Something You Don’t Know

Here Lies Henry – Interrobang Theatre

Henry enters an empty stage alone and addresses the audience. His task to tell the audience something they don’t know. Over the course of the night, he’ll tell you a lot of things, about life and love and loss. Some of them might even be true.

I should put forth the disclaimer at this point that one-man shows in black box theaters aren’t my…favorite…mode of theatrical presentation. I never quite shake the feeling I’m watching an acting exercise. I just respond more readily to even a two-hander, where the connection between the actors is my entry point to the story. Overall, I think it’s a presentation that constantly reminds you that you are watching a play! in a theater!, and that makes losing yourself in the material harder.

That said, Scott Sawa as the titular Henry is great in the part. He has to hold the audience’s attention and there’s not really any point to reset if the rhythm gets thrown off, and even at a comparatively short 75 minute run time, that’s still a long time to be the only person on stage. I saw him recently in Cowardly Scarecrow’s production of Cabaret as Cliff, and he was great there, too. Sawa brings a similar wearing disdain for everything, most of all himself, and whatever my other questions about the script, that shone through easily and was at several points quite moving.

Ultimately, I never quite warmed up all the way to this show, but I’m landing on that being a matter of personal taste more than anything; it’s certainly not a comment on the quality of the acting. Whatever your feelings on one-man shows in black boxes as a theater device, Sawa’s performance is worth your time.

Recommended

Reviewed by Kevin Curran

Presented February 28-March 28 by Interrobang Theatre at Rivendell Theatre at 5779 N. Ridge, Chicago.

Tickets are available at interrobangtheatreproject.com.

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