Steadstyle Chicago
	February 2010 Theatre Review by Chris Arnold
	Orange Flower Water It has been a long time since I have experienced a play that made me walk out feeling like I had been punched in the stomach.  So my hat goes off to BackStage Theatre Company for doing so with their phenomenal production of Craig Wright's "Orange Flower Water". After years of maintaining a platonic friendship, David (played with great sensitivity by Jason Huysman) and Beth (the quirky, but emotionally deep Shelley Nixon) begin an inescapable love affair.  "Orange Flower Water" works because it lives in the grey area.  Neither marriage is perfect, but love is evident in both.  Playwright Craig Wright explores the effects an affair plays on the lovers, as well as the people being left behind.  The spouses, Cathy (Maggie Kettering) and Brad (Tony Bozzuoto) performed the two hardest, but most compelling, moments of the play. "Orange Flower Water" is an all-around intimate play, and Director Jessica Hutchinson uses the Chopin basement to her advantage.  Hutchinson created a voyeuristic atmosphere by staging it in the round, and soliciting ultra-naturalistic performances from the cast.  To add to the voyeuristic quality the cast remains onstage for the duration of the production to watch the action unfold. If there was an award for less is more it would go to this design team.  Scenic Designers Brandon Wardell and Jessica Kuehnau innovatively use a single bed (moved in different positions) to signify locales.  Lighting designer Jared Moore nicely established time and place, while highlighting the subtext with mood lighting.  Sound Designer Heath Hayes created a soundtrack both effective and worthy of a purchase on I-Tunes.  Craig Wright has penned a hard pill to swallow, and the believable performances make it that much more difficult.  However, "Orange Flower Water" is one of the best plays I have seen in a long time, and not to be missed.  Performances for "Orange Flower Water" are every Thursday-Saturday at 7:30 and every Sunday at 3:00 through March 27, 2010 at The Chopin Theatre, 1543 W. Division, Chicago.  Tickets are $20 and $18 for seniors.  Student and Group rates available.  Tickets are available by phone by calling 800-838-3006, online at www.brownpapertickets.com/event/81266, or at the theater on the nights of performance.    About Chris Arnold Chris Arnold has been in Chicago for seven years where he has directed for Act One Studios, the side project, Bailiwick, Illinois Theatre Center, LiveWire Theater, and Diamante Productions, amongst others.  For three years he was a company member with Circle Theatre, and directed the Jeff Recommended productions "Escanaba in Love" and "Boy".  He also directed "A Midsummer Night's Dream" with Circle Theatre Youth Ensemble.  He is the former Associate Artistic Director for Thunder & Lightning Ensemble where he directed "Jack Goes Boating," "Red Light Winter" (Named one of the top five memorable productions by a smaller troupe: New City 2008), and "Earl the Vampire".  Chris has interned at Steppenwolf and Goodman Theatre.  While at the Goodman he had the opportunity to serve as the Script Manager for the world premiere of "Blue Surge" by Rebecca Gilman.  When not directing Chris teaches in the Literature & Theatre Department(s) at The Chicago Academy for the Arts, where he has directed "Doubt" and "The Pillowman".  He writes for Chicagocritic.com, and is a member of the Artistic/Technical Team for the Jeff Committee.  Spring 2010 Chris will be a Teaching Artists with American Theatre Company as part of their American Mosaic Program.  He holds an MFA in Directing (with a focus in Critical Studies) from The University of Memphis.