They Died Where They Lied
Written by Sofia Fredé
Directed by Matthew Isler and Mark Litwicki
at The Den Theatre, 1333 N. Milwaukee (map)
thru Dec 1 | tickets: $15-$20 | more info
Check for half-price tickets
Read review
Low-stakes comedy with high-brow humor
Akvavit Theatre presents
They Died Where They Lied
Review by Keith Glab
A thirty-something couple gets drunk and bickers while camping out. That just about summarizes They Died Where They Lied, Swedish playwright Sofia Fredén’s simple comedy. Remarkably, Akvavit Theatre is able to elevate a script in which very little happens into a legitimately engaging production.
Erik (Brian Hoolahan) struggles with feelings of inadequacy because his wife Anna (Mallory Nees) has had many sexual partners in the past but rarely ever shows him that kind of physical affection. Anna is frustrated with Erik’s inability to communicate and express himself. The two drink boxed wine and unearth old resentments, but we don’t get the impression that they ever cover new ground with each other.
When a Thai Woman (Pearl Paramadilok) and Polish Man (Scott Anderson) appear by the campsite, we get the sense that they are the occasion for the story and that we are witnessing more than just a slice of life. These odd, unhappy foreigners live off the land by collecting berries and mushrooms. Rather than elicit a realization in Anna and Eric that their lives perhaps aren’t so terrible by comparison, however, the couple appears predominately unchanged following the encounter.
Despite the lack of momentum, the relationship between Anna and Eric is interesting to watch. The characters are relatable as written and realized with incredible subtlety by Nees and Hoolihan. The entire cast has a great sense of comic timing and finds humor in moments that aren’t obviously comedic under the guidance of co-directors Mark Litwicki and Matthew Isler. Mundane actions such as the removal of contact lenses, a sip of wine, the toss of a twig, or even just an extended pause work as uproarious moments.
The intimate staging of around Chad Eric Bergman’s colorful set helps the subtlety of the performances reach the audience. The sound design works less successfully; a recorded translation of many of the foreign couple’s lines play over their live dialogue, and the odd overlap makes it difficult to understand.
I wish I could also better understand the impetus behind the narrative. The stakes remain low throughout – neither the characters nor their relationship is ever seriously threatened and they do not evolve much over the course of the play. Nevertheless, They Died Where They Lied is billed as a comedy, and in that sense it succeeds. If you enjoy well-executed, intelligent humor with a few hilariously coarse bits thrown in, camp out at The Den Theatre this November.
Rating: ★★★
The Died Where They Lied continues through December 1st at The Den Theatre, 1333 N. Milwaukee (map), with performances Fridays and Saturdays at 7:30pm, Sundays 3pm. Tickets are $15-$20, and are available online through BrownPaperTickets.com (check for half-price tickets at Goldstar.com). More information at AkvavitTheatre.org. (Running time: play length, includes an intermission)
Photos courtesy of Akvavit Theatre
artists
cast
Mallory Nees (Anna), Brian Hoolahan (Erik), Pearl Paramadilok (Thai Woman), Scott W. Anderson (Polish Man)
behind the scenes
Matthew Isler*, Mark Litwicki* (co-directors), Lauren Yarbrough (stage manager), Bergen Anderson* (producer), Chad Eric Bergman* (scenographer), Michael Sater (lighting designer), Christina Marcantonio (costumes), Mikey Moran (sound), Alan Weusthoff (technical director)
* indicates Akvavit Theatre company member
13-1103
