Review: Miss Marx, Or the Involuntary Side Effect of Living (Strawdog Theatre)

By Chicagotheaterbeat @chitheaterbeat

  
  
Miss Marx: Or the Involuntary
   Side Effect of Living

Written by Philip Dawkins
Directed by Megan Shuchman
at Strawdog Theatre, 3829 N. Broadway (map)
thru April 5  |  tickets: $28   |  more info
  
Check for half-price tickets 
  
  
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Melodramatic biography of Eleanor Marx

     

  

Strawdog Theatre Company presents

  

Miss Marx: Or the Involuntary
   Side Effect of Living

Review by Keith Glab

Strawdog Theatre presents the world premiere of Philip Dawkins’ play about Eleanor Marx, a daughter of the revolutionary German socialist Karl Marx. Overshadowed by her father’s great influence, Eleanor nonetheless led a rather remarkable life herself in continuing the Marxism movement. She spoke several languages, translated major literary works, and founded the Socialist League.

A feminist who lacks many feminine traits by the standards of Victorian Era London, Eleanor (Dana Black) does not have any luck with relationships until she meets Edward Aveling (John Ferrick). Despite the rom-com setup, the proceedings quickly turn to melodrama. Not long after the couple participates in some BDSM in an interesting scene, Aveling really does abuse Eleanor before eventually cheating on her. Family secrets get revealed in the style of daytime soaps. The music during Karl Marx’s funeral gets so syrupy that you’ll wish you had brought waffles into the theater. An ethereal ending completes the picture.

Dawkins often goes out of his way to prove that he did his research. He makes sure all of Eleanor’s siblings get referenced whether they are important to the story or not, and crams in references to Bloody Sunday, The Scarlet Letter, A Doll’s House, and Madame Bovary in this vein. By including so much content, his script runs overly long, and Megan Shuchman’s solution is to rush the proceedings as much as possible. This is appreciated during scene changes that take place so quickly they sometimes overlap, but less so when the actors speed through many of their lines. The fact that it takes most of them a couple of scenes to get immersed into their accents adds to the distraction.

Despite these issues, it’s hard not to get swept up into the story. Ferrick and Black really get into the skins of their characters, while the supporting cast creates vivid characters with little stage time. Highlighting the show, Eleanor has a beautiful speech in which she compares love to work.

Miss Marx: Or the Involuntary Side Effect of Living works well as a historical drama, less well as the melodrama it is staged as.  Some humor and pace help combat the length, however. The show presents enough interesting ideas and interesting characters, and the central theme of Eleanor fighting both for feminism and to be seen as feminine gets explored well. Overall the production is something of a mixed bag: worth seeing if you are interested in the subject matter and don’t mind the style, but perhaps something to avoid if you don’t have the best attentions span or if melodrama isn’t your cup of tea.

  

Rating: ★★½

  

  

Miss Marx continues through April 5th at Strawdog Theatre, 3829 N. Broadway (map), with performances Thursdays-Saturdays at 8pm, Sundays 4pm.  Tickets are $28, and are available by phone (866-811-4111) or online through OvationTix.com (check for half-price tickets at Goldstar.com). More information at Strawdog.org.  (Running time: 2 hours 20 minutes, includes an intermission. Download the “Miss Marx Study Guide” here)

Photos by Chris Ocken 

     

artists

cast

Dana Black (Eleanor Marx), John Ferrick (Edward Aveling), Sarah Goeden (Eva, Musician), Justine C. Turner (Laura, Harry), Samantha Bailey (Annie Besant, Young Woman), Pamela Mae Davis (Nim, Theosophist), Matt Holzfiend (Engles, Young Man), Benjamin Sprunger (Freddy)

behind the scenes

Megan Shuchman (director), Mike Mroch (set design), Jordan Kardasz (lighting design), Izumi Inaba (costume design) Christopher Kriz (sound design), Mike Przygoda (music director), Jamie Karas (props), Eva Breneman (dialect coach), Sam Hubbard (fight choreographer), Jarrod Bainter (technical director), John Kelly (master electrician), Lindsay Amer (dramaturg), Sarah Hoeferlin (stage manager), Becky Mock (production manager), Chris Ocken (photos)

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