Theatre & Stage reviews by SalsaChicago.com critic Al Bresloff

"Pacific" (thru March 27th)Ê

World Premiere after World Premier are happening in Chicago. This is marvelous for the theater community as we get to enjoy ( or dislike) plays that have yet to be seen by those folk in the "East" (you know who). The Steppenwolf Merle Reskin Garage Theatre, has been a home for many of these and now are presenting a work by Andrew Case titled " Pacific. Directed by Molly Reagan, this is a story that deals with a couple's struggle with tragedy, the wife's relationship with her estranged brother and a look at the nature of responsibility for all of us; to ourselves, to our family and to the world around us.

This 80 minutes (no intermission) of theater moves quite swiftly as Ms. Regan's cast of actors unravel the bits and pieces, to open our eyes to what has happened in the lives of each of our characters. Rebecca Spence ( an eerie, but solid performance)is Susan, a professor, who has had a difficult time adjusting to the tragedy that has changed her life and that of her husband , Robert (a strong and moving performance by James Krag). The brother, Anderson (as always, Brian Hamman, a notable Shakespearean actor is superb). This fractured family examines their relationships and the loss of a child by drowning that has caused Susan and Robert to drift apart. Robert is considering a new job in a new area that would cause them leave their beautiful ocean front home (a great set designed by John Dalton ) will almost make you wish you could take your shoes off and go for a walk along the shore and the sound by Victoria DeIorio and lighting by J.R. Lederle complete that portion of the picture. This is an intimate theater which truly makes this production feel as you are eavesdropping into the lives of this fractured family.

"Pacific" will run through March 27th with performances as follows: Thursday-Saturday evenings at 8 p.m. Sundays at 3 p.m. and 7 p.m. Tickets are $15 (yes, that is right, just a bit more than a movie for LIVE theater) and tickets can be purchased at the Steppenwolf Theatre located just down the street at 1650 N. Halsted, ( the Merle Reskin Garage is located at 1624 N. Halsted) by calling 312-335-1650 or online at www.steppenwolf.org.