Steadstyle Chicago
March 2008 Theatre Review by Meghan Gillogly
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Bronte
Critical Evaluation: ** out of ****
(Left) Susan Shunk, Carrie A. Coon and Patrick Clear; (Right) Patrick Clear and Susan Shunk in Remy Bumppo Theatre's production of "Bronte". Photos by Johnny Knight.
Remy Bumppo Theatre presents "Bronte," starring Susan Shunk, Carrie A. Coon, Rachel Sondag, Linda Gillum, Gregory Anderson, and Patrick Clear. This is a story about three Victorian sisters and the shared happenings in their lives and how they lived in isolation on the Yorkshire moors, whose fiction writing was possibly the single most joy and escape in their lives. Their reality was one of death and lost hope. Their writings brought not only comfort but success to them unexpectedly when the mere vacation of despair that writing provided for them was all they really hoped for.
The unique theatrical style of this production described as a "shared experience" is not a concept that went over well in the action of the play. At the top of the play, the actors break the fourth wall and talk to the audience to set up what is about to come. Once the story actually starts, the women add their specific English accents and the play begins. The transition this way did not clarify what was going on, not to mention the fact that some of the actors played multiple roles which further confused matters. Whether it was said in the text of the story or not, I found it hard to be interested in the story at all.
While Linda Gillum (Bertha/Cathy) had an artistic and creative take on her dual roles of the ladies' fictional characters come to life on stage, the idea of someone not really real coming to life was not clearly explained. One didn't always know who she was or why she was there. But even as an entertainment device to help tell the story, it was not enough to make me want to get involved with the play anymore than I already was. Overall, this play was dry and slow and though I appreciate the obvious give and take between the actors and their relationships, the story itself was less than desirable for me to follow and enjoy.
"Bronte" runs about 2 hours and thirty minutes in length with one 15 minute intermission. The show continues through May 4, 2008 at the Victory Gardens Theater's Mainstage at 2257 N. Lincoln Ave. Tickets are $35-$40 and discounts are available for seniors and students. Call 773-871-3000 for the Box office.
About Meghan Gillogly
Meghan Gillogly was born and raised in Florida and has been involved with the arts since the age of two years old. She started as a dancer in everything from tap, jazz, ballet and some ballroom and taught in Orlando for a year. She had the opportunity to study and perform with the Sarasota Ballet of Florida, with Frank Hatchett, a master choreographer from NYC, and danced on Disney's Cinderella castle stage. She became involved with the theater at nine years old with a local community theater and was hooked ever since. Throughout high school she performed in many classic plays including "Guys and Dolls," "Me and my Girl," "Once Upon a Mattress," and "Good News".
After high school, she attended and studied musical theater at Florida State University, Florida Southern College, American Academy of Dramatic Arts in New York City, and is currently enrolled at Columbia College here in Chicago to complete her Bachelor's degree. She also had the pleasure of studying with Michael Pieper at Second City, a talented and colorful director. She moved to Chicago two years ago and loves it! Meghan has had experience with creative and analytical writing most recently when reviewing "Massacre" at the Goodman Theatre this past spring for class.
Upon graduating from Columbia, Meghan plans to pursue a professional career as an actress on stage and film and is excited at the great opportunities Chicago offers to all of the arts professionally. She is grateful for the opportunity to work with Steadstyle and see some of the world's best actors perform here in Chicago. She also looks forward to not only experiencing the performances but becoming educated as she is a budding actress herself!
Bronte from Page to Stage
Review by Alan Bresloff
Remy
Bumppo Theatre Company is a very innovative troupe. They bring
to Chicago's stages emotional and ethical complexities of society
through the power of theatrical language. Their latest
production is Polly Teale's drama "Bronte" directed
by James Bohnen. This is the third play in a trilogy by Ms.
Teale exploring the life of Charlotte Bronte and her literature
("Jayne Eyre the most notable). This tale explores her
life along with her two sisters, all spinsters until the end, and
their fascination with the written word. While their lives were
boring to the outside world, they used the people around them to
create some of the greatest romance novels and poems ever
written. The wild and crazy life of their brother, an
alcoholic, sex-driven, lazy good-for-nothing gave them all the
material they needed to make these stories work for the readers.
The entire play takes place in the kitchen of their home in Haworth, West Yorkshire in 1845, a time when women were for the most part not allowed to read and write, but their father enjoyed reading and taught them to do so. This allowed them to succeed to the heights that they were able to reach in their very short lives. The three actresses begin the play as just that, actresses and as they explain the three spinsters, they become them giving us a warm feeling towards each and a better understanding of how they became who they were.
The three sisters are played by Carrie A. Coon (a delightful Emily), Rachel Sondag (Anne, who is quieter and less known than her sisters) and Susan Shunk (a delight to watch as Charlotte). Their brother is played with great energy by Gregory Anderson, and Patrick Clear plays their father and all the other male characters. Linda Gillum portrays Bertha/Cathy, a character that represents the thoughts and writings and characters in the stories written by Emily and Charlotte. She writes on the floor, growls like a dog and attacks life itself.
This is a very intellectual play requiring deep concentration by the audience. Act one, which sets the premise must truly be watched closely or Act two will be lost. If you have never read the works of the Bronte's or seen the movies, it might be a good idea to read "Jane Eyre", or at least a condensed version. This is truly a romantic piece and from watching the audience, loved more by the women than the men, but it is striking in its direction and its acting. Tim Morrison's set has all the appearance of what we would expect and the overall production is sharp and well directed. Each actor develops a character that we believe in and one cannot help but fall in love with these sisters who defied all odds of the time they lived in, thanks to a very liberal father). We are exposed not only to these actresses becoming the three sisters, but also, the sisters becoming their own fictional characters and the transitions are done masterfully.