Telling Chicago Stories

Red Rex – Steep Theatre

Ike Holter is a talented, nationally known playwright, who also just happens to be one of our own. He’s a Chicagoan by choice, if not by birth, and Mr. Holter has earned his well-deserved fame by telling stories about the Second City through his plays. Of course, this gifted wordsmith first came to national attention when “Hit the Wall,” his riveting drama about gay history and the Stonewall riots, moved from the Steppenwolf Garage Theatre to Off-Broadway. But within six short years, Mr. Holter has added a number of additional tough, tenacious dramas to his repertoire, but these are genuine, gritty tales of the (Windy) city.

Steep Theatre’s latest production is also Holter’s sixth installment of his ambitious, seven-play canon, entitled the “Righlynd Saga.” “Lottery Day,” the final brushstroke of this dramatic painting, and the conclusion to this anthology, will open at the Goodman this Spring. This current production, playing to sold-out houses at this respected storefront theatre next to the Berwyn Red Line stop, is about a storefront theatre. It’s also about race relations, gentrification, the pitfalls of needing to be successful, the creative process, and so much more.

In Holter’s play, filled with so many unexpected comic and dramatic moments, a tiny storefront theatre has taken over an abandoned building in the fictitious Rightlynd neighborhood of Chicago. It’s one more example of how privileged, white financiers have greedily sought out failing or abandoned businesses, turning them into profitable companies for themselves. The ethnicity of community is forcibly changed, with expulsion of the African American and Latino citizens who called it home. To add insult to injury, the daring, clever and exciting new production that the Red Rex Theatre Company is banking on, to bring them fame and fortune, may not be as original as everyone thinks. The story behind the play just might have been stolen from one of Rightlynd’s residents.

A brilliant play deserves a brilliant presentation. Well, the stars have aligned and this production has everything going for it. First, the script is delectable, especially for anyone in the arts. Ike Holter has once again written a gripping drama, filled with probing questions, many of which linger long after the final curtain. 

Second, Jonathan Berry, is an artistic Midas, whose touch turns almost every play he directs into gold. Here his honest examination of what it takes to take a play from page to stage will hit home with many audience members. Barry’s ultra realistic vision meshes well with Holter’s writing style, yet he’s infused so much wit and comedy into the production as to make it even more universal. Since the play is both about the effects of gentrification and stealing an individual’s identity, there’s much more to Mr. Berry’s staging than merely presenting a play about a theatre company producing a play.

And third, the cast is impeccable. It’s difficult to imagine a finer ensemble of actors. Jessica Dean Turner’s Nicole is incredible. Unbelievably, the actress is making her debut at Steep, but this hopefully won’t be her last production at this theatre. Ms. Turner uncovers and reveals so many layers in her portrayal of Nicole, a resident of the Rightlynd community, and a young woman who has decided to try her hand at acting. Thus, Jessica has to play both a resident of the community, a newbie actress, as well as the character in which she’s been cast. And she’s terrific at all three. 

Ms. Turner’s matched by two other dynamic actresses in this production. Amanda Powell, sporting Chicago credits from Rivendell to Redtwist, among many others, is totally captivating as Artistic Director, Lana. She’s also the playwright of this original, new play that’s supposed to finally put Red Rex Theatre on the map. Watching Ms. Powell employ her vast theatrical experience in this role is a treat. She’s exciting, pathetic and, more often, humorous. Whether casting the play she’s written, rehearsing her actors or dealing with a temperamental scenic designer and a diva producer Amanda Powell is astounding. It’s clear that this actress understands this landscape like the back of her hand. 

The always exciting Aurora Adachi-Winter is a force of nature as Tori. This stage manager is the poster child for the Type A personality. Aurora, who’s appeared in other Ike Holter dramas, understands this playwright’s rhythms, and she falls into them naturally and rides their waves like a champion surfer. Competitive, impatient, work-obsessed and achievement-oriented, Tori is the one character who keeps everyone else on task and comes out on top.

Handsome, talented Joel Reitsma, a popular actor and a Steep regular, plays Adam, a Red Rex company member and the leading man in the play-within-the-play. He creates a macho character who’s totally confident in his own sexuality, yet very insecure as an actor. Adam has more questions during the rehearsal process than there can ever be answers; but he’s able to find in Nicole a solution to one of his burning inquiries. Greg, the theatre’s driven executive director/producer, is played brilliantly by Chris Chmelik. The unseen force behind every production at Red Rex, Greg has been passed over as the theatre’s Artistic Director, in favor of Lana, and he has a hard time hiding his bitterness when dealing with her. Nate Faust has it down perfectly as Max, the Jeff Award-winning scenic designer who’s talents are much in demand around the country. An artistic diva who demands perfection, and pouts when things go awry, Faust is a welcome breath of comedy in this wonderful production.

But the real heart of this story beats in Trevor. He’s played by the accomplished young actor, Debo Balogun, who returns to this theatre after his magnificent appearance in “Zurich.” Here he often voices Ike Holter’s thoughts and words as a young man living in Rightlynd and watching his neighborhood change before his eyes. The charismatic young man is perplexed by what goes on inside the theatre and he can’t understand how so much time and energy can be wasted on this thing called art. Trevor is angry and indignant for so many reasons, not the least of which is how he has been exploited and his life stolen from him. But, because no one in this play is perfect, we also discover that, like everyone, Trevor can be bought and his views easily changed.

With the audience seated around the periphery of the room, every theatergoer will experience Ike Holter’s new play as if they were a fly on the wall. The drama is another of the playwright’s Chicago stories and part of a seven-part series. It’s story is gritty, unflinching and impossible to escape. The play will certainly entertain and haunt audiences, long after leaving the theatre. Thanks to the honest, realistic, multi-layered and fully committed choices of the cast, as well as Jonathan Berry’s perceptive direction and starkly realistic staging, it’s hard to imagine any other way to present this play.

Highly Recommended

Reviewed by Colin Douglas      

Presented January 24-March 2 by Steep Theatre, 1115 W. Berwyn, Chicago.

Tickets are available in person at the box office, by calling 773-649-3186 or by going to www.steeptheatre.com.

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