An unraveling of damaged souls
Redtwist Theatre presents |
A Delicate Balance |
Written by Edward Albee Directed by Steve Scott at Redtwist Theatre, 1044 W. Bryn Mawr (map) through October 24th | tickets: $ | more info |
“The Redtwist 2010-11 season is about fear – how we try to understand it, cope with it and overcome it. It’s arguably the greatest driving force in the history of mankind,” said Redtwist Artistic Director Michael Colluci of the theatre’s new season.
Redtwist Theatre opened its season this past weekend with Edward Albee’s Pulitzer-Prizing winning play A Delicate Balance.
A Delicate Balance, directed by Steve Scott, opens on Tobias (Brian Parry) and Agnes (Millicent Hurley), an upper-middle-class couple, in their home. The couple discusses their daughter Julia (Jacqueline Grandt) and Agnes’s sister Claire (CeCe Klinger). Agnes and Tobias are burdened but obliged to their family members in need. Claire is an alcoholic and Julia has walked out on her fourth marriage.
The family is joined by Agnes and Tobias’s best friends Henry (Chuck Spencer) and Edna (Jan Ellen Graves). Harry and Edna are overly anxious and show up announced to stay with Agnes and Tobias after having to leave their home due to an unexplained terror they felt.
With a house full of unsteady people in one way or another, each person tiptoes around until breaking points are reached.
A Delicate Balance fits in nicely with Redtwist’s theme of fear as the characters face (or run from) their own demons both literally and figuratively. Edna and Harry have run away from home based on an irrational and sudden fear they both felt. Agnes confronts her fear of possibly going mad and Julia delves into her fear of losing her place in her parent’s lives. Each character at some point faces their fears out in the open in front of all the others, shattering pretenses and politeness in the way of truth.
Redtwist does not disappoint with this fine production. It’s definitely worth a look-see.
A Delicate Balance at Redtwist Theatre, 1044 W. Bryn Mawr Ave., plays through October 24. Tickets are $25 to $30 and can be purchased through the theatre’s Web site.
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Running Time: approx. 2:35
Tickets: Thursdays, $25; Fridays & Sundays, $27; Saturdays, $30 (Seniors & Students, $5 discount) URL: www.redtwist.org/Ticketsdelicate.html
Schedule:
Runs: Thu, Fri, Sat 7:30pm; Sun 3pm Please Note: There is no performance on Sat, Oct 23. There is an add’l performance on Sat, Oct 16 at 3pm
Closes: Sun, Oct 24
Filed under: 2010 Reviews, Allegra Gallian, Edward Albee, Redtwist Theatre | Tagged: A Delicate Balance, Allegra Gallian, Andrew Jessop, Ann Shanahan, Anna Eisenbraun, Brian Parry, CeCe Klinger, Chicago theater review, Christopher Burpee, Christopher Kriz, Chuck Spencer, Edward Albee, Jackqueline Grandt, Jan Ellen Graves, Jason Rost, joel Lambie, Johnny Garcia, Mealah Heidenreich, Michael Colucci, Mieka van der Ploeg, Millicent Hurley, Redtwist Theatre, Shauna Warren, Steve Scott | Leave a comment »