Review: Wake: A Folk Opera (The Whiskey Rebellion Theatre)

  
  
Wake: A Folk Opera 

Written by Jessica Wright Buha 
Music by Jenn Romero  
Directed Aileen McGroddy 
Berger Park Mansion, 6205 N. Sheridan (map) 
thru Oct 28  |  tickets: $15   |  more info 
  
Check for half-price tickets  
  
  
  Read entire review 

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Nice moments, but not enough for a satisfactory whole

The Whiskey Rebellion Theatre presents

Wake: A Folk Opera

Review by Anuja Vaidya

The story of two strangers and their chance meeting is told through song in an operatic venture by The Whiskey Rebellion. While the story itself leaves much to be desired, the songs are melodic and beautifully executed.

Wake: A Folk Opera chronicles one night in the lives of Joel and Risa. Joel comes home to find Risa, a girl he does not know, tending to his mothers beloved plants. It falls upon her to inform him that his mother has died and that the funeral happened without him knowing. As the night wears on we find out more about his mother’s death, what it means to him and what it means to Risa as well. Being a folk opera, the story unfolds in song. Two musicians, who are also on stage, provide the musical accompaniment.

The word ‘stage’ is used loosely because there is no conventional stage. The show is performed in a room in the Berger Park mansion with two rows of chairs along one wall. This choice of venue is perhaps one of the show’s most interesting aspects, placing the audience in a house that feels old and empty, as though its caretaker has left. This ties in perfectly with the plot.

Emmy Bean does a commendable job playing the troubled but quirky and endearing Risa. So much so, that she overshadows Aaron Lawson, who plays Joel. They are both wonderful singers, but that does not make up for the fact that the story isn’t particularly captivating.

There are some sweet moments. The scene where Risa talks about the lady in blue (her name for Joel’s mother) and what type of woman she was, is one such moment. So is the scene where Joel wonders if he caused his mother a lot of worry when he lied about breaking a bottle with a ship inside as a child.

However, no moment really makes you empathize with the characters. Perhaps that is because this one-hour show does not give you an in-depth look at any of them. At best, we get a few interesting stories that remain underdeveloped. Take, for instance, Risa’s story. We get a brief snippet of her history, but it is not enough. Several questions about her remain unanswered and, hence, the emotional gap between her and the audience is never bridged.

The play also tends to drag. Some moments move so slowly that their significance diminishes. The scene where Risa heats up ding-dongs for their dinner has the potential to be a scene that draws you in and makes you feel for them, but it doesn’t. Neither does the ending leave you with a sense of closure. It is almost meaningless because you aren’t emotionally involved in the first place.

With the number of shows playing in Chicago at any given time of the year, some are hits and some are bound to be misses. Wake is the latter, and giving it a miss might be the way to go.

Rating: ★★

Wake: A Folk Opera continues through October 28th at Berger Park Mansion, 6205 N. Sheridan (map), with performances Fridays-Sundays at 7:30pm.  Tickets are $15 suggested donation. More information at their Facebook page.  (Running time: 1 hour, no intermission)

Photos by Joe Mazza 

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artists

cast

Emma Bean (Risa); Aaron Lawson (Joel); Jenn Romero, John Szymanski (The House)

behind the scenes

Aileen McGroddy (director); Katy Bressman (stage manager); Kate Welham (production manager, co-producer); Liz Rice (asst. production manager, co-producer); Joe Mazza (photos);