Review: Chapter Two (Windy City Playhouse)

  
  
Chapter Two 

Written by Neil Simon
Windy City Playhouse, 3014 W. Irving Park (map)
thru Dec 20  |  tix: $25-$45   |  more info
  
Check for half-price tickets  
  

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Funny and poignant dramedy

Windy City Playhouse presents

Chapter Two

Review by Lauren Whalen 

Chapter Two may be Neil Simon’s most personal play. The 1978 Tony nominee for Best Play is loosely based on Simon’s own relationship with actress Marsha Mason, after the death of his first wife. Simon claims that the female lead’s Act II monolog is, in fact, nearly word-for-word a speech Mason gave him early in their marriage. Though some moments verge on sitcom-broad, Chapter Two is a lovely, poignant exploration of love and second chances, and the Windy City Playhouse’s production deeply understands and appreciates the source material. Director Jessica Thebus has assembled a terrific, heartfelt team of actors and designers, and added her own magic to create a thought-provoking, truly enjoyable night of theater.

George Schneider (Brian McCaskill) has had it. After losing his beloved wife to cancer, the novelist has tried everything from European vacations to dating, all with disastrous results. When George’s brother Leo (Peter DeFaria) arranges yet another setup, George adamantly refuses – until a wrong number leads him to the very woman Leo intended. Actress Jennie Malone (Amy Rubenstein) is at a loss after her recent divorce, content to confide in her best friend Faye (Amy J. Carle). However, she’s intrigued by the bumbling widower on the other end of the line. George and Jennie begin a whirlwind romance, throwing caution to the wind and disregarding the concerns of friends and family. But what happens when issues of the past come to light? Is love enough to save George and Jennie’s relationship, and George and Jennie themselves?

With its two-and-a-half hour running time and two-act structure – not to mention mishaps concerning landlines – Chapter Two is strictly a product of its time. Director Thebus wisely refrained from trying to contemporize the play, instead playing up the 70’s setting with Scott Davis’ gorgeous rendering of George and Jennie’s respective apartments, Melissa Torchia’s colorful costumes and Kevin O’Donnell’s inspired soundtrack of hits. Thebus keeps the pacing tight and the action cogent, especially important in a play that relies so much on dialog. Slapstick moments work just as well as serious ones, and Chapter Two has plenty of both. Simon’s script doesn’t always transition well from comedy to drama, but for the most part Chapter Two is heart-wrenching dramedy at its strongest.

 

In this Chapter Two, the mighty ensemble shines brightest. Carle’s bawdy, bombastic Faye is a perfect foil for the more serious, sensitive Jennie. While Rubenstein (also the Windy City Playhouse’s Artistic Director) sometimes relies too much on open-mouthed reactions, she’s a smart, thoughtful leading lady who always captivates. A lesser actor could have made George one hundred percent whine, but McCaskill takes the character to the depths of pain and despair to counterbalance the lighter neurotic moments. And as Leo, DeFaria gives perhaps the best supporting performance I’ve ever seen in Chicago theater. His unapologetically loud demeanor is pitch-perfect, hilarious without being obnoxious, and his dramatic moments are finely tuned. The character’s monolog on George’s physical and emotional state after his wife’s death is lengthy and challenging, and DeFaria hits every note with a dancer’s grace.

Chapter Two isn’t Simon’s best-known play, nor his most acclaimed or successful. Perhaps audiences were confused by the comedy writer’s more serious tone, or depressed by the darker subject matter. Either way, the work is a tender, expressive take on the process of grief and the struggles of moving on, and this top-notch production is an excellent interpretation. Windy City Playhouse, the city’s newest Equity theater, is a welcome addition to the Chicago scene, and I look forward to its next season.

Rating: ★★★½

Chapter Two continues through December 20th at Windy City Playhouse, 3014 W. Irving Park (map), with performances Wednesdays and Thursdays 7:30pm, Fridays and Saturdays 8pm, Sundays alternating 3pm and 6pm.  Tickets are $25-$45, and are available by phone (773-891-8985) or online through PrintTixUSA.com (check for half-price tickets at Goldstar.com). More information at WindyCityPlayhouse.com.  (Running time: 2 hours 30 minutes, includes an intermission)

Photos by Michael Brosilow 

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artists

cast

Amy J. Carle (Faye), Peter DeFaria (Leo), Brian McCaskill (George), Amy Rubenstein (Jennie)

behind the scenes

Jessica Thebus (director), Scott Davis (scenic design), Melissa Torchia (costume design), JR Lederle (lighting design), Kevin O’Donnell (sound design), Jamie Karas (properties design), Julia Zayas-Melendez (stage manager), Alex Rhyan  (production manager), Two Birds Casting (casting), Michael Brosilow (photos)

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