Review: The Burials (Steppenwolf for Young Adults)

Review by Lauren Whalen

Like the well-meaning teacher in The Burials , I was in my teens when Columbine happened. Sixteen years later, I sat in my boss's office, summarizing the active shooter training she'd missed while traveling on business. "When you leave the building, you put your hands in front of you like this," I said, demonstrating, "so the cops know you're not armed and no one shoots at you." Even when politicians sit, literally screaming, on the floor of Congress, in terms of gun violence we have not progressed at all. As a society, we've only gotten worse. Written and directed by female powerhouses Caitlin Parrish and Erica Weiss respectively, The Burials updates Sophocles' Antigone with strong grace and an even stronger anti-gun credo.

Sophie (Olivia Cygan) is a golden girl: a high school senior who's excited to cast her very first vote - for her dad, ambitious Republican politician Ryan Martin (Coburn Goss). But what should be a victorious election day turns horribly tragic when a shooting occurs at Sophie's school, culminating in multiple deaths and injuries as well as the perpetrator's suicide. The gunman? None other than Sophie's brother Ben (Matt Farabee). While Sophie struggles with the tremendous loss, her younger sister Chloe (Becca Savoy) can't see past her own anger, and her father begins using Ben's horrific act for his own political gain. Sophie, who's always prided herself on her loyalty and ideals, starts to see the world in a whole new way, and wonders if she can do anything to change it.

In the hands of a lesser playwright, The Burials could have been a heavy-handed after-school special, the kind that burned-out teachers play at the end of the day for students who couldn't care less. Instead, Parrish paints a nuanced portrait of a family in crisis: two sisters who desperately need the parental guidance they're not getting, who themselves must reconcile the quiet brother they knew with the monster the world sees. As beautiful as Sophie's character is, Chloe is even better: an out lesbian whose father won't use the word "girlfriend" and who always suspected there was something off about Ben. Sophie's world is rocked, but Chloe's been disillusioned for a long time, and the complex relationship between sisters is perhaps Parrish's strongest bit of writing. Director Weiss takes her responsibilities seriously, but never panders to The Burials ' target audience. She's not afraid of the humorous moments that make the more disturbing sequences bearable. Both Weiss and Parrish understand teenagers, what makes them tick, the violent world that even the most sheltered have to face every day.

Though she occasionally overacts, Cygan is perfectly cast as Sophie, the likable overachiever who believes in everything her father stands for until the day she doesn't. Savoy has a gift for portraying eye-rolling yet empathetic adolescents, and her Chloe is spot-on from beginning to end. Though only seen in video flashbacks, Farabee brings a misanthropic intelligence to the enigmatic Ben, and Goss perfectly rounds out the Martin family with a nuanced portrayal of a hungry politician who hasn't been the best parent. Kristina Valada-Viarsshines in the dual role of a newscaster who's seen it all, and a sympathetic teacher who genuinely cared for all three Martin children.

Smart, true and timely, The Burials is ideal for the high school students it strives to reach. It's also a stunning reminder to adults who remember the early school shootings and wonder what else can be done. In short, The Burials is for all of us who look over our shoulders, aware that on any given day, we could be shot, and hope against hope for a new reality.

The Burials continues through October 22nd at Steppenwolf Theatre, 1650 N. Halsted (map), with public performances Oct 14 at 7:30pm, Oct 15 at 3pm and Oct 22 at 3pm & 7:30pm. School performances are Tuesday-Friday at 10am, and are reserved for school groups only. Tickets are $20 (students: $15), and are available by phone (312-335-1650) or online through their website (check for half-price tickets at Goldstar.com ). More information at Steppenwolf.org. (Running time: 90 minutes without intermission)

behind the scene

Erica Weiss (director), Courtney O'Neill (scenic design), Alarie Hammock (costume design), (lighting design), Matt Chapman (sound design), Joseph Burke (projection design), Rachel Flesher (fight choreographer), Tess Golden (stage manager), JC Clementz, Tam Dickson (casting), Hallie Gordon (artistic producer), Michael Brosilow (photos)

Tags: 16-1023, Alarie Hammock, Antigone, Aurora Adachi-Winter, Becca Savoy, Caitlin Parrish, Chicago Theater, Coburn Goss, Courtney O'Neill, Erica Weiss, Hallie Gordon, J.R. Lederle, JC Clementz, Joel Boyd, Joseph Burke, JR Lederle, Kristina Valada-Viars, Lauren Whalen, Matt Chapman, Matt Farabee, Michael Brosilow, Olivia Cygan, post, Rachel Flesher, Sophocles, Stephanie Andrea Barron, Steppenwolf for Young Adults, Steppenwolf Theatre, Steppenwolf Young Adult Council, Tam Dickson, Tess Golden, Ty Olwin

Category: 2016 Reviews, Lauren Whalen, Steppenwolf