Side Effects May Include…
Written by Marc Jaffe and Eric Coble
Directed by Wayne Mell
Greenhouse Theater, 2257 N. Lincoln (map)
thru Feb 10 | tickets: $20-$25 | more info
Check for half-price tickets
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Side effects may include side-splitting laughter
MadKap Productions presents
Side Effects May Include…
Review by Keith Glab
Marc Jaffe is best known as a writer for “Seinfeld”, but he’s done more stand-up comedy than anything else. His semi-autobiographical play, Side Effects May Include, explores how his wife’s development of Parkinson’s disease affected his stand-up act, the
Andrew J. Pond stars as Phil Rosen, a stand-up comedian whose most successful material involves the lack of a sex life in his marriage. But when his wife takes medication to counteract the symptoms of Parkinson’s, the side effects include an increased libido. This seemingly beneficial consequence adversely affects more than just Phil’s comedy act, however. We see that every action in Phil’s life has side effects – not just the ones listed on the side of prescription medicine bottles – and the story unravels in a simple, logical manner that underscores cause and effect relationships.
Even though the play is billed as a “one-man show about early onset Parkinson’s disease” and MadKap Productions is donating 10% of its proceeds in support of the Michael J. Fox Foundation, the role of Parkinson’s in the script is minor. This play could deal with any affliction requiring medication, as the plot focuses on the endless chain of using pills to counteract a medical condition, then additional drugs to counteract the side effects from the first pills, etc.
The stage is divided in half, with the stage right section serving as the Rosens’ bedroom, teeming with bottles of pills; the stage left area housing Phil’s microphone for his comedy act. Pond seamlessly navigates between both, and the dynamic serves to further engage the audience’s attention, which is already rapt from the humor teeming in the writing and the performance.
As with most one-man shows, Pond is tasked with portraying multiple characters onstage. He achieves this more subtly than in most solo-acts that I’ve seen, but nevertheless distinguishes between everything from his wife to a rabbi to an Indian doctor. Pond also exudes a strong comedic physicality, including some audacious simulated shagging, without quite venturing into Jim Carrey territory. Despite the constant comedy, this production is also able to land the serious moments well.
The only element of the production that does not succeed is Pond’s interactions with the audience. Perhaps this was a result of opening night and Pond just needs more practice with a live audience, but poor timing made these interactions more awkward than funny.
That’s little more than nit-picking, however. Side Effects May Include is expertly written, superbly acted, refreshingly straightforward, and genuinely hilarious. Side effects from attending may include side-splitting laughter and thoughtful introspection.
Rating: ★★★½
Side Effects May Include continues through February 10th at Greenhouse Theater, 2257 N. Lincoln (map), with performances Fridays and Saturdays at 8pm, plus Sundays at 3pm. Tickets are $20-$25, and are available by phone (773-404-7336) or online through Tix.com (check for half-price tickets at Goldstar.com). More information at GreenhouseTheater.org. (Running time: 95 minutes, includes an intermission)
Photos by Scott Richardson
artists
cast
Andrew J. Pond (Phil Rosen)
behind the scenes
Wayne Mell (director, voiceover); Wendy Kaplan (producer); Kirk Stateler (lighting); Robert D. Estrin (set design); Bob Boxer (sound); Cate Anderson (stage manager); Jessica Lauren Fisher (voiceover); Scott Richardson (photos)
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