Six Stories Tall
Written by Marco Ramirez
Directed by Tom Arvetis
at Vittum Theater, 1012 N. Noble (map)
thru Dec 13 | tickets: $15-$25 | more info
Check for half-price tickets
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Funky kid-friendly tales ring true
Adventure Stage Chicago presents
Six Stories Tall
Review by Lauren Whalen
What I’ve always appreciated about Adventure Stage Chicago is its utter lack of pandering. The worst thing children’s entertainment can do is talk down to its core audience – kids are smart, and there’s no faster way to lose their interest and respect. (As a former drama teacher and teaching artist who also worked with the Chicago International Children’s Film Festival for many years, I know of which I speak.) The Midwest premiere of Six Stories Tall: a play about mermaids, monsters and spray paint! is chock full of whimsy and emotional resonance, using Hispanic folklore as a premise to inspire kids to find their inner heroes.
The show has some significant hiccups. “Sirena,” the opening tale of a starving village and a wayward mermaid (Sarah Rose Graber), and the above-mentioned “Lupe” both feel rushed, slowly getting to the main conflict and then almost skipping over it in favor of a happy ending. I love a good dance break as much as the next person, but having cast members break into a choreographed routine between segments feels less like an integral part of the production and more like a concentrated effort to pad the running time.
Hiccups aside, Six Stories Tall… is an entertaining, energetic and educational journey to the center of a fun, funky earth brimming with positivity. Adventure Stage’s resident ensemble boasts some talented techs: Brandon Wardell’s scenic design is functional and portable, conjuring six very different environments. Heather Gilbert’s lighting skillfully underlies the story, sets and actors without overwhelming them, and Mikhail Fiksel designs a catchy soundtrack and is a powerful presence as the show’s onstage DJ.
This production, perhaps even more so than most Adventure Stage shows, requires a strong cadre of actors and director Tom Arvetis chose well. In roles big and small, Ramos has a vibrant, magnetic presence and always makes herself known while playing well with others. Gonzalez’s Abuelo is sweetly realistic, blending stubborn crankiness with a steadfast love for his grandson that put a lump in my throat. Danielle Davis raps with aplomb as a brave girl battling a devilish stranger, and Newton plays younger characters with hopeful wisdom and innocence. And Graber is always a pleasure to watch: her round, cartoonish eyes make her a natural for children’s theater, but she has a gravity that balances out the energy. She knows educating young minds is serious business and doesn’t forget it for a second.
Six Stories Tall, while not a flawless endeavor, is representative of Adventure Stage Chicago’s innovative take on children’s theater. The production is wonderfully cast and well-directed, presenting a positive message of heroism without beating its young audience over the head with patronizing endearments. Parents and teachers looking for quality arts education, look no further. Adventure Stage is well worth your time.
Rating: ★★★
Six Stories Tall continues through December 13th at Vittum Theater, 1012 N. Noble (map), with weekday performances for school groups and weekend matinees for the general public. Tickets are $15-$25, and are available by phone (773-342-4141) or online through their website (check for half-price tickets at Goldstar.com). Recommended for ages 8 and up (3rd grade and above). Each performance includes a post-show talkback with the cast. More information and a complete schedule at AdventureStage.org. (Running time: 90 minutes, no intermission)
Photos by Johnny Knight
artists
cast
Kevin Brown (Drummer, Chorus); Danielle Davis (Rebecca, Marta Elena, Chorus); Mikhail Fiksel (DJ, Chorus); Mark Anthony Gonzalez (Tomas, Stranger, Abuelo, Chorus); Sarah Rose Graber (Sirena, Abuela, Lawn Guy, Chorus); Alexander Knapp (Alfredo, Carbon, Warrior 2, Store Clerk, Chorus); Lance Newton (Boy, Warrior 1, Chester, Chorus); Alyssa Vera Ramos (Emilia, Lupe, Chorus); Sara Sawicki, Tony Garcia (Understudies)
behind the scenes
Tom Arvetis (director), Emilio Robles (asst. director), Phil Claudnic (stage manager); Morgan Gire (asst. stage manager); Brian Bell (dramaturg); Mikhail Fiksel (music direction, composition, sound design); Stephanie Paul (movement director); Brandon Wardell (scenic design), Heather Gilbert (lighting); Jessica Kuehnau Wardell (costumes); Catherine Campbell (props design); Jarrod Bainter (tech director); Johnny Knight (photos)
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