The Woman In Black (First Folio)

What do you think about "Horror" plays?
I usually think they are dumb, because they are never scary. I always go to a play and think, "How...in this proscenium space, can you possibly scare me? I am a grown ass man!"
In fact, most scary plays are more historically based and not even the least bit frightening, but there are a few companies in town that can give you a jolt from time to time.
Where you might least expect a nutpunch of fright is in the heart of Oak Brook at First Folio Theatre Company.

I must admit that I don't know the first thing about First Folio. Mainly because I don't ever go to the suburbs, and when I do it's to go to Arby's or Walmart. It seems like it is managed and Artistically Directed by a couple people and that's it. Their lengthier Artistic Associates list boasts some big names including Nick Sandys (who is British) and Melanie Keller (who is this foxy little red head).
The talent on their list is unmistakable.
In Woman In Black the same holds true featuring two of Chicago's top talents.

Firstly, there's this dude named Kevin McKillip who has a speaking voice to rival the best in town. He also sort of has Steve Carrell face. Having Steve Carrell face is a compliment dressed up in a weird sounding statement, but mainly it means you have a defined nose and a strong chin, but your eyes are far enough apart and you can wear any color tie. You all should be so lucky enough to have Steve Carrell face.
McKillip's teammate on this project is none other than the legendary Joe Foust. Do you know about this guy Joe Foust? I bet you are immediately thinking of the magician and alchemist from the 1500's but that was Steve Foust. No, this is a different guy all together.
When I first moved to town, I spent some time hanging out with some Defiant Theatre people and this character Joe Foust was often the topic of conversation. His excellent acting skills were discussed, but more importantly, it was his wild streak that people really loved. For example, legend has it that during a performance of Defiant's "A Chorus Line", Foust punched an usher and then spit on a fellow cast mate. When asked to apologize, he quoted a line from "Equus" took off his pants and ran to a nearby graveyard. Now this is a mild story about Joe Foust, and while I had never seen him perform, I have had the opportunity to have a cocktail with him and meet his beautiful family and children, and I have to tell you that he is one of the sweetest men I have ever met in my life. And better than all of that, he is really an incredible actor.

In Woman In Black, Foust and McKillip play these 2 dudes who are going to be putting on a play version of this story that happened to one of them. It concerns a man who goes to this mansion because he needs some receipts from this lady who just died. When he gets out there to the mansion, no one in the town will look at him or talk to him, presumably because they are scared of the house. Well the guy gets this dog and they stay out at the house and also there is a ghost.

I don't want to spoil anything, but there is a ghost.

So that's all I can tell you about the play I'm afraid, but you gotta see these guys make it awesome. It's really great, and you get to go see this really cool mansion where the show is called the Mayslake Peabody Estate. So if you are looking for a great place to take a date this weekend, you will definitely with out question get laid from taking them to see this play.


A+

-Anderson Lawfer, Eric Roach