July 2010 Theatre Review by Paul Cosca
That Sordid Little Story
Theatre is unique in that it is capable of inspiring such a wide range of emotions within its audience. In a single evening you can feel a thousand things, and seeing a play can make you connect on a human level in a way that other art forms just aren't capable of. And it is only when a play is truly complete and cohesive that an audience really has a chance to follow the journey of the characters in an emotionally satisfying way. Never have I experienced such a moving theatrical experience as I did watching The New Colony's world premiere of "That Sordid Little Story".
A young man named Billy is on a mission. He has heard two songs from the band That Sordid Little Story and believes that they are telling the story of his life. He leaves his home (and his sick mother) to go and find the band, in the hopes that when he finds them, they will be able to tell him who his real father is. In typical epic story form, Billy travels over many miles and meets a wide range of people, learning lessons and giving much of himself.
Honestly, I am often very underwhelmed by epic plays. "Peer Gynt" never thrilled me. "Candide" never inspired me. Too often these shows (or adaptations of them) are too long, too rambling, and just don't make for a good story. One person bumbling through a bunch of random situations is nothing more than a less interesting version of "Alice in Wonderland". So what makes "That Sordid Little Story" different? A lot, actually.
First,
there is music. A lot of original musicals come out of Chicago
every year, but very few have a score as solid as this one. The
five piece bluegrass band (four of which were also the composers) is
incredibly harmonious. They have written an entire CD worth of
songs that truly showcase how amazing bluegrass can be.
Sordid's score shows a rich, intense complexity intertwined with a
wonderfully classic sound. All of these songs could have been
on the radio in 1950, so the fact that they are all original is
awesome in all sense of the word. These are songs of pain.
Songs of trying your damndest to be happy, even when everything
falls apart. The band in this show know their instruments, they
know their music, and it's a band that I'd love to buy a CD from.
On top of that, there is actually a really great story being told. While Billy starts off being just a touch too generic, the people that he encounters quickly begin to shape his world. While this is very much an ensemble show, there are a few clear standouts. Pat Coakley, as the Candide-esque Billy, is incredibly charming and his journey becomes mesmerizing to watch. Caitlin Chuckta brings her bubbly personality to the ill fated Abby, and almost feels a little underutilized. For me, one of the biggest highlights of the evening is Aaron Alonso as Artemio, the painter. Artemnio doesn't speak a lick of English, but Alonso is so incredibly focused and his objectives are so amazingly clear that the language barrier comes tumbling down. Alonso's performance moved me, and I am not often really moved by fiction.
Nothing is perfect, and "Sordid" has its faults as well. The space they are in at The Viaduct is expansive, to say the least. And because the actors work without amplification, they sometimes have to sacrifice nuance for volume. Also, the huge set made me feel a little far away from the action, especially when it took place at the opposite side of the space. But frankly, these are small quibbles at most, and they do nothing to detract from what is a wonderful experience.
Looking at the musicals that are huge hits on the largest stages in the nation, I can see "That Sordid Little Story" fitting right up there with the likes of "Jersey Boys" and "Million Dollar Quartet". This show has a score that is just as solid as any other and has a unique perspective that is hard to find in the mainstream. Am I saying that "That Sordid Little Story" would be a huge Broadway success? I don't know. Should some producer give this show one hell of a good chance? Absolutely.
"That Sordid Little Story", directed by Andrew Hobgood, runs Thursday-Saturday at 7:30pm through August 7, 2010. All performances are at The Viaduct (3111 N. Western Ave.), and tickets are $25. For more information, or to purchase tickets, go to www.thenewcolony.org. For more information on this show, please visit the Theatre In Chicago That Sordid Little Story page.
About Paul Cosca
Paul
Cosca is a writer, actor, director, designer, and critic who loves
the city of Chicago. Originally from California, Cosca moved to the
windy city in 2005 and got a BFA in acting from Roosevelt University.
He has acted and directed in several theatres in the city and is the
artistic Director of Brikenbrak Theatre Project, a theatre that is
devoted to challenging the way people think.
Cosca is devoted to creating a dialogue between all kinds of people in the theatre community. He believes that actors, directors, writers, critics, and theatre lovers should all engage each other, and that the flow of communication is what makes theatre such a vibrant community. He would love to hear what you think, not only about his reviews, but about other shows you've seen. Feel free to send him an email at paulcosca@gmail.com.