Review: Motortown (Steep Theatre)

  
  
Motortown

Written by Simon Stephens  
Directed by Robin Witt
at Steep Theatre, 1115 W. Berwyn (map)
thru Nov 9  |  tickets: $20-$22   |  more info
  
Check for half-price tickets 
  
  
   Read review
  

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An incendiary journey worth taking

Steep Theatre presents

Motortown

Review by Katy Walsh 

The hallmark of a Steep production is its ability to fuse the audience to emotion.  Steep chooses edgy stories.  The ensemble spirals into angst-driven turmoil.  The intimate theater space forces an amalgamation of performer and audience.  There is no fourth wall.  It’s more like an invisible flimsy blanket.  A Steep audience feels what the character feels.  There is a visceral response.  Usually, Steep fans react with heart-pumping anxiety.  In Motortown, I had that plus a strong urge to retch.

Playwright Simon Stephens penned a story about a soldier returning to his hometown. On the surface, it sounds lovely.  The play starts out kooky but endearing. Brothers, Chris Chmelik (Lee) and Joel Reitsma (Danny), are reunited.  As Chmelik hysterically rattles off breakfast options, Stephens starts to layer in the convolution.  A secret in Danny’s past has made him estranged from his girlfriend and his parents.  Stephens’ story sends Danny out for the day to meet with a variety of peculiar misfits.  The seemingly random encounters add edge to the tale. 

An outstanding Reitsma begins to unravel and knot up simultaneously.  He transitions back and forth from easy-going to maniacal.  His conversations are riddled with contradictions. What is real?  What is a lie?  The audience follows in his footsteps desperately trying to figure him out.  Reitsma’s underlying oddity surpasses disturbing quickly.

Under the masterful direction of Robin Witt, the entire talented ensemble morph into Simon’s creations.  At first-glance, they are normal.  On closer inspection, they all hide a secret, a fetish, a dark side or all the above.  The stomach-churning scene is between Reitsma and Ashleigh LaThrop (Jade).  Watching LaThrop’s terrified face and quivering body, it feels real, too real.  And I’m not watching it as an audience member.  I’m experiencing it with LaThrop.  It’s horrifying and brilliant at the same time.  

Motortown is Steep’s signature move kicked up a notch.  The anticipated tension is there but super-charged.  It’s like walking through a field of land mines holding a grenade.  Stephens, Witt, Reitsma, LaThrop take us on an incendiary journey.  It’s an unforgettable trip worth taking.  

Rating: ★★★½

Motortown continues through November 9th at Steep Theatre, 1115 W. Berwyn (map), with performances Thursdays-Saturdays at 8pm, Sundays 3pm.  Tickets are $20-$22, and are available by phone (866-811-4111) or online through OvationTix.com (check for half-price tickets at Goldstar.com). More information at SteepTheatre.com.  (Running time: 90 minutes, NO intermission. Recommended for mature audiences.)

Photos by Lee Miller 

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artists

cast

Alex Gillmor, Peter Moore, Julia Siple, Kendra Thulin, Chris Chmelik, Ashleigh LaThrop, Joel Reitsma, Eddie Reynolds

behind the scenes

Robin Witt (director), Julia Siple (production manager), Lauren Lassus (stage manager), Alison Siple (costume design), Dan Stratton (set design), Sarah Hughey (lighting design), Matthew Chapman (sound design), Catherine Campbell (prop design), Matt Hawkins (fight choreography), Samantha Umstead (make-up and wig design), Kristin Leahey (dramaturg), Mary Rose O’Connor (asst. director), Julie Allen (technical director), Heather Piatt (asst. sound design), Brandy Reichenberger (asst. dramaturg), Lee Miller (photos)

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