I Sing the Body Electric

I and You

Of all the students in his class, Anthony decided to choose Caroline to be his study partner. Together they’re supposed to work together to create some kind of multimedia project based upon Leaves of Grass, by American poet Walt Whitman. So Anthony unexpectedly arrives at Caroline’s house with his backpack of research and a dogeared copy of the literary classic. The high school student has read up on Whitman’s life and finds his lengthy series of poems inspiring, universal and something that speaks to him. He’s sure that Caroline will also understand poems like “I Sing the Body Electric” and feel the same way about the poet, although Anthony’s never actually met her. You see, Caroline has been out of school for a long time because she’s very ill.

Ushered into the house by her unseen mother, Anthony, an outgoing and athletic high school student, suddenly bursts into Caroline’s bedroom. He wrongly assumes that Caroline’s expecting him because the teacher has sent her an email describing the partnering class assignment. But Caroline’s completely in the dark about this project. She’s a feisty, outspoken young girl overloaded with distrust and an edgy attitude. Understandably, Caroline’s suspicious of Anthony. She’s cynical and scornful regarding the young man’s motives, and it takes a while for Caroline to relax a bit and accept Anthony at his word.

Astutely staged and sensitively guided with and vim and vigor by Scott Shallenbarger, this talented director of Citadel’s recent production BABY definitely understands young people. He’s the retired Director of Theatre Arts at Highland Park High School with years of experience teaching teenage boys and girls. Scott has cast a pair of fine young actors in this two-hander by prolific playwright Lauren Gunderson, author of last year’s excellent SILENT SKY at Citadel. 

The gifted Amia Korman, a newcomer to the Chicago theatre scene, portrays Caroline. She totally inhabits this smart, spunky young girl who has been bravely coping with a life-threatening illness for most of her life. Being sick has sheltered Caroline, not only preventing her from attending high school or having a social life, but leaving her to adopt a mask of bitterness and skepticism. In fact, Caroline’s only actual human contact is with her mother and doctors. As a result, the teenager’s learned to substitute actual living with a dependency upon social media for everything. 

Jay Westbrook, who plays Anthony, is a multitalented young Chicago actor who recently dazzled audiences with his beautiful voice, as the Courier in Marriott Theatre’s exciting production of 1776. Jay also appears as Marcus on the hit TV show, “Chicago Fire,” and performed in “Everyday Hero” at Second City. Here he plays a sharp, amiable young student who, much to his surprise, has recently discovered that he enjoys poetry—particularly the verse by celebrated writer, Walt Whitman. Anthony has also learned to work with and fight for a real connection with other people, like Caroline.

Watch these two actors carefully. Theatergoers can learn a lot from the 90 minutes they’ll spend together with them. These young performers, both making their Citadel debut, are brilliant artists, especially under Scott Shallenbarger’s inspired and skillful direction. Both Ms. Korman and Mr. Westbrook bring absolutely everything to the stage and leave it there for the audience to ponder. 

And while the play begins with a confrontation, Lauren Gunderson’s script carefully and subtly evolves into a profound and humane conversation between two lost souls. Stick with their dialogue and listen carefully, because the ending of this play will surprise and take you to a place you never expected. While singing the body electric, the story demonstrates how personal communication, the connection established between human beings and the universe at large, cannot be found by simply scrolling on the internet. People need each other. And I AND YOU leaves us with this important life lesson.               

Highly Recommended

Reviewed by Colin Douglas

Presented February 21-March 23 by Citadel Theatre, 300 S. Waukegan Rd., Lake Forest, IL.

Tickets are available in person at the theatre box office, by calling 847-735-8554, or by going to www.citadeltheatre.org.

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