Ecstasy
Written by Mike Leigh
Directed by Shade Murray
at A Red Orchid Theatre, 1531 N. Wells (map)
thru Sept 28 | tickets: $15-$25 | more info
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Newly-formed theater is off to a wonderful start
Cole Theatre presents
Ecstasy
Review by Lauren Whalen
Writer Mike Leigh is best known for his “slice of life” plays and films, the latter of which includes “Vera Drake,” “Happy-Go-Lucky” and “Secrets and Lies.” Many times, Leigh’s work includes a lot of talk and very little action, as well as the kind of moments one might experience on a Friday night out with friends, or in the awkward silence after a sexual encounter. Ecstasy delivers much of both, and though it runs quite long for a small dramedy, it’s ultimately worth the two hours at Red Orchid. Director Shade Murray and the newly formed Equity company Cole Theatre have the knowledge, intelligence and ability to bring forth domestic issues in a bittersweet, touching manner.
Murray is clearly passionate about the source material, and appears to have meticulously overseen each production value and British dialect (and this production has several). Grant Sabin’s scenic design maximizes A Red Orchid Theatre’s small and intimate space, perfectly conjuring Jean’s crumbling and cramped, yet cozy, flat. Thanks to costume designer Christine Pascual, every detail from sideburns to faded denim is spot-on, and David Woolley’s fight direction is exciting without going too over-the-top. The main issue with Ecstasy is its running time. The second act consists entirely of Jean, Dawn, Roy and Len getting drunk in Jean’s apartment. While the arc of a night with friends is beautifully accurate and lovingly interpreted, the act could be just as effective at half its nearly 90-minute length. It’s not Murray’s fault per se, as the pacing is fine, but I wanted to track down Leigh and ask why he had to make the conversations so long.
Luckily, each performance is nuanced and thoroughly enjoyable, which almost compensates for the sometimes-meandering dialog. Though she’s difficult to understand at first (just give it time), Petro’s Dawn is always hilarious and plays intoxicated with aplomb. Harris and Lauren Pizzi have brief but memorable turns as brutish Mick and his volatile wife Val, and Reitsma gives Roy unexpected depth (despite a slightly muddled Irish dialect). Kidwell’s Jean is equal turns empathetic and infuriating, exactly the way a lost soul should be. And Manzer, a skilled Chicago actor, is the real star of the piece: his Len is the sweetest of nerds and nicest of guys, and genuinely cares for Jean. I found myself cooing “aww” whenever he clumsily lit Jean’s cigarette or nervously stuttered, and noticed a woman sitting in front of me doing the same.
Ultimately, Ecstasy is worth enduring the long script. Thanks to sure direction and strong acting, the piece sets the bar high for Cole Theatre. The new company’s mission is “to tell interesting, thoughtful, relevant stories seeking to illuminate the joy, horror, humor, sadness, triviality and humanity within the worlds we have constructed or those we have allowed to be constructed for us.” It’s wordy to be sure, but earnest, and thanks to this production, they are off to a wonderful start.
Rating: ★★★½
Ecstasy continues through September 28th at A Red Orchid Theatre, 1531 N. Wells (map), with performances Thursdays-Saturdays at 7:30pm, Sundays 3pm. Tickets are $15-$25, and are available online through Dime.io (check for half-price tickets at Goldstar.com). More information at ColeTheatre.org. (Running time: 2 hours 5 minutes, includes an intermission)
Photos by Michael Brosilow
artists
cast
Boyd Harris (Mick), Maura Kidwell (Jean), Layne Manzer (Len), Michaela Petro (Dawn), Lauren Pizzi (Val, u/s Jean), Joel Reitsma (Roy, u/s Mick), Skyler Schrempp (u/s Val), June Thiele (u/s Dawn), Dustin Whitehead (u/s Len & Roy)
behind the scenes
Shade Murray (director), Grant Sabin (scenic design), Christine Pascual (costume design), Rachel K. Levy (lighting design), David Woolley (fight director), Skye Robinson Hillis (dramaturg), Allison Raynes (stage manager, properties design), Elise Kauzleric (dialect coach), Heath Hays (sound design), Brian Browne (technical director), Layne Manzer (production management, graphic design), Michael Brosilow (photos)
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