The Petrified Forest (Strawdog Theater)

The cast of Petrified Forest poses for a picture

Strawdog Theatre Company is known far and wide for their immersive work and high quality productions. If you were ever telling some stranger from out of town about a place to go see a really great storefront show, Strawdog would undoubtedly cross your moistened lips.

Taking classic plays, or unknown little chestnuts and giving them new, unbridled life is the Strawdog calling card, so it should be no surprise to you or your family that they have decided to tackle a play from the 30's called "The Petrified Forest".

In 4th grade, my class had to write reports on National Parks. We were each assigned a different park and much to my disappointment, I got stuck with the boring ass Petrified Forest.

At the time, you have to understand, there was no "Internet" so trying to find any pictures of this place was almost impossible, but why?

The 1st and most obvious reason is because that is where alien spaceships land and the government doesn't want us to see what is really going on. The 2nd and less feasible reason is because no one really cares about Petrified Forest National Park.

So anyway, the point of me telling you that is because I don't want you to feel dumb when I start dropping all this knowledge on you. I am an expert, so please don't think I am showing off.

The Petrified Forest is this place in...I wanna say Wyoming where dinosaurs used to live and used to have all this grass. But then, a volcano or something happened and turned all the grass and trees and everything to rocks. Rocks!

So tourism is a very important industry in that part of the country because people from all over the world come to look at these rocks on the ground, or kill someone.

Now the play "The Petrified Forest" is about this little diner on the edge of the park where travelers going to the West Coast might stop from dinner or maybe some gasoline or a jar of liquor. The owner of this diner a guy who is clearly burdened with his old father that complains about everything and tells stories about when he was younger and was in the circus? Or was a cowboy? He also has his almost adult daughter named Gabby that wants to bang everybody.

Gabby takes care of the diner, while outside at the gas pump is a guy named Boze that used to be a football player in Nevada but probably wasn't really that good, but he still wears his jersey every day. Well, I bet you know that Gabby and Boze like to get it on from time to time behind the dad's back. I don't know what the dad thinks, I mean they are out in the middle of nowhere and his daughter is like, 19 years old. All she thinks about is doing it.

Well, one day this creep with a pencil thin mustache comes in and is all sweaty and orders some hamburgers and a beer. He starts talking in this crazy sort of British accent and smoking this cigarette thing.

Well, he's telling Gabby about how he is a roustabout (homeless bum) an how he is traveling to find himself. Well, of course, Gabby wants to bang this guy, too!

Which, by the way, doesn't make too much sense to me. Imagine if you were in the desert and a sweaty, homeless John Waters wandered into your little diner. Talking in his crazy accent about books and his ex-wife, would you want to sleep with him? No! You would be like, "Hey John Waters, why do you sound like that? You are from Baltimore. Why are you walking alone in the desert? Are you here to rape me?"

But not Gabby! Ooooh no, she has her own agenda! She wants to marry this guy and move to France or California or someplace and leave the football guy and Grandpa behind.

So at this point, about 50 minutes into the first act, you start thinking, "Wait, is this play just about people sitting around eating hamburgers? Because I know a great place to listen to weirdos and eat hamburgers for much less than $28 a ticket."

Then, just when you assume this love triangle and this tense cigarette smoking contest will never end, in busts some other guys! Duke Manatee and his gang of gun carrying outlaws are on the run from the law! They are here and they immediately shake things up by... also sitting down and having cigarettes and hamburgers? Yeah, I guess they do.

At intermission, I got to really take a look at the set and appreciate it. Strawdog has a history of making incredible sets that make you feel like a fly on the wall, and this was no exception. A bar and diner tables, surrounded by the beautiful vista of the Cartoon Mountain Range in the heart of America.

The lights went down and here comes the exciting and action filled second act! I could hardly contain myself! Surely this act had death and destruction in store!

The lights came up, and what was everyone doing onstage? You guessed it. Eating hamburgers and talking! "How much is the hamburger budget for this production?" I wondered. "It would be cheaper if they had just bought a whole cow and ground it up themselves."

Now, you and I both know that legendary director and boy wonder Shade Murray isn't just going to let this sitting around continue forever. He loves action and movement, and this work is no different. Without spoiling anymore of the play for you, let me tell you this: There are guns and blood and kissing and action and it all comes to an enthralling conclusion that will leave you gasping with delight and stir up a round of vigorous applause from your friends and lovers!

The performances in this show are the reason to go. Caroline Neff, once again saves a long first act by being girly and wearing an apron. She understands pace and tone better than most which if you didn't know, is WAY more important than "Being good at acting" (which she also is). Knowing how to carry a show is really a special skill that you don't find a lot in Chicago and Neff can do it, and that's why she is Storefront Prom Queen lately.

Shane Kenyon and Paul Fagen play the football player and the creep, respectively. Kenyon has a manly and somehow dark quality to him that you don't see a lot and is refreshing to see onstage and Fagen plays a possible pedophile with grace and dignity. OH! You know who Fagen's character reminds me of? The Shakespeare actor guy who is always eating eggs in "Bus Stop". You all did that play in college, right?

Good. Don't do it as a grown up because that play is stupid.

Jamie Vann leads the gang of criminals as the exceptional Duke Manteeth. A man with nothing to lose and a learned patience that is admirable. Vann always makes interesting choices that, as an actor, I enjoy because even when he plays bad guys or dads or whatever, he is very trustworthy or something. He has a quality to connect with others onstage and make them understand his objectives. I want to paint him.

John Moran and Adam Shalzi as grown up 'Our Gang' Members With Guns are very scary and nice to see together. These guys really love hamburgers.

There are so many standouts in the show that it is hard to even say they standout, because if everyone is good, then how do you know?

BUT, I loved Jim Poole and Janice O'Neil as some old fashioned rich guys and Mark Pracht as a construction worker or something.

Murray knows how to move lots of people around stage and how to build tension, however patient you need to be for it to happen. It will happen, by God and you will love it when it does.

Go out and see this!
Strawdog does cool stuff!



A+


-Anderson Lawfer, Eric Roach

The Conquest To The South Pole (Strawdog Theater)

It’s never been a better time to be alive. Change is sweeping the world, the sun is waking up from its long slumber, and the fast food chicken nugget wars have finally brought us the reasonably priced 20-piece McNugget meal from McDonalds. I can’t get enough of them, and now that they can be purchased for $4.99 (or the Meal Deal for $9.99, which also comes with two medium fries and two medium drinks), this treasure trove of delight is now within reach of the unemployed, who have long dreamed of something to distract them from the defeat of standing in line at the unemployment office.

Manfred Karge’s The Conquest of the South Pole, translated by Calvin McLean, Caron Cadle, & Ralf Remshardt, directed by Kimberly Senior, and produced by Strawdog Theatre Company, seeks to explain what every unemployed person did before Chicken McNuggets were invented – apparently engaging in reenactments in their attics. It makes sense to me, as this is what all Chicago theatre artists do while not getting paid – play make-em-ups in the attics, basements, lofts, and garages of more important buildings filled with employed people.

Senior commands an impressive design team to turn the Strawdog space - the attic above Tutto Fresco – into the attic of an unemployed dude and his lady. As I opened up my McNugget Meal Deal, I began to appreciate that I had two cup holders at my disposal – one for my medium Diet Coke, and one for my medium sweet tea. I get 2 different drinks to make it seem like I’m sharing the Meal Deal with someone else, so that the McDonalds employees don’t think that I’m a fatty. Sometimes I even pretend to be on the phone with the person I’m going to share it with, asking them their beverage preference. I get Sweet and Sour sauce with my nuggets as a precautionary measure, in case the nuggets are dry. Otherwise I prefer them au naturel.

The play starts strangely, the first few exploratory bites always being cautious – no one wants to bite into a dry McNugget. Thankfully, no Sweet and Sour was needed. The cast is pretty juicy and fresh – Jennifer Avery is a real stand-out here, though her character’s connection to fast food might have tipped the scales for me. But she’s also pretty and she acts good, which might be more important. The use of the space is great – functional and elegant – using two 10-piece McNugget boxes both provides an easily measurable benchmark in one’s race for the South Pole of satiety, as well as helping to maintain the illusion that someone is going to share their 20-piece McNugget Meal Deal with someone who is just about to show up.

Karge and his translators throw in a couple of dry nuggets towards the end, but Senior’s choice of sauces, the Sweet and Sour Justine Turner and the Hot Mustard Anderson Lawfer, help to finish off the box. I was glad that my grade-school cafeteria training of eating my French fries first saved me from having to share with the red-tinged gentleman to my right, who thoroughly enjoyed the play and none of my fries. My unwillingness to share my meal is fully validated by the message of the play – that while someone will eat McNuggets that are given to them, they will never be happy unless they can get their own, and will be forced to play make-em-ups in which they dream of reaching the Golden Arches of the South Pole, probably in your attic.

I’d like to thank the Saints for handing me my program in a pleasant manner, and for turning a blind eye to my enormous McDonalds bag.

A

-Mike Ooi

Exclusive Interview: Aly Renee Amidei

There's a new sheriff in charge of Horror Theatre in this town and her name is Aly Renee Amidei. She was recently appointed Artistic Director of Wildclaw Theatre Company.We had a chance to catch up with her after a long night and 8 whole racks of ribs.

Aly! So great to see you! Do you want to share these ribs with us for breakfast?

No thanks, I don’t eat meat from the bone...for breakfast.

Well, whatever. I mean, it’s a little disrespectful, but not the end of the world. So, what have you been up to lately?

Well, WildClaw Theatre just closed it’s most successful play ever, Carmilla.

I saw that!

Me too.

Now if I’m not mistaken, you adapted it into a play also. Is that right?

Yes. I had been mildly obsessed with the play since I was a teenager. WildClaw’s artistic director, Charley Sherman, was encouraging company members to write. So I took up the challenge and we wrote a proposal for the DCA space. We got picked...meaning, the City of Chicago called my bluff and I had no choice but to write it.

Now you say you were into it in high school... was that because you wanted to be taken away by an older, toothier, lesbian stranger?

I am not so sure I was that aware of the lesbian angle when I was 13...all I knew then was that it had vamps and girls. I REALLY liked vampires as a girl. But...now that I think about it I also REALLY liked The Hunger...which had older toothier lesbian vampires. Hmmm.

Well thank you for confirming my theory that all 13 year olds are lesbians. So now that was such a success for your young company, you have decided to take over the reigns as Artistic Director?

Well the company decided...I didn’t just roll in and punch Sherman in the groin. But yes, I will be the new artistic director starting in May. I am very excited. A bit woozy but excited.

I think you are a great choice, and let me tell you why. You, as a costume and set designer, have been involved in hundreds of productions, and know how to deal with that side, and also, you know more about the genre than almost anybody alive. Which in turn makes you super hot and also a little bit gross.

That is an amazing compliment. Thanks.

So, you are a member of some other organizations too, correct?

Yes. I have been at Strawdog for more than five years now...doing costumes, makeup, and a set. Plus writing for the Hit Factory. I recently was the makeup designer for The Master and Margarita.

So what have you learned from being under 2 different Artistic Directors that you can bring to your new job?

Nic (Dimond, Artistic Director at Strawdog) and Charley (Sherman, WildClaw) are super different. I mean there are the obvious differences...but both are passionate about the mission of these two companies. Nic really helped us with the ‘Whole Wide World in a Little Black Box’ concept: immersion, genuine human connections, etc...It looks good on paper...but also works when you are trying to make art. With WildClaw, the mission is putting horror on stage and taking it seriously. Sounds simple right? But it is deceptively tricky. Finding horror to actually put on the stage has been the biggest challenge. There is just not a lot of it out there that fits our mission. We will not being doing Little Shop or Rocky Horror. So we either need to write it ourselves or inspire the horror lovers of the world to write some awesome spooky theatre for us. We want horror to be infectious. And for that infection to spread...whoa...sorry this is getting weird.

Speaking of weird, I have been working on an adaptation of a dream I had that I think you guys might really like. It starts out with this Indian guy getting eaten by rats and birds and then he brings his half-ate ass to America and gets a job at a factory where he falls in love with this centaur but it turns out that it’s really a centaur ghost.

You had me at centaur.

So what’s up next for WildClaw?

Oh how I wish I knew. We definitely have Deathscribe coming up in December. This is our annual radio play festival. We will be opening up for submissions soon. But our next stage play is still being decided. We have a bunch of play readings scheduled and everyone is writing frantically.

Well we are so excited to see what the future holds. You guys are really getting at a market that hasn’t existed before.

Yeah and what is super cool is seeing people in the theatre that had never been to a live play before. And even better, is some of our horror audience is actually going to see more theatre....not just us

Well maybe next time you could talk to us more about some lesbian stuff.

Definitely. I am working on a play where a young girl is seduced by an older woman..but it turns out she is a werewolf....

Then it’s good you are a costume designer, so you can design your own merkins. Werewolf pubes are hard to read on stage.

My entire career has been leading towards that very goal.

-Anderson Lawfer, Eric Roach

The Master and Margarita (Strawdog Theatre Company)

Editor's Note:  This is a conversation between Eric Roach and Simon Ambrose Roachinez "Tha Muthafuckin' Third".  Please be aware that Simon is an unborn fetus that did attend The Master and Margarita with his father, Eric, last night.

Eric
Hi Simon!

Simon
S'up, you white muthafucka!

Eric
Simon, please call me dad.

Simon
Aiight, as long as you call me The Best In The Biz, cracka.

Eric
Ok.  So, what did you think of The Master and Margarita last night?

Simon
Dad, what you think I thought, yo?  I'm all up in mom's belly, son!  I could tell there was some flashin' lights and shit, and people be laughin' at some weird ass devil jokes.  White people be crazy, you know what I'm sayin'?

Eric
I sure do know what you are saying!  Well, The Master and Margarita was a novel originally written by Russian author Mikhail Bulgakov over a period of 12 years.  He wrote it in 1928, then burned it in 1930, started it again in 1931, and kept on writing new drafts of it up until his death in 1940.  Many critics feel the book is one of the best novels of the 20th Century, and one of the foremost Soviet satires.

Simon
Man, the Soviets really love their satires, pop!  Shit was BALLIN', yo!

Eric
It certainly was balling, my boy!  Anyway, Strawdog Theatre just opened their production of the Edward Kemp adaptation of the novel, directed by longtime Chicago storefront stalwart Louis Contey.

Simon
Contey's is that bomb-ass shit that always be poppin', y'all.

Eric
Contey's direction is top-notch, as the staging was amazingly entertaining.  Keeping such a large cast moving and shaking for 2 hours and 15 minutes is a huge challenge, but he was more than up to the task.

Simon
Especially when they all be doin' such a freaky script that don't make NO sense, yo!

Eric
Doesn't make any sense, Simon.  But, yes, it don't make no sense.  But that's okay when you have such a great cross-section of incredible Chicago actors on stage at the same time!  Let's start with the titular couple, shall we?  Dennis Grimes is channelling a young Jeff Daniels in his rock-solid portrayal of The Master, the cowardly playwright at the center of the piece.

Simon
And, dad?  I'd like to break off a piece of that Justine Turner!  WHAAAAAT?  You want some fries with that shake, gurl?

Eric
Yes, Miss Turner is lovely and enchanting as Margarita, the passionate woman who falls for The Master and his subversive play about Pontius Pilate and Jesus.

Simon
The first half of this play was all about Russian bureaucracy, and how the state decided what the citizenry would be allowed to believe as the truth, right, dad?

Eric
HELL YEAH, SON!

Simon
You know I'm the shit, y'all.

Eric
Soon, the play is populated with the otherworldly Professor Woland and his band of nasties.  Woland is played by none other than Tom Hickey, who simply can't contain himself.  Tom really chews up the scenery in this one, giving the devil his due.

Simon
And then there's your homie Anderson Lawfer, playing like a retarded Wookie or something.

Eric
Andy played Behemoth, Woland's talking cat.  And does it with panache!  Only Anderson Lawfer could get into a dirty mascot costume and make you believe in a psychotic cat.  He also pulls off the best line of the show, which brilliantly breaks the fourth wall and serves the context at the same time!

Simon
THIS PLAY BE ALL SMART AND SHIT!

Eric
Oh yes.  This is probably one of the smartest plays I've seen in quite a while, and while that can be the kiss of death these days - Larry the Cable Guy DOES have a show on The History Channel, you know - this show really provides the entertainment value.  It clips along, and really brings the laughs!  And you'll still be thinking about it long after it's over!

Simon
Dad!  Don't forget so many other great actors out there like Christy Arington, Anita Deely, Loretta Rezos, Dan Granata, and Sarah Goeden!  You trippin' if you forgettin' them!

Eric
You are so right Simon!  I would be tripping to forget about those wonderful performances.

Simon

Basically, pops, this show is a really fine and funny allegory about how politics and logic cannot destroy 2000 years of subconscious belief.  It also can be taken as a fine slapsticky farce and as a showcase for wonderful acting.  Really, Strawdog is bringing that fucking flavor to your EAR, son!

Eric

I really couldn't have said it better myself, Simon!  Go see a really weirdo play, America!

Simon

PEACE, NIPPLE GREASE!

The Master and Margarita - A

-Eric Roach, Anderson Lawfer, and introducing Simon Ambrose Roachinez "Tha Muthafuckin' Third"

Interview EXCLUSIVE Tom and Tim Bambara (Joe Tansino)

This interview came out after the closing of Tamales, but be sure to check out Tom and Tim Bambara in many more future productions!

I sat down for an interview with brothers Tom and Tim Bambara, the creative force behind the hilarious sketch comedy show ¡Tamales! – currently showing in the bar at Strawdog Theater. ¡Tamales! ends this weekend, so catch it while you still can!

Joe Tansino: Have you guys been drinking?

Tom Bambara: My roommate bought Gluten-Free Beer. It's kind of emasculating.

Tim Bambara: We were definitely drinking when we decided to produce tamales.

JT: Tell me about Tamales.

Tim: Tom and I decided to put on a ruckus buddy comedy about three friends in search of the infamous 'tamale guy' of Chicago. We were actually working on another show, The Rise of Emperor Eric, this summer and we were celebrating with a post show drink with our graphic designer. Thus...the birth of Tamales! Tom had a rough idea of what he wanted the script to be and in a few lunch conversations we figured out that the 3 main characters had to go on a quest. Also, they would each have to face a challenge to overcome.

Tom: The whole thing was really just a way for us to take all of the positive experiences of Emperor Eric, focus them, and make them funnier by adding a few extra comedy all stars.

JT: It occurred to me while watching your show that there might be more than one guy selling tamales late night in bars in Chicago.

Tom: There are 2 main ones, but this has been a business in Chicago since like 1992.

Tim: Claudio and Julio - our cast member Mojo (Fernando Albiar) actually talked to Julio a few weeks ago about his back story.

JT: I just assumed it was one dude. Like how Santa can be on TV and in a local department store at the same time.

Tom: Hahaha, it's a lot like Santa. But in doing the research, Claudio, who is portrayed as the "good" Tamale guy, is the guy who has been doing it the longest of all of them. However, there was a guy who sold them before him. So it's kind of like a Jedi Master - Padawan kind of thing. Claudio was the Obi-Wan of Julio.

JT: How long did you guys spend researching this tamale mythology?

Tim: We went to the Long Room a lot this summer and kind of created it on our own

Tom: Well...a lot of it is actual stuff. What's really funny is if you just spend some time on google, you're going to come back with some ridiculous stuff.

JT: When I googled "Tamale Chicago" I discovered that the Tamale guy has over 200 reviews on Yelp.

Tom: Yep! He's on Yelp, he's on Metromix. He's legitimately on Twitter. As soon as I learned that people track him on Twitter, it was a goldmine for the plot of our show.

JT: So there is actually a Twitter tracker for the Tamale guy. How do you know that the Tamale guy you're tracking is the “good” Tamale guy?

Tim: Red Cooler :)

JT: Some of your cast members get really sick from eating "bad" tamales. Have you ever gotten sick eating a tamale?

Tom: No. Plot device. It would go nowhere if they just ate the Tamales from the one guy, and the play ended. It'd be like Juno taking a morning after pill. No plot.

JT: Do the Tamale guys know about the show?

Tom: Eh....next question.

JT: I can't see how they'd be offended, it's free publicity.

Tom: For real! It's a celebration of them and their craft, and is only better for business.

JT: Except for the diarrhea thing.

Tom: I'd like to say that our fine Mojo improvised that aspect of the show...nary a word is written about diarrhea in the script.

Tim: I think I directed the cast to poop their pants a bit..

JT: Let's talk about the cast.

Tim: Well, we have Don M.I.M.I. Mundo (played by Tom) and his sidekick Rodrigo (played by our friend and guitarist James Manno)

Tom: Yeah, Manny is baller. He knows it too...maybe he doesn't. Whatever, he's baller. The roles were tailored for each actor. I had an idea of everyone's strengths and we really adapted the script to work with each of them pretty well. Mike [Cherry] only started doing his "Hipster" character two nights before we opened. It's one of the funnier things in the show. But before that, we both worked on the Stand-Up he does together. And Krista [Kauss], with her dancing...we made sure it was stuff she was going to knock out of the park. And Tom-Tom [Tom Daily] would only sing Seal. Nothing else.

Tim: Mike wanted to do something outside the box so we let him roll with it...I think it turned out pretty funny.

JT: Maybe I'm reading way too much into the show, but I saw it as a quest not just for tamales, but for identity. These characters are searching for the identity of the "good" tamale guy, but they're also exploring their own identities in a big city that is full of awful, just terrible people.

Tim: That's exactly it Joe.

Tom: I completely agree. It's a personal quest for each of them, in a lot of ways. Bea has to dance her way to glory. Mac has to tackle and conquer the open mic standups. Tom-Tom has to woo the heart of a pretty "deaf" girl with music. All in the sake of finding their identities.

JT: Speaking of the standup, can we talk for a minute about the comedienne Connie Howe that Mac challenges?

Tom: Connie Howe is based off of a stand-up comedienne that I've seen a few times. Well, she does the raunchiest, dirtiest stuff, and it's always really uncomfortable. I had an idea to write this person into the show. And I wanted my friend Lauren Maul to play her. So when I approached Lauren, she was thunderstruck. Lauren does a lot of character driven stand-up, and a character she just created was "Connie Howe" based off of this old lady comedienne she had done a show with. After doing a little elimination and youtubing, we realized that we were talking about the exact same person. So we both independently came up with this spoof, so the marriage of our material was inevitable. I love working with Lauren, and she hits a home run every single time she does Connie. That being said...Meredith Stepien...who filled in this weekend was like Kobe Bryant subbing in for Michael Jordan. One was the original, but I think it could be debated for a while who did it better. Both are awesome in my book.

JT: Is Lauren Maul your future ex-wife, Tom?

Tom: Hahaha, no. That's Denise Donovan, who played "Daphne." She's actually my current ex-wife.

JT: And was also hilarious.

Tom: Denise is amazing because she just will inherently entertain you through regular conversations. Denise's bit in the show was just something she did in a cab ride for me. And I was laughing so hard I cried. At this point I've seen her do it about 50 times, and I die every time she does it . . . but anyway, that's what was so fun about writing this script. I just literally plugged in the talents of my friends, and it always worked.

Tim: Her fam is awesome too - they all came down from Detroit on the megabus to see the last show.

Tom: Oh my God I forgot to praise CHRISTIAN! Dude, that dance. Denise and Krista worked on that with him. Christian is so awesome in this. But I think what really got us out of a lot of hot water was finding Mojo (Fernando Albiar). If we had a Gringo playing the Tamale guy, it wouldn't have gone over so well. Plus, Mojo can improvise in Spanish, which is one of the more incredible talents you can have in this city. Some of his improvisations, I can't describe it.

JT: So what's next for Bambro productions?

Tom: Bootleg! Tim wants to do a prohibition era comedy. So I'm going to watch some more Boardwalk Empire, a little Untouchables, and a lot of the "Beer Baron" episode of the Simpsons

Tim: Tom's gotta write it first though

Tom: We may remount Tamales in a different location. Personally, I'm launching a late night talk show which is going to be my main focus. But I have a good feeling I'll be putting my portly and effulgent ass on display with my brother directing sometime in June.

Tim: I'm going to go work with the theatre company I'm in, Tympanic, and then get together with Tom again in a few months.

JT: One last question: Which do you prefer: puerco, pollo, or queso?

Tom: I always bet on puerco.

Tim: Puerco!

-Joe Tansino

State of the Union - Strawdog Theatre (theatre review)

Sees this playing, " State of the union " The different night made remember fun with realness and grudge, an older joke called me: Is the opposition of progress what? National Assembly! About it the fun thing does not change far from it, also the American National Assembly to ending the thing in order not to be is not good quite. The cartoon which is political also is the method which laughs. Goes out and states and with usual and in case, the politics for the people until now always. The smell which rots until now always with realness was occupation. The people who combines a politics at any time it the thing Washington D.C. (Los Angeles sees to be few there is people who is charming,) from with realness to place makes a compromise selfish because of method is completed and does not mean with realness must say that. Newt Gingrich charm, inside probably living like this from Washington D.C., ugliness be are politician. Hahahahaha!!!! Goes out and with realness states and in case, rises is who me which am is personal from the political party believing, does not put with usual. The republican party member or wig or democratic party member nil is which side (you will be able to think this any more and in case, knows me, make,). I with that (thing) field will not be able to confirm as a realness because of selfishness they succeed a foundation and did not put. And me now in Barack Obama and one time which is President us drinks many and is started is not gotten even. Hahahaha!!!!! This reason why " State of the union " (Subject which is clever) like that is playing which is good. In compliance with Jeff Button (very corrigendum which is to press packet which is it which is positive) excellently, instructs, the dialogue passes and flies and your seat defends you (little more later in it). Glow with Matthews rice field realness is done to make get tangled from Dailey Republican Party machine, in compliance with Michael and realness the pebble is about the LAN [thu] which confronts with the undercurrent which is delicate. The republican party member does and in BF Helman (who which is unlucky) and Anderson Lawferson (being cut without, who which delivers comedy) comes drives the nail McManus by burden Conovoer, respectively well with realness. Kristina Johnson the eye-catcher, is soft, with rough realness her name!!! Is) nail newspaper chief Kay Thorndyke appears and (is like that. Kristina is beautiful. The LAN sprouts with Kay that LAN [thu] from his wife in order to do to make become more distant, maul Riga rises there is being. Went out and understands from, this subject at that time was taboo with realness. It [phyul] winning a wife's death, being high and side with the [ey_to_pwul_kwu_ha_ko] being like this ends but, marches in future the fact that. In compliance with Kendra Thulin (one maul in compliance with who Conover where is from love where I have now) realness moxie and with grace, is a national and to combine the LAN [thu] in the tour which in order says, is requested. In this tour, her becomes the real conscience of the spike and playing which warns her idealist husband about Conover connivances. Little by little nobly and wisely becomes in connection with the circuit which says oratory technical because of him justly, the LAN sprouts and the real people. But, Conover couldn' For the people and sees few t cares, he wins the fact that is only counts the LAN [thu] he wants: Poll. I (some critic together be a habit description below,) respect you and any more illy-bred to raise i do not want, in order to happen but the [lye] this your this is doing i do not know well and i am, is to only say!!! where It wheelings of politician rear room and is serious with realness to see a transactions. It does to make remember you where they are the real people, as well. You will say and this which today that (thing) will listen too together to that at that time and also you will be able to imagine. Some thing does not change assuredly.

-South Korean President Roh Moo-Hyun

State of the Union -Strawdog Theatre (Theatre Review)

Seeing this play called “State of the Union” the other night reminded me of this really funny, older joke: What’s the opposite of progress? CONgress!

The thing that’s funny about it is that the United States Congress is not very good at getting things done and also because they don’t change away from that. Political cartoons are also a way to laugh.

If I can state plainly, politics have always been bad for people. It has always been a really rancid profession. People who join politics often have to make compromises and say things they really don’t mean because that’s how things really get done in Washington D.C. (a place that has less attractive people than Los Angeles). Newt Gingrich is attractive, though, so perhaps politicians who live in Washington D.C. are ugly on the inside. Hahahahaha!!!!

If I can state REALLY plainly, I don’t put my personal faith in anyone who is in a political party. No Republicans or Wigs or Democrats either (if you can think of any more, let me know). I really can’t identify with them because they are inherit and based. And don’t even get me started on Barack Obama who is our President right now and who once I drank a lot in support of. Hahahaha!!!!!

These reasons are why “State of the Union” (a clever title) is such a good play.

Excellently directed by Jeff Button (I’m pretty sure it was a typo in the press packet), the dialogue flies past and keeps you on the edge of your seat (more on that later).

The play is about Grant Matthews—played really stone-faced and with real subtle undercurrents by Michael Dailey—who becomes tangled in the Republican machine. The Republicans are played really well by BF Helman (who is sinister) and Anderson Lawferson (who constantly delivers comedy) as Jim Conovoer and Spike McManus, respectively. Kristina Johnson appears as the beautiful, soft, tough as nails newspaper boss Kay Thorndyke (yes, that’s really her name!!!). Kristina is beautiful.

Grant and Kay have been having an affair because Grant is estranged from his wife, Mary. From what I understand, this subject was really taboo at the time. It ended up winning the Pulitzer prize in spite of this, though, and it continues to march onward.

Mary, played with real moxie and grace by Kendra Thulin (whom I am in love with now), is asked by Conover to join Grant on a nationwide speaking tour. On this tour, she becomes the real conscience of the play, warning her idealist husband against the conniving of Spike and Conover. Of course, Grant becomes more and more famous on the speaking circuit because of his oratory skills and connection with the real people. But, Conover couldn't care less for people, he wants Grant to win the only thing that counts: votes.

I don’t want to spoil any more for you (like some critics have a habit of doing), but I’ll just say that you have no idea what’s going to happen!!!

It’s really great to see the wheelings and dealings of back room politicians. It reminds you that they’re real people, too. You can imagine them talking like this back then and also today, too. Some things never change. The play has wondrous costumes and the other actors are all really, really good.

My one complaint (if I can even call it that) is with the seats. Strawdog really should get some better seats in their theater. I don’t know if this is a part of the “Chicago style” that keeps getting talked about, but if they don’t shape up soon, no one is going to want to sit and watch a play there. It’s not an excuse, folks.

This is a great play that stands the test of time. The whole group is really, really good and have standout performances (including Kate Harris and Samantha Gleisten).

State of the Union: A-

-John Allen Taflan

State of the Union - Strawdog Theatre (theatre review)

What's the opposite of progress?  CONgress!

Isn't this a funny joke?  It's also really old.  See, people have been making fun of governments and politics for as long as there have been governments and politics.  That's because very, very few things change about them.

For example, I'm sure that cavemen probably made fun of the caveman chief behind his back because...oh, say maybe he banged a chimpanzee or something.  Maybe they made fun of him with an awesome cave painting of him banging this poor chimp.  BAM...first political cartoon.

Let's just be clear as mud, America.  There were never any "good old days" when it comes to politics.  It's always been a rancid profession, filled with schemers and charlatans.  Anyone who is in politics has had to make compromises and say things they didn't mean, because that's what you do when you are trying to appeal to as many people as possible.  Washington, D.C. has been called Hollywood for ugly people.  I don't think that statement really means physically "ugly" (although not too many of our politicians would make Maxim's Hot 100...except Newt Gingrich) more as it means having an "ugly" soul.  Which means Hollywood must be Washington D.C. for zombie people...ah ha ha.

And let me be PERFECTLY frank here folks...I trust no one in this profession.  Not Democrats, not Republicans, not Tea Party, not Whigs, and definitely not those horrible Bull Moose sons of bitches.  I can't identify with any political party, simply because I find them mostly abhorrent and base.  I liked Bill Clinton, but that's because he was so entertaining.  And I cannot stand Barack Obama...mostly because the bastard got my hopes up.  Note to self...don't drink on Election Nights from now on.

Which might be why I enjoyed Strawdog's State of the Union so goddamn much!  Here's a play written in 1946 by Russel Crouse and Howard Lindsay that says exactly all the crap I just wrote about above but with snappy dialogue and incredible costumes!

The 3 act play (2 intermissions...yes, it's long, you'll get over it) tells the story of aviation tycoon and political idealist Grant Matthews - played with stone faced panache and subtle undercurrents by Michael Dailey - and the machinations of the Republican party to get him elected to the office of President in 1948.  The Republicans here are represented mainly by political fixer Jim Conover (an effective and sinister BF Helman), the newspaper reporter cum campaign manager Spike McManus (Anderson Lawfer in a bit after bit after tasty fucking comedy bit performance), and Spike's beautiful boss and newspaper magnate Kay Thorndyke (played by Kristina Johnson, Kay is tough as nails with a soft vulnerable underbelly).

Trouble is, Grant's been making time with Kay since he's been estranged from his wife Mary!  Hoo boy...NOW we got some hot stuff.  This apparently was an even more taboo subject in 1946, as many of the play's detractors were appalled that it won the Pulitzer prize with such racy subject matter.  I'd like to hop in the DeLorean with Larry Craig and Mark Foley and take them back to '46 and have them explain just what they did a few years ago.  A guy having a piece of chicken on the side would seem like saving a burning orphanage from werewolf Nazis after that little showcase.

Mary, played with moxie and grace by Kendra Thulin (whom I am in love with now), is asked by Conover to join Grant on a nationwide speaking tour.  On this tour, she becomes the real conscience of the play, warning her idealist husband against the conniving of Spike and Conover.  Of course, Grant becomes more and more famous on the speaking circuit because of his oratory skills and connection with the real people.  But, Conover couldn't care less for people, he wants Grant to win the only thing that counts: votes.

Helman and Lawfer have a wonderful scene together where all the facades drop away, and Conover chastises Spike for letting Grant and Mary get out of control and deviate from the party line.  Oh, did this scene do my cynic's heart good, as I can imagine dialogue of this type playing out in backrooms and antechambers past, present and future!  Helman and Lawfer have a wonderful chemistry here, and do a great job of representing all those fixers and PR men who want their man in office no matter the cost.

Speaking of chemistry, Dailey and Thulin also play wonderfully off each other as a husband and wife who are trying to come to terms with a relationship that is partly private, mostly public, and very conflicted.

There are other wonderful performances in this play - Kate Harris as Southern political wife Lulubelle is a lively Easter Egg of charm and thrills, meshing nicely with her onstage husband Jim Heatherly playing the Judge as a funny little bumbler.

I must mention the wondrous 40's costumes designed by Joanna Melville and the amazing transformable set design by Marianna Czaszar.  Director Geoff Button's staging is serviceable, but I do have to mention the pacing.  The dialogue seems to call for rapid fire exchanges, and I felt some hesitation here and there.  I'm wondering if this was opening night jitters?  Was it guys?  I was drinking free Sierra Nevadas too, so maybe that had a lot to do with it.  Or everything.  The world is a strange place, who can tell?

All in all, this is an ensemble piece with standout performances and a message that obviously stands the test of time.  The message is don't mess around on the side with a hot newspaper owner and piss off your wife.  You'll have to eat cold hamburgers in hotel rooms and deal with her getting hammered and ruining all your political hopes.  All politicians should see this play and pay full price for it.  Those jerkoffs are always getting free crap, they can afford it.

Come watch an old play about politics!  I'm serious!

State of the Union: A-

-Eric Roach, Anderson Lawfer