The Fantastic Two

The House of Ideas

City Lit proudly opens their 2024-25 season with their 150th production. It’s the long-awaited, entertaining third installment of Mark Pracht’s “Four-Color Trilogy.” The series of plays, which includes THE MARK OF KANE and THE INNOCENCE OF SEDUCTION, concludes with a story that describes the rise of Marvel Comics. The two-act play details the turbulent  relationship between Stan Lee and Jack Kirby, the Fantastic Two behind the artistry of the comic book empire.

New Wave and science fiction/fantasy writer Harlan Ellison once wrote that “Comics are one of the five native American Art Forms, that include banjo music, jazz, musical theatre and the mystery story, as invented by Edgar Allan Poe.” Talented playwright Mark Pracht paints a colorful picture in all three of his plays of how the popularity of comic books turned into a rabid cult of collectors and enthusiasts. In this installment, an emotionally charged bond between two proud men, who are friends and coworkers in the comic book industry, comes to a head.

The production is skillfully guided by retired Artistic Director Terry McCabe, who was coaxed out of retirement to return as guest artist for this production. The production is entertainingly enhanced by G. “Max” Maxin IV’s versatile Set, Lighting and especially clever and colorful Digital Media Design. The projections, that feature innumerable images of comic book art, must’ve taken Mr. Maxin a long time to gather and animate. It’s a very impressive addition to this production and the media design really makes this show.

The cast is led by two “Marvel”-ously talented actors. Brian Plocharczyk powerfully portrays talented comic artist, Jack Kirby, bristling with authentic New York grit and gumption. He creates a feisty guy who only wants to keep making art while struggling to get the much-deserved credit for what he created. Talented Bryan Breau plays Stan Lee, the comic book writer, editor and publisher who rose through the ranks of a family-run comic book business to become Marvel’s creative leader. Watching this likable nerd evolve from a groveling Stanley Lieber into a powerful enterprising Stan Lee is one of the joys of this production. No longer kowtowing to his Uncle, Stan Lee transforms a small publishing house, Timely Comics, into a multimedia corporation called Marvel.

The supporting cast is excellent. Carrie Hardin, who may be remembered for playing the title role of THE DUCHESS OF MALFI with Babes With Blades, is charming and charismatic as Jack’s devoted wife, Roz Kirby. Kate Black-Spence returns to the theatre after five years of film work. She beautifully portrays Stanley’s British wife, the status-seeking material girl, Joan Lee. Megan Clarke is delectable playing three different characters. She sparkles as Greer, Flo and Suzie. 

Longtime Redtwist Theatre Company member, Brian Parry is pompous and powerful as pulp magazine and comic book publisher, Martin Goodman. When creative partners Jack Kirby and Joe Simon (played by the excellent Jimmy Hogan, who appears in three other roles) departed the company, it was due to a heated dispute with Goodman. Ben Veatch plays The Observer, a cosmic character who serves as the play’s narrator. Seen recently in Gift Theatre’s THE RISE AND FALL OF LITTLE VOICE, Mr. Veatch brings humor to his role, especially as costumed by Beth Laske-Miller to resemble a 1950’s B-movie alien.

A talented and highly respected actor and playwright, Mark Pracht’s third installment of his long-awaited “Four-Color Trilogy” has finally arrived at City Lit. To be honest, there’s a lot of detailed information to unpack that’s stuffed into this episodic biography. Recalling the careers of the Fantastic Two artists who were the real talents behind Marvel Comics can be daunting. 

For the passionate fan of what’s been called The Golden Age of Comic Books, this play will totally be your cup of tea. But for theatergoers not into the comic book craze, my advice is to just sit back, relax and let the picaresque production wash over you. This is an entertaining play. And perhaps hearing names like Captain America, Spider-Man, the Flash, Ironman, the Hulk, Thor, the X-Men, the Justice League and the Avengers will ring a bell. After all, besides creating all these classic Jack Kirby-illustrated comic books, Stan Lee was also the creative genius credited with bringing these superheroes to life on the silver screen.         

Recommended

Reviewed by Colin Douglas

Presented August 23-October 6 by City Lit, inside the Edgewater Presbyterian Church at 1020 W. Bryn Mawr Ave., Chicago.

Tickets are available in person at the box office, by calling 773-293-3682, or by going to www.citylit.org.

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