Oh the Humanity!
Written by Will Eno
Directed by Michael Patrick Thornton
The Gift Theatre, 4802 N. Milwaukee (map)
thru Aug 12 | tickets: $22-$32 | more info
Check for half-price tickets
Read entire review
When a mirror is held to humanity, hilarity ensues
The Gift Theatre presents
Oh the Humanity! (and other exclamations)
Review by Keith Glab
Five vignettes comprise Oh, The Humanity! (and other exclamations), which makes its Chicago premiere at the Gift Theatre. Each short play (or “exclamation”) appears to be straight absurdist comedy before turning darker and more meaningful.
Behold the Coach, in a Blazer, Uninsured begins the evening on a light note, as a baseball manager (John Gawlik) holds a deadpan press conference after a disastrous season (although Cubs fans might find that this subject matter hits a little too close to home). The manager goes on tangents about his personal life during the conference that underscore the insecurities we all have.
Burch continues the evening as a spokesperson for an airline after one of their planes has crashed in Enter the Spokeswoman, Gently. This piece exhibits the darkest humor of the collection, to the point where the audience isn’t sure whether it’s alright to laugh. Again, the spokeswoman’s response to the tragedy initially appears ridiculous before morphing into insightful and disturbing.
Two photographers attempt to recreate an old war photo using the audience as the subject in The Bully Composition. Gawlik and Burch were able to play off an audience member’s cell phone ring on the night I attended – one advantage to the breaking of the fourth wall. This is the only exclamation that makes much use of props or blocking.
The fifth and final vignette, Oh, The Humanity, depicts a couple’s “car” breaking down before they argue about whether they were headed to a christening or a funeral. The Beauty of Things, a character played by Farruggio, stands to the side, largely ignored by the couple. Although this piece utilizes less direct address towards the audience than the others, it is the most meta-theatrical of the bunch.
Michael Patrick Thornton keeps the staging refreshingly simple, and the cast uses subtlety and dryness to underscore the humor in Will Eno’s well-crafted lines. Burch in particular is able to create four distinct characters without the use of gimmicks or overacting. Gawlik excels at deadpan humor, but occasionally adds a Norm MacDonaldesque twinkle and smirk to heighten it. Farruggio rushes a bit as the dating prospect, which works for that character, then really takes his time and enjoys his cryptic role in the final scene.
Given the intimacy of the theatre, predominant direct address of the audience, and desire to heighten the audience’s self-awareness, the envelope could be pushed further. More involvement with the audience is appropriate in this case, and might engender more of the uncomfortable laughter present in the third piece.
As presented, Oh, The Humanity! gets a lot done in an hour’s time, and doesn’t leave the audience wanting for laughs (or other exclamations).
Rating: ★★★
Oh the Humanity! (and other exclamations) continues through August 12th at Gift Theatre, 4802 N. Milwaukee (map), with performances Thursdays-Saturdays at 7:30pm, Sundays 2:30. Tickets are $22-$32, and can be purchased by phone (773-283-7071) or purchased online at King-Cart.com (check for half-price tickets at Goldstar.com). More information at TheGiftTheatre.org. (Running time: 60 minutes without intermission)
