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Chicago Theatre Review

Chicago Theatre Review

Not a Black or White Matter

December 9, 2024 Reviews Comments Off on Not a Black or White Matter

The Totality of All Things

Everyone should see this play because it’s filled with so many probing and controversial issues. It also says so much about the climate of this country today. THE TOTALITY OF ALL THINGS is the premiere production of Redtwist Theatre’s Twisted Playfest. It’s an important new work that sets the tone for the upcoming staged and stand readings of the original plays by Chicago writers, like Eric Gernand. 

This volatile, highly emotional drama is set in a small-town Indiana high school. It’s October, National Gay History Month, and an award-winning journalism teacher, Judith Benson, has put up a colorful bulletin board in her classroom celebrating the recent, groundbreaking achievements of the LGBTQ+ community. Never shirking from the facts, Ms. Benson’s credo for her students, indeed for her entire life, is that the Truth must always be presented. To Judith Benson, this is unquestionable fact.

But, despite being aware of Lewiston’s conservative Midwestern attitude, Ms. Benson’s burning desire to illuminate the nation’s new reality takes over. GLBTQ+ history was suddenly made. After many turbulent years, in a landmark 5-4 Supreme Court decision, the Marriage Equality Act is finally the law of the land. In all 50 states, same-sex couples would now have the right to full, equal recognition under this act. And this includes Indiana. But in pockets of conservative communities everywhere this decision isn’t accepted as absolute. To many people in the little town of Lewiston, Indiana, as all across America, this new edict isn’t simply a black or white matter; there are gray areas that need to be acknowledged. But to Ms. Benson, it’s a truth, and only the truth can prevail.

Then, as expected, the voices of the far right are heard, one-by-one. Those with the loudest opinions express their anger and outrage by painting a large swastika across Ms. Benson’s Gay History display. That’s when Eric Gernand’s drama suddenly turns into a mystery play, with Judith Benson and her favorite journalism student, Micah, joining forces to try to uncover who vandalized the classroom. Throughout the 100-minute one-act, the other teachers, the Principal and Ms. Benson’s student teacher gradually drop their masks and express their true feelings and opinions, especially regarding the destructive graffiti. The situation continues until it explodes into tragedy and bloodshed.

Director Enrico Spada superbly supervises this production. His play is well-cast and Mr. Spada has guided each of his actors to portray truthful characters who are layered and alive. Gernand’s play is set in several different locales, all of which appear quickly and then change to another location. This is thanks to an economic Scenic Design by Brandii Champagne and Mr. Spada’s swift, choreographed and well-rehearsed set changes. They’re executed in quick blackouts by the entire company. The play is nicely enhanced by Nicholas Evan Svoboda’s spot-on Sound Design. And Madeline Felauer’s thoughtful and appropriate Costume Design helps depict the passage of time, with her actors making fast wardrobe changes before each scene.

This talented cast is exemplary. Led by the incredibly gifted Jacqueline Grandt, her portrayal of Judith Benson is stellar. The woman is absolutely driven by her beliefs and ideals. Ms. Benson, in the capable hands of this magnificent actress, is obsessed with teaching her students—as well as everyone around her—to always seek out the truth, embrace the real facts and share it with the world. Ms. Grandt’s character is fearless, stalwart and will settle for nothing less than the best from her students and herself.

Kason Chesky has created a very realistic high school student as Micah. This young man clearly looks up to Ms. Benson and wants to please her through his journalistic work, but he’s a not kid to be easily swayed. The boy has his own doubts and beliefs, and he’s also trying to come to terms with his own feelings concerning many issues. Mr. Chesky is simply terrific in this role. He’s matched by the talented Aundria TrayNay as a student teacher, Ms. Carter. The two have some excellent scenes together and we get to know a great deal about this young instructor, who may or may not be cut out to be a teacher. Ms. Carter’s beliefs are strong and powerful and, in many ways, she represents the theatergoer in this play.

As a math teacher, athletic coach and part-time Baptist Minister, Philip C. Matthews gives a stunning performance as Gregg, a family man whose morals and beliefs are tested by the recent activity at his high school. He’s also a friend of Judith, and has a couple of excellent scenes that reveal Gregg’s character’s humor, as well as his devotion to what the man thinks is most important in life. DeeAnn, as portrayed by Suzy Krueckeberg, is another teacher at the high school. She’s also Judith’s best friend. DeeAnn’s is married and has children, at least one of whom is a student where she teaches. Since she and Judith are best buddies and share everything, the audience tends to think they’re cut from the same cloth. But as the situation escalates and Judith begins pressuring her coworkers and friends to take a stand, we learn new facts about DeeAnn’s personal truth. And Principal Benson, as portrayed by Phil Aman, is like every school administrator I’ve ever known. He has to maintain a balancing act and walk the line between what the school board decrees, what his faculty wants and what his students need. Somewhere in all this Mr. Benson eventually finds a moment to address his own feelings.

A deeply thought-provoking play, and a fantastic inaugural event to kick off Redtwist’s Twisted Playfest, Erik Gernand’s play is one to watch. It should have a future beyond this moment. The title of Gernand’s world premiere of THE TOTALITY OF ALL THINGS says it all: consider everything when making judgments, especially when dealing with human beings. Nothing or no one person is strictly a black or white matter; there’s almost always that pesky gray area to consider when seeking the truth.           

Highly Recommended

Reviewed by Colin Douglas

Presented by December 7-January 19 by Redtwist Theatre, 1044 W. Bryn Mawr, Chicago.  

Tickets are available in person at the box office or by going to www.RedtwistTheatre.org.

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


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