The Only Certainty in Life

Death Tax – Red Twist Theatre

Maxine is the resident of a nursing home and her health is declining. She believes that her daughter, in order to avoid a looming increase on the estate tax, is paying her nurse to speed up the process, so she offers her a deal: a cut of her substantial estate if she lives to the new year. The nurse, Tina, an immigrant and single mother facing her own family problems, reluctantly accepts. This sets off a chain reaction, the end result of which none of them can predict.

This play was not what I expected based on the description. I was expecting a more straight forward dark comedy of errors, centering on the cantankerous Maxine. The play is actually more an exploration on power dynamics in many kinds of relationships, and the thin line that separates a genuine request for help and callous manipulation.

The acting is superb. Brooke Reams as Tina, Maxine’s nurse is amazing. It would be easy for her character to consumed by her situation. A lot of dramas that focus on immigrants or single mothers can still leave them simply at the center of a storm, only reacting to the action, never causing it. In Reams’ hands, however, Tina is a fully realized character, in charge of herself and her life, even if she is an increasingly impossible situation. Georgia Buckner as Maxine has a difficult act to balance. She is on stage in her hospital bed, looming over the show, but only speaking in the first and last scene. She did a great job portraying the mix of qualities that left me uncertain if I was on her side or not.

In terms of emotional moments and exploration of complicated themes, the play excels. In terms of narrative, it falls a little short for me. The arc of the story itself isn’t resolved on stage as much I would like it to be. That said, the experience of the play was certainly very enjoyable and thought provoking. Delivered by the quality of actors I’ve come to expect from Red Twist, I enjoyed this production very much.

Recommended

Reviewed by Kevin Curran

Presented December 11 – January 19, by Redtwist Theatre, 1044 W, Bryn Mawr, Chicago.

Tickets are available by calling 773-728-7529 or by going to www.redtwist.org.

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