Always, Always Remember

All That He Was – Pride Films & Plays

First, a gentle warning to theatergoers planning to see this deeply moving, sometimes humorous new musical: bring along  lots of Kleenex. If any audience member can make it through this stunningly soulful production without shedding a tear or two, you’d better see your doctor immediately. Because, like the Tin Man of Oz, you’re missing a heart.

When theatergoers walk into The Buena, they may be surprised to discover that they’re about to attend a funeral. The entire theatre has been transformed into an outdoor, park-like space. This sepulchral space is highlighted by a tasteful garden of plants and flowers, surrounding an arbor, and peppered with places to sit. The stage is festooned by strings of tiny white lights. This poignant AIDS-inspired, mostly sung-through musical is a newly revised version of the original, award-winning one-act by Larry Todd Cousineau (book and lyrics) and Cindy O’Connor (music). This staging, directed with love and sensitivity by the playwright himself, will surely be remembered for years to come as one of the finest productions by Pride Films & Plays.

Matthew Huston, the handsome, lovable young triple-threat, who wowed audiences with his Jeff-nominated leading  performance in “Yank! A WWII Love Story,” is terrific as the musical’s host and narrator. He plays The Man, the central, nameless character, around whom all the other characters revolve. The year is 1992, and The Man has recently succumbed to the ravages of the HIV viral infection that causes AIDS. Cousineau’s story follows the buoyant, always cheerful character as he first introduces the congregation—the audience—to the eight, onstage mourners who are attending his memorial service. Mr. Huston then guides us on a journey through his life, from birth to death, focusing on the highlights of his twenty-six years on earth. He sets the stage for us with a heartfelt, beautifully sung, “I Want One Day.” 

We meet his parents, played with polish and panache by two of Chicago’s magnificent veteran actors. Sarah Hayes, who practically stole the show in Pride’s delightful, “It’s Only a Play,” is heartbreaking as The Mother. She’s plays a woman who dearly loves her firstborn son, but has no idea how to cope with the fact that her son’s gay. When The Man moves away from home and into the arms of another man, The Mother is devastated; but when her son contracts AIDS, and she must face the harsh fact that he’s dying, it’s more than she can take. Ms. Hayes’ performance is beautifully balanced by Rick Rapp’s remarkably powerful portrayal of The Father. Rapp will be remembered for his many comic roles with Music Theater Works, particularly his recent spot-on performance as J.B. Biggley, in “How to Succeed in Business Without Really Trying.” Here he creates a stiff, uncompromising patriarch who refuses to accept his son’s sexuality and lifestyle, even when the young man lies dying in a hospital bed. Mr. Rapp’s most affecting moment is his inability to ever tell his son, “I love you.”

The Man’s siblings are beautifully portrayed by two talented  young performers making their debut with Pride Films & Plays. A recent transplant to the Chicago area, Sarah Ruth Mikulski is a real find. As The Sister, she has the most beautiful, crystal clear soprano ever heard in this theatre, and this role is bound to be the beginning of a successful musical career in the Windy City. Ms. Mikulski plays a Born-Again Christian teenager, a Bible-thumping believer that religion holds the answer to all of life’s problems, including her brother’s homosexuality. She’s clearly her Father’s daughter. Ethan Warren, whose impressive credits range from the Marriott Lincolnshire Theatre to Theo Ubique, is excellent as The Brother. Always being being kept in the dark about his older brother’s lifestyle, as well as the disease that he’s contracted, Mr. Warren demonstrates his gift as a fine, young actor. Warren’s gorgeous voice also fills the theatre, both with ensemble numbers and in his lovely solo, “Somewhere Between.”

Not to be outdone, lovely Brittney Brown is perfectly cast as The Girlfriend, the high school sweetheart, who unfortunately falls in love with The Man. Fresh off a spectacular performance at Theo Ubique in “Hedwig and the Angry Inch,” Ms. Brown gives another honest, natural portrayal. She also comes with a stunningly gorgeous voice that simply soars in “I Won’t Cry,” with Matthew Huston, and her beautiful, doleful solo reprise of “All That He Was.” A powerful performer, whose musical talent has been enjoyed in several revues at Black Ensemble Theater, Colleen Perry is fiery and feisty as The Counselor. The ease with which this accomplished young actor creates such a soulful character, who, because of her empathy, ends up counseling The Man in an AIDS art group, is quite touching. She and Ms. Mikulski duel in a powerful duet that rocks the rafters, in a song entitled “Save Our World.” One more newcomer to Chicago is Alanna Kalbfleisch, who’s so poignant as The Doctor. She’s one of several physicians frustrated that she can’t offer her AIDS patients more than a moment of hopeless comfort, to help them in the few days they have left. She beautifully expresses her feelings in the dour and distressing, “Another Today.”

But, if there’s one breakout star of this production, it’s Joe Giovannetti, as The Lover. This handsome, brilliantly talented musical actor portrays with ease, both his character’s deep love for The Man, along with his stonewalled vexation at not being able to heal his life partner. The chemistry between Huston and Giovannetti is incredibly real. It unites them and rolls over the footlights and out into the hearts of every theatergoer. But when the two men sing “Believe,” one of two pullout songs from this gorgeous score, there isn’t a dry eye in the house.

Some of us have actually lived through this horrible, frightening period of time. We’ve watched helplessly as friends, relatives and loved ones suddenly became mysteriously sick and then wasted away into living corpses. We’ve buried too many kind and talented young men and women to ever become complacent about the AIDS epidemic. To younger audiences, this dark era of illness and death is something vague from the past that they’ve only heard or read about. However,  like the Holocaust, it’s a moment in history that must never be forgotten. In Larry Todd Cousineau and Cindy O’Connor’s moving new musical, being given a remarkably moving Chicago production, as part of Gay History Month, every theatergoer, young and old, will always, always remember.

Highly Recommended

Reviewed by Colin Douglas 

Presented August 10-September 8 by Pride Films & Plays at The Buena Theatre, 4147 N. Broadway, Chicago.

Tickets are available in person at the box office or by going to www.pridefilmsandplays.com.

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