HooDoo Love
Written by Katori Hall
Directed by Nelsan Ellis
Athenaeum Theatre, 2936 N. Southport (map)
thru Oct 21 | tickets: $20-$32 | more info
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Spellbinding drama with fantastic live music
The Collective Theatre Company presents
HooDoo Love
Review by Lauren Whalen
We need arts in schools. I’ll repeat that – we need arts in schools. Fifteen years ago in Chicago’s south suburbs, six teenagers were inspired by live theatre and formed a collective. They never forgot. Though one can now be seen every week fighting vampires while challenging gender norms, he’s returned to Chicago to helm the collective’s inaugural production. Thoughtfully directed and gorgeously scored, HooDoo Love takes a challenging script and runs with it – a testament to the life-changing effects of theatre on young outsiders.
In 1930’s Memphis, Toulou (Lynn Wactor) dreams of singing the blues, but is stuck cleaning houses and pining for Ace of Spades (LaRoyce Hawkins). Her neighbor, the mysterious Candy Lady (Toni Lynice Fountain), convinces Toulou to cast a spell on her wayward lover – but magic works in strange ways. Meanwhile, Toulou is haunted by her past in human form when her alcoholic preacher brother Jib (Mark Smith) comes into the picture. The action is narrated in musical form by the glamorous singer Lillie Mae (Opal Demetria Staples) and a stunning trio of trumpet (Leon Q. Allen), guitar (Giles Corey) and percussion (Thomas Lowery).
Penned by acclaimed playwright Katori Hall, HooDoo Love captures a specific place and time with a brutal sense of reality. Everything was changing, from music to women’s roles, and ideas of faith spectacularly clashed. The action is often painful to watch and no character walks away unchanged. At two and a half hours, HooDoo Love is a long show but never fails to captivate. I often found myself leaning forward, so as not to miss a syllable or gesture. Musical interludes between scenes heighten the action: this is the soundtrack of the characters’ hardscrabble lives. Sometimes it’s sweet. More often, it’s soulful and sad.
Director Nelsan Ellis guides the emotions, actions and motivations with a sure, steady hand. These days he’s best known as the flamboyant, cynical Lafayette Reynolds on HBO’s “True Blood”, but Ellis clearly has a deep, subtle understanding of what makes people tick. Even the sadistic Jib isn’t the evil caricature he might have been in the hands of a lesser director, but a profoundly disturbed individual who’s repeating the mistakes of those before him. Ellis is supported by a terrific production team, particularly set designer Henry Behel (who maximizes a small space with gritty aplomb), musical director Tim McNulty (who provides a stellar score) and costume designer Noël Huntzinger (whose stark outfits look straight out of a grainy, somber photograph).
HooDoo Love’s cast is as powerful as its crew. Smith never descends into parody as the horrible Jib, and Hawkins notably portrays Ace’s descent. Staples wails like a compromised angel as the situations grow dire. As the Candy Lady, Fountain is equal parts morbid and maternal, and her speaking voice is entrancing. And Wactor gives Toulou a heartrending empathy – I was always completely with her.
The Collective Theatre took 15 years to mount a production – hopefully it won’t be 15 more before the next one. HooDoo Love may be disturbing in content, but it’s optimistic in execution. Who knew six teenagers would someday create something so beautiful? Those who know the power of arts education, that’s who.
Rating: ★★★½
HooDoo Love continues through October 21st at the Athenaeum Theatre, 2936 N. Southport (map), with performances Thursdays and Fridays 7:30pm, Saturdays 2:30pm and 7:30pm, Sundays 2:30pm. Tickets are $20-$32, and are available by phone (773-935-6875) or online through OvationTix.com (check for half-price tickets at Goldstar.com). More information at TheCollectiveTheatre.org. (Running time: 2 hours 30 minutes, includes an intermission)
Photos by Michael Brosilow
artists
cast
Toni Lynice Fountain (Candy Lady), LaRoyce Hawkins (Ace of Spades), Mark Smith (Jib), Lynn Wactor (Toulou), Sam Bailey (Rhonda), Mark Hood (Freddie), Opal Demetria Staples (Lillie Mae), Greg Williams (Bug Eyed Jerry), Sam Bailey, Desla Epison (understudies)
behind the scenes
Nelsan Ellis (director); Henry Behel (set, production manager); Tim McNulty (music director); Daniel Carlyon (sound design); Julie Ritchey (props); Noël Huntzinger (costumes); Cat Wilson (lighting); Mallory Raven-Ellen Backstrom (stage manager); Veronda Carey (asst. director); David Rosenberg (PR); Michael Brosilow (photos)
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