The Challenges That Life Offers

Tiny Beautiful Things – Victory Gardens Theater

Cheryl Strayed is an empathetic and extremely talented writer. She’s authored such bestsellers as Wild, Torch and Brave Enough. But Ms. Strayed’s Tiny Beautiful Things, culled from a collection of letters from her readers, and her thoughtful responses to them, was compiled from two years of writing an advice column at an online literary magazine called The Rumpus. The popular book not only became a New York Times Bestseller but was the selection that launched Oprah’s Book Club 2.0. Now, actress, director and writer Nia Vardalos (who wrote and starred in the film, “My Big Fat Greek Wedding”) has lovingly adapted Ms. Strayed’s book into a deeply poignant, often humorous one-act, which was co-conceived by Marshall Heyman and Thomas Kail. The play auspiciously kicks off Victory Gardens Theater’s 45th season, in a moving production that begs to be seen.

Without preaching or passing judgment, Ms. Strayed, who wrote her column under the pen name of Sugar, offered her readers encouragement, suggestions, guidance and personal stories, all of which helped them to make important personal decisions about their own lives. The stage on which this play is performed is basically an empty canvas allowing Janet Ulrich Brooks, who portrays Cheryl Strayed, to paint a colorful portrait of this remarkable woman. As the lights come up, she’s discovered at a coffee shop table, working on her writing. The setting, awash in an palette of teal, blues and greens, is simply and stylishly designed by Courtney O’Neill. While it seems to represent a specific setting, it’s also an indeterminate locale. The environment allows Ms. Brooks, and the three actors who play her various readers, the freedom to move about and create new spaces.

Janet Ulrich Brooks is undeniably one of the Windy City’s finest, most talented and versatile actresses. She’s Chicago’s  answer to Meryl Streep. Often seen in productions at Victory Gardens, Ms. Brooks has entranced audiences with her performances in “Master Class,” “The Audience” and “A Walk in the Woods,” at TimeLine Theatre. She recently appeared in Steppenwolf’s “The Children,” “Plantation” at Lookingglass and was delightful in “Vanya & Sonia & Masha & Spike” at the Goodman. She recently played another advice columnist in Theatre at the Center’s “The Lady With All the Answers.” In this production, as in everything she does, Ms. Brooks is simply luminous. She even transcends the script, which is excellent, breathing life and love into every moment of the 80-minute drama. 

As played by Ms. Brooks, Cheryl Strayed was initially a bit reluctant to take on this job, but she soon found her calling in doling out advice to others. In doing this, Strayed was forced to revisit moments from her own life, reliving all the joys and sorrows and transferring them into positive messages to share with those who wrote her questions. The columnist survived sexual abuse, drug addiction, the untimely death of a child and many other moments of trauma and pleasure. These experiences all serve her well as a human being who’s faced the many  challenges that life offers. 

Sugar’s multitude of readers who have taken the brave step of writing her for advice, are played by three talented actors: August Forman, Jessica Dean Turner and Eric Slater. Each actor portrays a reader of every gender and sexual orientation: male, female and transgender; straight, gay and bisexual. They play young, middle-aged and older individuals, each of whom is troubled by some challenge that life has dealt. While every actor shares a heartbreaking or humorous story, Mr. Slater’s touching  portrayal of a father, haunted by the death of his young son, truly stands out. But it’s also Ms. Brooks’ tender, intelligent and compassionate response that makes this scene especially memorable.

Smart and tenderly directed with great sensitivity and understanding, Vanessa Stalling’s production is a must-see. She’s artfully guided her talented cast to become reborn as each character and to allow theatergoers the space to receive and reflect. Every audience member will find himself listening, sometimes laughing, perhaps even crying. But everyone will feel during this play. Ultimately what seems deceptively simple in concept, is revealed to be a complex meditation on the meaning of  life. Never heavy-handed nor maudlin, this is a celebration of everything that makes every one of us human.

Highly Recommended

Reviewed by Colin Douglas      

Presented September 11-October 13 extended to October 20 by Victory Gardens Theater at the Biograph, 2433 N. Lincoln Ave., Chicago.

Tickets are available in person 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.