A mind-bending ride of sensory delight and heart-pounding horror
WildClaw Theatre presents
The Life of Death
Review by Keith Glab
It’s the time of the year when many of Chicago’s theatre companies decide to produce a horror-themed show. WildClaw Theatre specializes in this sort of thing year-round, so it’s no surprise to see them excel.
Charley Sherman has adapted The Life of Death from a short-story by Clive Barker, who is best-known as the writer whose fiction has been re-worked into the “Candyman” and “Hellraiser” series of motion pictures. WildClaw does a great job of staying true to the steady, mind-bending atmosphere of those films.
A serial killer stalks the streets of London. Elaine Rider (Casey Cunningham) isn’t feeling like herself after briefly dying on the operating table during a hysterectomy. Having lost her ability to bring life, she begins to develop an interest in death. This fascination leads her to a church set for demolition, where she encounters a mysterious man (Steve Herson) who cultivates her morbid curiosity even more. This quirky individual shows Elaine a sealed crypt underneath the church, and voices in her head beckon her to open it…
WildClaw’s ensemble of ten actors each give solid performances, but Rider and Herson stand out as the main characters. Rider realizes Elaine’s transformation between acts one and two very well, making a noticeable change in her character using body language and mannerisms so subtle that you can’t quite put your finger on exactly how she does it. Herson gives Kavanagh an awkward charm and a distinctive presence. We aren’t any more certain of what to make of him than Elaine is.
Elaborate visual effects make this production pop, from John B. Wilson’s gorgeous set design and incredible realization of the crypt (in conjunction with Brandon Wardell’s innovative lighting effects) to the use of film on a large screen for both news reports and Elaine’s haunted nightmares. Christopher Kriz’ subtly chilling score adds to the atmosphere, and Carolyn Klein’s creative orchestration of it all maximizes these high production values. The juxtaposition of pleasing aesthetics and some very gruesome and disturbing images makes for an enjoyable evening.
But this show is much more than sensory delight and heart-pounding horror. It’s a tale of transformation, an exploration of cause and effect, and a caution against making assumptions. Seemingly small details in the story become crucial as the narrative unravels; little is spelled out for the audience and much is left unsaid. The audience comes away from this show a bit unsettled. The Life of Death not only evokes feeling, but it prompts thought and introspection as well.
Rating: ★★★½
The Life of Death continues through November 4th at DCASE Storefront Theater, 66 E. Randolph (map), with performances Thursdays-Saturdays at 7:30pm, Sundays 3pm. Tickets are $15-$25, and are available online through BrownPaperTickets.com (check for half-price tickets at Goldstar.com). More information at WildClawTheatre.com. (Running time: 1 hour 45 minutes, includes an intermission)
Photos by Kevin Mullaney
artists
cast
Brian Amidei (Dr. Sennett), Christy Arington (Waitress), Casey Cunningham (Elaine Rider), Bryson Engelen (Alex Chimes), Steve Herson (Kavanagh), Jesse Manson (Salvation Army Officer), Kevin Mullaney (Clergyman), Mallory Nees (Bernice), Michaela Petro (Hermione), Adam Soule (Mitchell Barnes), Ele Matelan, Dave Skvarla (understudies)
behind the scenes
Charley Sherman (adaptor); Carolyn Klein (director); Aly Renee Amidei (costumes, props, production manager); Ira Amyx (media designer); Eva Breneman (dialect coach); Kyle Hamman (media design consultant); Christopher Kriz (sound design); Karen Tarjan (movement design); Mary Rose O’Connor (stage manager); Dave Skvarla (violence design); Brandon Wardell (lighting); John Wilson (set design);Kevin Mullaney (photos)
