Equity Superlatives for 2K13 (so far)

Growing-up in a time of reality competition TV shows and being an Oscars aficionado, my brain automatically categorizes things into superlatives. As you may know, I am an avid theatregoer so naturally I tend to compare/contrast different productions. In the past six months I’ve seen 30+ productions in Chicago and wanted to take a look back and see what left a lasting impression upon me.

So I originally started listing my Chicago theatre superlatives from the past six months without taking into account Equity status for the shows. I’d originally chosen five in each category, but decided to split it up separate the Equity and non-Equity productions and select only three in each category. Below are my choices in the Equity division (which I see much less of because, oh, you know, ticket prices and such). The * signifies my favorite.

 

BEST PRODUCTION

 

columbinus @ American Theatre Company

 

The Pride @ About Face Theatre

 

The Whale @ Victory Gardens*

While columbinus and The Pride were two of the productions I most eagerly anticipated, The Whale was the surprise knockout. Samuel D. Hunter’s searing dialogue and painfully real characters laid the foundation for an unforgettable production. I am surprised his script wasn’t at least a finalist for the Pulitzer this past year as it dealt with many contemporary American concerns with skill and honesty.

BEST DIRECTION

Bonnie Metzgar (The Pride @ About Face Theatre)*

 

PJ Paparelli (columbinus @ American Theatre Company)

 

Joanie Schultz (The Whale @ Victory Gardens)

The Whale’s hyper reality and columbinus’ docudrama theatricality both showcased their directors within their respective styles. Yet, Metzgar’s stark grip on the 50’s period decorum versus the much more liberated late-2000’s allows The Pride to successfully communicate the different characters and story lines with grace and fluidity.

BEST INDIVIDUAL PERFORMANCE

Patrick Andrews (The Pride @ About Face Theatre)*

 

Adam Poss (Teddy Ferrara @ Goodman Theatre)

 

Sadieh Rifai (Speech & Debate @ American Theatre Company)

In Speech & Debate, Sadieh Rifai easily gave the best comedic performance I’ve seen in Chicago since J. Nicole Brooks’ outstanding firecracker turn in Immediate Family at the Goodman. Adam Poss was perfectly bitchy while simultaneously irresistible in Teddy Ferrara. However, Patrick Andrews’ soulful handling of two emotional roles in The Pride stands out as the best performance of the past six months.

 

BEST ENSEMBLE PERFORMANCE

Beaten @ The Artistic Home

 

columbinus @ American Theater Company

 

Teddy Ferrara @ Goodman Theatre*

Obviously, I appreciate an ensemble that tackles a tricky, dramatic script successfully.  Although the casts of Barnum at Mercury Theatre and Goodman’s The Jungle Book delivered memorable performances, they felt more like individual powerhouses autonomously operating instead of relying on each other.

BEST INDIVIDUAL DESIGN

Mara Blumenfeld (Costume Design for The Jungle Book @ Goodman Theatre)

 

Janice Pytel (Prosthetic Design for The Whale @ Victory Gardens)

 

Mieka van der Ploeg (Costume Design for The Pride @ About Face Theatre)*

Although Thad Hallstein’s sleek set for Profiles’ In the Company of Men and Keith Parham’s appropriately moody lighting in Goodman’s Teddy Ferrara were very impressive alongside the other two recognized designs, no production element stood out quite like van der Ploeg’s costumes which gorgeously aided About Face’s The Pride to slide from two time periods separated by 50 years.

BEST NEW WORK

Beaten (by Scott Woldman @ The Artistic Home)*

With an unpredictable and more believable LaBute-like-surprise, Woldman’s family drama harrows with distressing recognition as effortlessly as it delights with comic levity. The unique character relationships are the foundation for a difficult trek through the cycles of abuse, secrets, and misguided love on which many families build their households.