When We Need Help From Others

The Luckiest – Raven Theatre

We’ve all received advice from our friends telling us that the future is uncertain, so we should eat our dessert first. In other words, people should live their lives to its fullest. We never know what tomorrow, or even the next moment, will bring. This advice becomes the theme of Melissa Ross’s comic drama, developed three years ago at the La Jolla Playhouse. Although not quite the serious malady faced by the heroine of her play, Ms Ross based “The Luckiest” upon a particularly dark time in her own life. 

After slipping on the ice, the playwright was horrified to learn that she’d broken her leg in three places and that she was completely helpless. Reluctantly, the proudly independent Ms Ross was forced to ask for the assistance and support from her family and buddies. During this same time, Melissa also lost several people who were very close to her, including her dear grandmother. She became grateful for the love and care given by her mother and close friends. This episode grew and evolved into the play that’s having its Chicago Premiere at Raven Theatre.

This 90-minute, one-act love story plays out non-linearly, and spans about 10 years in the lives of three people. The play begins near the end of Lissette’s story. She’s wheelchair bound and can only communicate through nodding, guttural sounds and a few ASL hand signals. Peter has become her best friend over the years and, in the first scene, he’s busy getting Lissette’s approval of the snacks he’s bought for some kind of party. As the story bounces around in time, we come to understand the reason for the gathering and what’s brought them to this moment. As the playwright bounces her characters around in time, we eventually encounter a salty, sassy, healthy and independent twenty-something Lissette, as she first meets Peter, a kind, protective young stranger, at another party. Over the years, their relationship will evolve into becoming the very best of friends.

As the story ricochets through time, we also meet Cheryl, Lissette’s strong-willed, highly-opinionated mother. We can see that the apple hasn’t fallen far from the tree because Cheryl is just as loud and outspoken as her daughter, both talking over the top of each other. Then, in another non-sequential scene, Lissette confides in Peter that, following a battery of medical tests, the doctors’ prognosis is a death sentence. Understandably, she also finds it difficult delivering this tragic news to her mother. As Cheryl tries to take control of her daughter’s life, Lissette makes Peter promise to become her caregiver, when she finds she can no longer manage life on her own. 

Filled with dark humor, salty language and heartbreaking sadness, Raven’s talented Artistic Director, Cody Estle, leads this shattering production with all the energy and drive that’s found within the three characters. Under Estle’s careful guidance, the play never becomes schmaltzy or weepy. He encourages his actors to be honest, fully inhabiting their respective characters and making their interdependent journeys carry the weight of the story.

The trio of actors who bring this play to life are all incredible. AEA actress Cassidy Slaughter-Mason brings power and passion to her portrayal of Lissette. Through careful maneuvering of her body and speech, her character is painfully realistic. As Lissette admirably deals with the tragic diagnosis of a life-threatening illness, we sadly watch her strength falter. The actress brings so many subtle physical changes to Lissette in each scene, that we’re able to see the disease continue to take hold of her. Toward the end of the play, Lissette delivers a moving, emotional monologue in which she explains that the illness she’s experiencing is called Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS). It’s the same disease, she’s reminded, that also ravaged Stephen Hawking’s body, although that doesn’t make her suffering any easier.

It’s an extraordinary performance that’s matched by Equity actress and Jeff Award-winner, Tara Mallen, as Cheryl. So much spirit, strength and stamina ooze from her performance. She gives a sincere portrayal of a devoted mother who’s not sure how to handle her headstrong daughter in this situation. The power Ms Mallen brings is laced with tender moments when her stony facade crumbles under raw emotion. And Christopher Wayland, so excellent in Raven’s “Hoodoo Love” and “Choir Boy,” creates an affable, devoted friend for both women in his portrayal of Peter. Funny, courageous and a little bit vulnerable, Wayland is magnificent as a lonely, gay man whose friendships are resolute and brave, while looking for someone with whom to share his life. Mr. Wayland provides the play with a delicate balance of grim acceptance, intense determination and measured empathy and love for both of his friends.

This is a mesmerizing portrait of how an earth-shattering personal tragedy can effect the others in our lives. Melissa Ross’ play makes us think about facts that most of us would rather avoid. Like Lissette, we come to realize that everything that’s good in our lives can be taken away in a flash. The three characters, although not all related, become a family, of sorts. In the end, care and love trumps adversity and sorrow. We are all reminded, just as Lissette discovers, that as independent as we might think we are, there are times when we do need help from others. It’s in those moments, when we discover that we’re all just “People Who Need People,” that we learn that everyone of us is the luckiest.         

Highly Recommended

Reviewed by Colin Douglas

Presented May 5-June 19 by Raven Theatre, 6157 N. Clark St., Chicago.

Tickets are available at the Raven box office, by calling 773-338-2177 or by going to www.raventheatre.com.

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