Broadsword:
A Heavy Metal Play
Written by Marco Ramirez
Directed by Keira Fromm
at The Gift Theatre, 4802 N. Milwaukee (map)
thru Nov 24 | tickets: $20-$30 | more info
Check for half-price tickets
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Faust meets heavy metal
The Gift Theatre presents
Broadsword: A Heavy Metal Play
Review by Keith Glab
Broadsword: A Heavy Metal Play makes its Chicago premiere as the 50th production in The Gift Theatre history. Richie, a former member of a struggling heavy metal band called Broadsword, has been missing for six months and is finally declared dead. The other three members of the band convene in Richie’s cluttered basement following the memorial service to reminisce, argue, and drink.
A phenomenal cast is highlighted by John Kelly Connolly as Nicky the drummer and Cyd Blakewell as Becca, the Broadsword groupie who dated Tony before he embarked upon his solo career. Connolly’s impeccable comedic instincts carry most of the action, but he never plays for laughs, handling his character’s serious moments equally well. The emotionally-charged Blakewell gives heartbreaking depth to what could easily have been a one-dimensional character. Franken makes the Devil-like Man in White casually sinister, Spencer’s quirky Dr. Thorne is nonetheless believable, and Gawlik plays the mundane Tony with earnest simplicity. James D. Farruggio draws the short straw as Victor, a character given very little to do in the play other than serve as the fourth member of the band.
Stephen H. Carmody’s incredible set makes the play look as though it was written to be produced on The Gift Theatre’s uniquely claustrophobic stage. A couple of technical effects for supernatural occurrences get realized extremely well. Surprisingly (and refreshingly for those of us who aren’t into heavy metal), the amount of music in the production is minimal.
There’s some danger of missing a key plot point or character detail in this short play (that includes a superfluous intermission). But this Faustian tale is simple enough to enjoy even if you do miss a detail while rewarding you for paying close attention. It combines humor with heart and otherworldliness with humanity. Broadsword may not present a completely unique idea, but a typically well-executed production from the Gift Theatre ensemble provides a fresh spin on a classic story.
Rating: ★★★
Broadsword continues through November 24th at The Gift Theatre, 4802 N. Milwaukee (map), with performances Thursdays-Saturdays at 7:30pm, Sundays 2:30pm. Tickets are $20-$30, and are available by phone (773-283-7071) or online through BrownPaperTickets.com (check for half-price tickets at Goldstar.com). More information at TheGiftTheatre.org. (Running time: 90 minutes, includes an intermission)
Photos by Joshua Longbrake
artists
cast
Chuck Spencer (Dr. Thorne), Cyd Blakewell (Becca), John Kelly Connolly (Nicky), James D. Farruggio (Victor), Gabriel Franken (Man in White), John Gawlik (Tony) Paul D’Addario (u/s Tony)
behind the scenes
Keira Fromm (director), J. Christopher Brown (asst. director), Stephen H. Carmody (set design), Claire Sangster (lighting design), Izumi Inaba (costumes), Emily Guthrie (props), John Tovar, SAFD (fight choreography), Sammi Grant (dialect coach), Corinne Kabat (stage manager), Joshua Longbrake (photos).
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