Review: Good Boys and True (Raven Theatre)

By Chicagotheaterbeat @chitheaterbeat

  
  
Good Boys and True

Written by Roberto Aguirre-Sacasa
Directed by Cody Estle 
at Raven Theatre, 6157 N. Clark (map)
thru May 3  |  tickets: $15-$36   |  more info
  
Check for half-price tickets 
  
  
   Read review
  

  

  

Sadly, a missed opportunity

     

  

Raven Theatre presents

  

Good Boys and True

Review by Patrick Dyer

Schools getting involved with sex-related scandals are quite fresh in the minds of Americans nowadays, especially with Penn State. They’re even more prominent thanks to “sexting.” So what happens when a play tries to tackle that subject and setting it in a time before “sexting”? Well, that’s what Good Boys and True does at Raven Theatre – but does it succeed?

The play takes place in the late 1980s at an all-boys’ school called St. Joseph’s where a senior student, Brandon Hardy (Will Kiley), has been accused of being in a video where he and a girl outside of school, Cheryl Moody (Sophia Menendian), have sex. This could damage Brandon’s future since he already has been accepted by Dartmouth, has a girlfriend, and even has a secret gay relationship with his best friend, Justin Simmons (Derek Herman). Brandon’s mother, Elizabeth (Maggie Cain), struggles to understand how her promising son could do such a thing that could damage his promising future and tries to get her son to understand the consequences of his actions.

Good Boys and True has an interesting area to explore but doesn’t take full advantage of its premise. In an age where sexting is still controversial and has even damaged the careers of prominent politicians, playwright Roberto Aguirre-Sacasa takes a surprisingly safe approach. The play wants to spark with controversy and uncomfortableness, but it falls flat because the script is simply too obvious. Most of the dialog is exposition without any real flair or heightened language, and the stakes just aren’t high enough. The play goes to great lengths to show what the consequences of Brandon’s mistake are, but the consequences aren’t really that devastating. He doesn’t get into the college he always wanted, he’d have to attend public school, he might not have the highest paying job, and he loses his credibility at his school. His world has changed, sure, but is it really so terrible? He’d go from being incredibly privileged to just somewhat privileged. And we don’t see much of Cheryl’s side of the story either. Her emotional stakes are more engaging because she comes from a poorer background and thus has more to lose. Besides, the whole “scandal” is not as shocking as the play wants it to be. You have two students engaging in a consensual act and recording it onto a VHS tape that might temporarily harm St. Joseph’s reputation. If Aguirre-Sacasa really wanted to address the scandals found in private schools, he’d have to create one that really shook the core of St. Joseph’s community and reputation. Penn State was in the news for so long because the scandal destroyed just that, and for Aguirre-Sacasa to not take full advantage of this opportunity is disappointing.

Director Cody Estle tries to bring out the drama in this not very scandalous play, but sometimes his staging can be a bit distracting and too “choreographed.” However, the cast manages to overcome both that and the dull script. Cain, as Elizabeth, is by far the strength of the entire production, balancing out her character’s confidence and vulnerability to a tee. Kiley as Brandon is somewhat engaging, but at times he succumbs to the “screaming is good acting” syndrome. Simmons as Derek has good chemistry with Kiley and, quite frankly, is more compelling than Brandon, being a gay student in a school and time when gay people faced heavy prejudice. Kelli Strickland as Elizabeth’s sister, Maddie, is a pretty pointless character, but she has fun with her role. Karl Potthoff as Brandon’s coach, Russell Shea, has good stage presence and works the best with Cain. Menendian as Cheryl has the least amount of stage time (she doesn’t even appear until the second act), but takes full advantage of it by creating a compelling and sympathetic victim of manipulation.

Good Boys and True could have been enticing or even shocking. But it’s too safe to be either. In a time where scandals involving private schools are still present in our culture, this is a play that wants to tackle it but unfortunately isn’t up to the task. I expected and even wanted to be shaken up, but walked out of the theater unmoved. A missed opportunity, to say the least.

  

Rating: ★★

  

  

Good Boys and True continues through May 3rd at Raven Theatre, 6157 N. Clark (map), with performances Thursdays-Saturdays at 8pm, Sundays 3:30pm.  Tickets are $15-$36, and are available by phone (773-338-2177) or online through their website (check for half-price tickets at Goldstar.com). More information at RavenTheatre.com.  (Running time: 2 hours, includes an intermission)

Photos by Dean La Prairie 

     

artists

cast

Maggie Cain (Elizabeth), Derek Herman (Justin), Will Kiley (Brandon), Sophia Menendian (Cheryl), Karl Potthoff (Coach Shea), Kelli Strickland (Maddie)

behind the scenes

Cody Estle (director), Sara Carranza (stage manager), Jeff Kmiec (set), Mary O’Dowd (props), Nick Bellie, Garvin Jellison (lighting design), Izumi Inaba (costumes), Chris LaPorte (sound), Alexander Lavelle (assistant director), Cassandra Rose (dramaturgy), Dean La Prairie (photos)

14-0341