Sex and Storytelling

No Such Thing

Meet Ren, an attractive, late middle-aged screenwriter, who’s superpower is her talent for powerful storytelling. At the top of Lisa Dillman’s drama, the audience finds themselves becoming voyeurs, watching and listening to a episode of intense intimacy occurring between a man and woman. The sensual encounter takes place in a dimly lit bedroom behind a translucent screen, but it’s very clear what is going on. Ms. Dillman has certainly aroused the adult theatergoer’s attention from the get-go, and her story is off and running.

Labeling her marriage with Ted as merely “comfortable” at this stage of her life, Ren is looking for someone to provide the missing intimacy and excitement. Playing around on a dating app she’s found a possible soulmate. The man is interested in meeting Ren regularly at a hotel for a specific kind of sexual assignation. Neither of them wish to know the other’s real name and they’ve agreed that making up their personal histories each time they meet is part of the thrill of the affair. Thus, both Ren and Fallon revel in creating a new narrative during each romantic rendezvous. But, all good things must come to an end…or so they say.

However, not only has Ren’s marriage stalled out but so has her parental skills. She and Olivia, her adult daughter, have had their issues since Livy was a young girl. And then there’s also her career. Marilyn, Ren’s longtime friend, confidant and literary agent, has always been honest with Ren. She continually tells her compatriot and client that she should write a comedy. Perhaps Ren could even draw inspiration from her own personal life. But the screenwriter’s private orbit seems to have capsized along with her career. And, just when theatergoers think they know where this drama is heading, Act I ends with a sudden revelation that the most audiences won’t see coming. Then Act II takes the theatergoer on a roller coaster ride from the present to the past and back again in a drama that ends with a bang.

Lisa Dillman (THE WALLS, AMERICAN WEE-PIE) is a Rivendell Ensemble Member and its literary director, as well as a much-accoladed and prolific playwright. Her works have been seen all around the country, as well as in Chicago at the Goodman, Steppenwolf, Northlight and, of course, Rivendell Theatres. This powerful World Premiere should finally help clinch the Jeff Award for New Works for the deserving Ms. Dillman. 

Skillfully directed by Malkia Stampley, who currently serves as Goodman Theatre’s BOLD Artistic Producer, this new drama is both intimate and smartly staged and guided. Ms. Stampley’s production grabs theatergoers by their coat lapels and never lets go. She’s aided by Lauren Nichols’ stylish, nicely conceived and easily changeable Scenic Design. Through a series of sliding panels and a few pieces of movable furnishings, the various locales that comprise Ms. Dillman’s drama are easily created by the actors. Add to this talented production team Madeleine Reid’s thoughtful and moody Lighting Design and some lovely and evocative Original Music and Sound by Ethan Korvne, and you have a gorgeously detailed painting of a woman at the crossroads of her life.

At Rivendell Theatre Ensemble, their productions always feature a superbly talented cast. NO SUCH THING IS led by the exquisite Susan Gosdick, an actor who’s been charming Chicagoland audiences everywhere, from the Paramount Theatre to Drury Lane. Here she makes her auspicious debut at Rivendell as Ren. Luminous and eloquent, Ms. Gosdick holds both this role, as well as the entire play, in the palm of her hand. She’s magnificent, as ever, portraying this professional storyteller.

The supporting cast is stellar, as well. As Ted, Ren’s husband, Matt De Caro plays a late middle-age man who’s comfortable with his marriage and his entire life. At least, that’s what the audience thinks, based upon everything he says and does (or doesn’t say and doesn’t do), until he finally explodes. Remembered for playing Winston Churchill in THE AUDIENCE and Big Daddy in CAT ON A HOT TIN ROOF, at Drury Lane, Mr. De Caro adds another spectacular performance to his illustrious resume. And handsome Josh Odor returns to Rivendell as Fallon, after appearing in plays like SCIENTIFIC METHOD and FIREBIRDS TAKE THE FIELD. He’s smooth, sexy and silver-tongued as another character for whom storytelling is an art and a talent.

Jessica Ervin, who portrays Ren’s daughter Olivia, is a gifted Ensemble Member with Rivendell Theatre. Seen in their Jeff Award-winning production of MOTHERHOUSE, Ms. Ervin creates a lovely, likable, but often frustrating young woman who’s survived an earlier life of of emotional pain and personal conflict. As a result, the oft familiar trope of the strained relationship between a mother and daughter become the main focus of Ms. Dillman’s drama. And having been seen in TimeLine Theatre’s CHIMERICA, Token Theatre’s ZAC EFRON and RACE at Lookingglass Theatre, Cheryl Hamada is quite likely a familiar face to avid theatergoers. She hosted HGTV’s “Extreme Homes” and is often seen on WTTW during their frequent pledge drives. Ms. Hamada is a talented comic actress with a natural flair for the funny. As Marilyn, Ms. Hamada provides much of the welcome humor in a play that’s heavy on the serious.

NO SUCH THING is a drama about people, real people. It also concerns sex and storytelling. Through Lisa Dillman’s well-drawn characters, we meet and become acquainted with five fascinating adults of varying ages, who, as the late author William Maxwell said, “when talking about the past we lie with every breath we take.” From the first few moments of this captivating drama we come to understand that there may be many falsehoods being told that can only be revealed by these storytellers in the final moments of the play.            

Highly Recommended

Reviewed by Colin Douglas

Presented March 22-April 27 by Rivendell Theatre Ensemble, 5775 Ridge Ave., Chicago.

Tickets are available at the box office, by calling 773-334-7728 or by going to www.RivendellTheatre.org.

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