The Earliest Known Photo
of Men Drinking Beer
Written and Directed by Sean Benjamin
at Neo-Futurist Theater, 5153 N. Ashland (map)
thru April 12 | tickets: $20 | more info
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Poorly executed and dull
Drinking & Writing Theater presents
The Earliest Known Photo of Men Drinking Beer
Review by Lauren Whalen
There’s a lot to be said for a valiant effort. However, the best intentions do not an effective production make, and if not properly executed, a well-intentioned play can lodge itself firmly in the camp of “80 minutes the audience member will never get back”. This is the case for Drinking & Writing Theater’s latest, The Earliest Known Photo of Men 
“Edinburgh Ale,” the actual photo in question (see below), shows three men looking both merry and contemplative over glasses of ale. Taken by Robert Adamson and David Octavius Hill in circa 1843 Scotland, the three subjects are Scotsman Dr. George Bell, writer James Ballantine and Hill himself. In 2014, a troupe of actors are rehearsing a play about this very photograph, and alternate between the world of the play and discussions of immortalizing oneself through art and family, the hypocrisy of the photo (Dr. George Bell was an advocate of prohibiting alcohol from the poor), and the implications of class differences and artistic media.
And it’s – quite simply put – very boring.
After the show, my viewing companion remarked, “I can always tell when you’re not into a play, because you start looking at your nails.” Indeed, my chipped polish got quite the examination during The Earliest Known Photo of Men Drinking Beer. I was initially optimistic about the play: it was written by and stars two long-time alums of The Neo-Futurists, one of Chicago’s most legendary theater companies, and had a promising premise. It’s interesting to explore the past as seen in a little-known photograph, and ponder what this means for the state of art in the present day. However, Sean Benjamin’s script is extremely weak, often blurring the lines between past and present, the world of the play and the real-world rehearsal, in such a way that’s confusing and frustrating rather than compelling. Intelligent ramblings on a page or in conversation are one thing, on stage quite another.
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The slow, dragging pace makes the uneven script even worse. Eighty minutes feels like an intermission-less two hours, and I could only detect the climax when a character started yelling. The actors are undoubtedly talented, but their abilities are drastically reduced in this context. Benjamin’s George Ballantine and harried playwright are both incredibly whiny, and Steve Mosqueda isn’t much better as David Octavius Hill. As a finicky, pregnant actress who takes on the roles of performer Isabella Glyn and Dr. George Bell, Carolyn Shoemaker-Benjamin has an amiable trill and a few funny moments, but mostly joins in the irritating cacophony. Only Kevin Alves, as photographer Robert Adamson and a very focused actor who resolves to stay in character through the entire process, presents any moments remotely relatable and real.
I see what Earliest Known Photo was trying to do, and I appreciate it. But as I said earlier, intention and execution are two very different things, and in this case good intentions were not enough. What could have been a thoughtful journey into the minds of historical figures and artists is instead a slow and tired argument, and no one emerges as the winner.
Rating: ★
The Earliest Known Photos… continues through April 12th at The Neo-Futurist Theater, 5153 N. Ashland (map), with performances Thursdays-Saturdays at 8pm. Tickets are $20, and are available online at BrownPaperTickets.com (check for half-price tickets at Goldstar.com). More information at DrinkingAndWriting.com. (Running time: 80 minutes, no intermission)
Photos by Gosia Matuszewska
artists
cast
Kevin Alves (Robert Adamson), Sean Benjamin (James Ballantine), Steve Mosqueda (David Octavius Hill), Carolyn Shoemaker-Benjamin (Isabella Glyn/Dr. George Bell)
behind the scenes
Sean Benjamin (producer, writer, director), Carolyn Shoemaker-Benjamin (assistant director), Steve Mosqueda (producer), Ivy Reid (lighting designer), Liz Schroeder (costumes), Conrad Conway (set design), Gary Damico (stage manager), Kristin May, Kara Rodis, Melissa Shoemaker (house managers), Gosia Matuszewska (photos)
Songs written by James Ballantine with score performed by John Szymanski.
14-0309
