Starting Over

Lettie – Victory Gardens Theatre 

 

Boo Killebrew’s dramatic story about a young woman surviving the odds, and earnestly trying to start over again, opens with a bang. Literally, a bang. We hear the clang of the prison door as it opens and shuts, while watching a the title character peel off her orange jumpsuit and shoes and change into her mundane street clothes. As this new work continues we witness a somber, sadly disillusioned Lettie trying to make the best of an awful situation, one that promises a bit of hope for a new future.

Lettie, as beautifully and sensitively portrayed by Caroline Neff, one of Chicago’s finest, most natural young actresses, wrings our hearts with her valiant, tough determination to rebuild her life. She begins finding some peace and normalcy in a low-income halfway house. She starts a state-supported program that will train her to become a minimum wage welder. She makes friends with Minny, a fellow ex-con, who works in the same factory. Minny’s nicely played with stunning honesty by Charin Alvarez. The one goal that motivates Lettie throughout her menial work program, along with during her seven years in prison, is in regaining custody of her two teenaged children. 

Charmingly likable, outgoing Layla and her older, more secretive, suspicious brother River have lived with Lettie’s older sister Carla and her husband Frank for the past seven years. They now call Carla and Frank “mom” and “dad,” much to Lettie’s dismay. While Layla’s thrilled to reunite with her real mother, enjoying sharing her love of theatre with her, River isn’t as open to beginning life again with a new, almost unknown parent. Carla and Lettie have always had a strained relationship, it seems, and her sudden release from confinement is unexpected and almost unwelcomed. Frank would rather have nothing to do with his sister-in-law and he finds it difficult to be sensitive to Lettie’s needs and feelings. While Lettie tries everything possible to regain the love, trust and custody of her children, life continues to slam her with more and more complications.

Besides Ms. Neff and Ms. Alvarez, the cast features the dynamic, always reliable Kirsten Fitzgerald as Carla; Ryan Kitley as a cool, less-than-flexible Frank; Matt Farabee as moody, withdrawn River; and as sweet-natured, charismatic daughter Layla, Krystal Ortiz is stands out as Lettie’s only ray of sunshine in her life. 

Artistic Director Chay Yew has brilliantly directed this gritty drama with candor and just the right balance of comedy. But mostly this play will touch the hearts of every audience member with its brash realism and the way it deals with an issue most of us have never considered. Theatergoers will certainly empathize with Lettie; but her teenage children and even Carla and Frank will strike a chord with many patrons for different reasons. Many audiences will love Minny and find her to be a kind of heroine and role model for the Lettie.

 The final scene is open to interpretation. Is this more romantic denouement actually happening? Or is it Lettie’s fantasy and her wish for a more conventional life? The scene offers a very different tone, gentler character relationships and a more relatable family event. Even the set is no longer as sparse or skeletal as the rest of the play, featuring a more complete, almost idealistic detailed scenic design by Andrew Boyce. Stephan Mazurek’s moving projections greatly enhance the play, along with Mikhail Fiksel’s authentic sound design and Lee Fiskness’ moody lighting choices. Melissa Ng’s costumes are natural, familiar and perfectly reflect the socioeconomic status of these Chicagoans.

Boo Killebrew’s latest work is a collaboration with Victory Gardens Theater that will affect every theatergoer. Audiences will leave with a new appreciation for those members of our society who’ve made mistakes, paid for their errors and are trying to start over again. This is a drama about a woman struggling against insurmountable odds to rebuild her life. “I’ve made mistakes, but I am not my mistakes,” pleads Lettie. Both the play and this premiere production overflow with empathy for all its characters and their various situations; and it will leave theatergoers with the haunting memory that, sadly, even a person’s best intentions may not always be enough.

Highly Recommended

Reviewed by Colin Douglas  

 

Presented April 14-May 6 by Victory Gardens Theater at the Biograph, 2433 N. Lincoln Ave., Chicago.

Tickets are available at the box office, by calling 773-871-3000 or by going to www.victorygardens.org.

Additional information about this and other area productions can be found by visiting www.theatreinchicago.com.