Unshelved
Written by Beth Kander
Directed by Lisa Hodge Kander
at Athenaeum Theatre, 2936 N. Southport (map)
thru March 2 | tickets: $25 | more info
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Leave this one on the shelf
Eclectic Theatre presents
Unshelved
Review by Clint May
For Eclectic’s sophomore season, their world premiere of Unshelved feels like a freshman effort. Its problems are inherent from the very first exchange—establishing two characters with exposition so unbelievably clunky they might as well just address us directly. What follows over the next two hours is an object lesson in the dictionary of things you learn about in high school English but must learn the hard way to use judiciously. From metaphors that are ham-fisted to foreshadowing that borders on prescience, what should be a poignant family study in Alzheimer’s and its ripple effects descends into little more than a poorly scripted after-school special.
As Audrey regresses further into the past, the story becomes more and more scattered. Eloise’s inexplicable arrival in the late first act is so jarring it was odd that no one got up and walked her off stage and back to the episode of HBO’s “GIRLS” she wandered out of. There’s an overwhelming lack of focus of which Eloise is just the most obvious example. Her analysis that art born out of another’s hurt is beautiful contrasting with Rye’s presumption that it’s exploitative is a wholly unnecessary segue. Audrey’s inadvertent revelation of family secrets keeps the theme of one-element-too-many going strong. There’s distasteful attempts at humor where there shouldn’t be and none to be found where it could be, and Playwright Beth Kander seems to meta-critique herself by having Bill analyze Rye’s writing. In fact, she has the good professor give Rye-cum-her high marks. I wish I could do the same. Having Audrey literally unshelve the set, then having Rye write about Alzheimer’s in terms of a slowly erasing set of encyclopedias—it thuds with the weight of those same books loudly hitting the stage.
It’s therefore no surprise that Speller and Graff can’t find anything real to latch onto in characters that mostly read as introverted to insensitive. Speller is clearly talented, but left to be mostly just a constipated man reacting to situations (except for one explosive outburst that is totally out of character), it’s difficult to become invested in his tribulations. Only Rodkin finds any moments that feel right as a woman losing her grip on reality, which is a real feat and earns her extra credit. Director Lisa Hodge Kander (I don’t know if there’s a relation to the playwright) seems at a loss to make the material come to life with a sense of genuine urgency or to reveal themes of self-identity that struggle to break through the murky script.
This is a very personal disease to many people because almost everyone—including myself—can think of someone dealing with it or helping someone deal with it. Treating it with humor and gravity in equal measure is absolutely possible – I’ve seen a production where it was done successfully. What that show had that this doesn’t is a bracingly beautiful honesty about the tragicomedy of the human condition that Unshelved understands only superficially.
Rating: ★½
Unshelved continues through March 2nd at Athenaeum Theatre, 2936 N. Southport (map), with performances Thursdays-Saturdays at 8pm, Sundays 2pm. Tickets are $25, and are available by phone (773-935-6875) or online through OvationTix.com (check for half-price tickets at Goldstar.com). More information at Eclectic-Theatre.com. (Running time: 2 hours, includes an intermission)
artists
cast
Debra Rodkin (Audrey), Mike Speller (Bill), Michelle Annette (Eloise), Johnny Graff (Rye)
behind the scenes
Lisa Hodge Kander (director), Jeff Irlbeck (lighting design, technical direction), Patrick Iven (set and sound design), Alyssa Jaksa (stage manager), Kelly Levander (prop design), Rebecca Musynski (costume design), Mara Sullivan (props design)
14-0217
