters and richly evil ones smartly tell Blackwood’s story. This excellent play is so well done and fresh that I’d advise you to take your children to see this show as it will engage them and inspire them to become “theatre lovers.” It is also fine adult fare. Zach Laliberte, Jackson Evan, Michael Peters and Nic Pellegrino were outstanding. Nick Sandy’s fight choreography was terrific and Geoff Coates and Michael Peters’ sword fight was breathtakingly exciting.
Vittum Theater has mounted a polished and pleasing young adult show that marvelously takes audiences into Shakespeare’s world. Old timers will love this show also. Kudos to Vittum Theater. I’ll not miss another of their shows.
Highly Recommended
Tom Williams
Tom99@chicagocritic.com for comments
Talk Theatre in Chicago podcast
Date Reviewed: November 4, 2006
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