Theatre & Stage reviews by SalsaChicago.com critic Al Bresloff

Hughie (thru November 21)

The Owen Theatre of The Goodman is a small, intimate venue. One that is perfect for small, intimate plays, such as the less than an hour "Hughie" written by the legendary Eugene O'Neill and starring the very legenday Brian Dennehy. How fortunate are we that Mr. Dennehy graces our stage as often as he can. For this we need to thank the Goodman and its Artistic Director, Robert Falls. This is a two character play that tells the tale of Erie Smith (a strong solid performance despite an audience member NOT turning off a cell phone and letting it ring three times), a small time gambler living in a seedy, sleazy hotel (that has seen its best days) on New York's West Side. Erie has just returned home (for lack of a better word) after a four day frinking binge. There is a new night clerk, a replacement for Hughie who has just recently passed away (and in fact, his passing was the cause of Erie's binge) and rather than walk the long staircase to his "cell", Erie prefers to talk the new clerk's ear off, the topic: his late night visits with Hughie. Erie lived the high life while Hughie lived the quiet one. While Erie was betting the ponies, runningerrands for the "books" and cavorting with showgirls, Hughie was building a family for himself. This is a character study that will leave you wanting for more. Did Hughie really live his fantasies through the tales that Erie told him; did Erie dream that he could have what Hughie had, a wife, a child- a life? This lonely man with his big stories is indeed a man who is lost; his past is gone, his present weak and his hopes and futures very dim.

As always Mr. Dennehy is amazing. The only drawbacks to this entire production would have to be that the sound didn't carry very well (we had some trouble hearing and these lines are worth hearing) and the sightlines. While the set by Eugene Lee is masterful- this IS one seedy looking place, there are a few points where the audience on the sides had to lean over and they still missed some of the staging. The other actor, Joe Grifasi (a face you have seen on stage, screen and tv, but never remember his name) adds the perfect touch to the new night clerk. He didn't know Hughie, but he appears to have the same type of life and Erie senses this as we near the end. Oh, how I wish there had been a second act to show us how this new relationship works for this lost soul. I guess Mr. O'Neill wanted us to figure it out for ourselves.

This production will play through November 21st with performances as follows:

Tuesdays at 7:30 p.m
Wednesdays at 7:30 p.m.
Thursdays at 7:30 p.m.
Fridays at 8:00 p.m.
Saturdays at 2 p.m. and 8 p.m.
and Sundays at 7:30 p.m.

Tickets are priced at $20 for the balcony and $35 for the main floor and mezzanine. Tickets may be purchased at the Theater box office located at 170 N. Dearborn, charged by phone at 312-443-3800 , or online at www.goodmantheatre.org.