Theatre
& Stage
reviews by SalsaChicago.com critic Al Bresloff
Light
up your life at Victory Gardens- "Hanging
Fire" (thru 12/19)
Victory
Gardens is presenting a delightful, funny
new play about two sisters. Written by Claudia
Allen, "Hanging Fire" tells a story
that shows us two sisters who after a lifetime
of sibling rivalry find that they do have
feelings for one another. The setting is a
small town somewhere in Michigan (Ms. Allen
is known for her "small town realism")
, it is July 4th and Lillian has come with
her son to spend the holiday with her sister
Ruth, who has just had a stroke, wanting her
to get rid of the old house and move into
a retirement home (as she has done) so she
can be cared for. Ruth will have none of this.
Despite her stroke she does very well with
the aid of Deb, a school teacher who rooms
at her home. The story spans 40 years as we
have many flashbacks to the girls in their
youth - their actions, reactions, the boys
they loved or didn't and the paths their lives
took.
Director
Sandy Shinner has put together an oust anding
cast for this sparkling production and has
smoothly paced each step of this wonderful
story. Rachel Stephens is the adult, spirited
Ruth and is as cute as a button. Her youthful
self is handled deftly by Mattie Hawkinson,
who continues to grow as an actress with each
new role she takes on. Lillian is played by
Ann Whitney who has just the right touch and
her young self is played by Bethany Alexander.
The younger sisters play well off each other,
but the older sisters are pure magic to watch.
The rest of the cast is rounded out by Meg
Thalken as Ruth's roomie/pal (a sparkling
performance) and the smooth and cool Les Hinderyckx
plays Donny, the young man from their past
who always loved Ruth, but dated Lillian.
The final piece of the puzzle is Mick Weber
as Calvin the wry and dry son that Lillian
has raised. He is the total Nerd, but during
this week end of transition finds that he
is someone as they all do. The play answers
the question of how to live your life fully,
no matter your age or health, no matter the
circumstances. Each day is a gift- enjoy it
and live it.
The
set by John Stark fills the small stage with
the feel of the country home and the lighting
by Rita Pietrasek is perfect. Andrew Hobson's
sound with the exception of the dog barking
works to finish the story and Carol J. Blanchard's
costumes work with the piece. "Hanging Fire"
will play on the Mainstage at the Victory
Gardens Theater through December 19th with
performances as follows:
