By Rikki Lee Travolta
Most people have heard the old adage, “The show must go on!” It’s a showbiz philosophy handed down through the ages. No matter what, you find a way to get the actors on the stage. That tried-and-true belief system is alive and well with The Curious Theatre Branch.
The Curious Theatre Branch, guided by co-artistic director Beau O’Reilly, is now presenting a reimagining of its popular 2004 play “Hit Me Like a Flower” at Facility Theatre in Chicago’s Humboldt Park neighborhood.
Originally, the company was slated to do the world premiere production of “Rose Is Off The Bloom.” That play is written by O’Reilly, who was also set to direct. As can happen in theatre, things didn’t quite go according to plan.
After a series of casting changes due to health issues, O’Reilly and his brethren at The Curious Theatre Branch realized that ambitions for staging “Rose Is Off The Bloom” were not in the cards at this time of year. Instead, the ship’s captain reached into his bag of tricks and opted to restage “Hit Me Like a Flower” – which had been a rousing success for the troupe two decades ago.
Facility Theatre is a brick storefront converted into a performance space. Renovations appear to still be underway at the venue, but that doesn’t stop the committed talents of “Hit Me Like a Flower” from throwing themselves into the piece. And, audiences are responding. The piece is, at its core, an example of what alternative theatre is all about.
The play focuses on a disjointed group of individuals loosely connected by varying events in the tiny community of Little Chicken Mountain. One of the throughlines tying the characters and their stories together has to do with rain. Throughout the play, characters are drenched in confetti falling from the rafters in a suggestion of rain.
Over the course of approximately an hour and forty minutes, the individual performers alternate their time in the spotlight until all nine characters converge on the top of the mountain for an emotional conclusion.
The characters themselves are diverse, each intriguing in their own way thanks to O’Reilly’s writing and the talents of the actors bringing them to life.
Central to the story is Jackie, the small town’s psychotherapist circa 2003. Played by Kristen Garrison, Jackie shows strength in the face of difficult clientele including court-ordered criminals and the transient homeless. Privately, though, she worries extensively about her daughter Terry, her brother Norman, and specific patients who have found their way into her heart.
Terry, a skateboarding 20-year-old college student, is played by Hannah Johnston with deliberate enthusiasm, a touch of ADD, and the invincibility of youth. Norman, played by Steve Lehman, is an openly gay man who drowns the sorrows of his broken marriage in drink and hookups with strangers – leading his sister to worry and his niece to want to avoid him.
Don, the local forest ranger, is one of Norman’s hookups. Portrayed by Mike Amandes, he is plagued by an oddly sick relationship of violent acts with a mentally ill man who lives on the mountain and likes to dress up like a bear and torment visitors to the state park. The bear-man is effectively played by Shaun Rosten.
The small town’s cast of odd characters also includes an author named William. Played by O’Reilly himself, the author has ambitions of publishing best sellers, but his current state of fame and residuals has him driving a bus as a means of paying the rent.
Meanwhile, student journalist Saul, portrayed by Paul Brennan, is obsessed with protesting President George W. Bush’s war in Iraq. Hannah, played by Allison Gruber, is also on hand as a potential love interest for Terry and as a sounding board for Arthur and Jackie’s various neuroses. Jayita Bhattacharya rounds out the cast as Mrs. Chester, a homeless woman looking to escape an abusive relationship.
There are any number of descriptive words one could use to describe “Hit Me Like a Flower”. Experimental, abstract, and alternative are all words that apply – as is often the case with storefront theatre. You can easily toss in entertaining and adventurous to the mix.
The name “Hit Me Like a Flower” is taken from the lyrics of the Lou Reed song “Vicious.” To compliment the story, the play includes various covers of “Vicious” by T-Roy Martin, Jenny Magnus, Lena Brun, Whistling J Walter, Sherry Antoinini and Basil Abbot, and Paul Brennan.
Illnesses and weather did their best to thwart The Curious Theatre Branch’s winter endeavor, but the spirit of putting on the show no matter the obstacles proves to be alive and well.
Storefront theatre doesn’t always have elaborate sets. This unique staging is done with minimal set by Charlotte Lastra, complimented by a cleaver system for the show’s rain mechanics by Briavael O’Reilly. Sound design is by Jenny Magnus, the company’s other co-artistic director. Lights are by Briavael O’Reilly, Chris Zdenek, and Beau O’Reilly. Zdenek also serves as the production’s assistant director.
The Curious Theatre Branch certainly had its challenges bringing its winter show to the stage, but now that it’s here they can celebrate the triumph of having created something unique and entertaining.
The play takes place in two acts. The first act is about an hour, while the second act zips by leading up to an emotional conclusion.
“Hit Me Like a Flower” is a well-acted piece that embraces the tenets of alternative theatre. If that’s your bag, you’ll bask in the utmost appreciation of O’Reilly and The Curious Theatre Branch.
Performances of “Hit Me Like a Flower” are Fridays and Saturdays at 7:30 PM, with a special final performance on Sunday, February 4th at 3 PM. Facility Theatre is located at 1138 N. California Avenue. Paid street parking is available. Tickets are pay what you can, with a suggestion of $20.
For tickets and further information visit www.CuriousTheatreBranch.com.
Photo credit: Jeremy Biven and Stefan Brun
For more reviews visit: Theatre in Chicago – your source for What’s on Stage in the Chicago Area
Originally, the company was slated to do the world premiere production of “Rose Is Off The Bloom.” That play is written by O’Reilly, who was also set to direct. As can happen in theatre, things didn’t quite go according to plan.
After a series of casting changes due to health issues, O’Reilly and his brethren at The Curious Theatre Branch realized that ambitions for staging “Rose Is Off The Bloom” were not in the cards at this time of year. Instead, the ship’s captain reached into his bag of tricks and opted to restage “Hit Me Like a Flower” – which had been a rousing success for the troupe two decades ago.
Facility Theatre is a brick storefront converted into a performance space. Renovations appear to still be underway at the venue, but that doesn’t stop the committed talents of “Hit Me Like a Flower” from throwing themselves into the piece. And, audiences are responding. The piece is, at its core, an example of what alternative theatre is all about.
The play focuses on a disjointed group of individuals loosely connected by varying events in the tiny community of Little Chicken Mountain. One of the throughlines tying the characters and their stories together has to do with rain. Throughout the play, characters are drenched in confetti falling from the rafters in a suggestion of rain.
Over the course of approximately an hour and forty minutes, the individual performers alternate their time in the spotlight until all nine characters converge on the top of the mountain for an emotional conclusion.
The characters themselves are diverse, each intriguing in their own way thanks to O’Reilly’s writing and the talents of the actors bringing them to life.
Central to the story is Jackie, the small town’s psychotherapist circa 2003. Played by Kristen Garrison, Jackie shows strength in the face of difficult clientele including court-ordered criminals and the transient homeless. Privately, though, she worries extensively about her daughter Terry, her brother Norman, and specific patients who have found their way into her heart.
Terry, a skateboarding 20-year-old college student, is played by Hannah Johnston with deliberate enthusiasm, a touch of ADD, and the invincibility of youth. Norman, played by Steve Lehman, is an openly gay man who drowns the sorrows of his broken marriage in drink and hookups with strangers – leading his sister to worry and his niece to want to avoid him.
Don, the local forest ranger, is one of Norman’s hookups. Portrayed by Mike Amandes, he is plagued by an oddly sick relationship of violent acts with a mentally ill man who lives on the mountain and likes to dress up like a bear and torment visitors to the state park. The bear-man is effectively played by Shaun Rosten.
The small town’s cast of odd characters also includes an author named William. Played by O’Reilly himself, the author has ambitions of publishing best sellers, but his current state of fame and residuals has him driving a bus as a means of paying the rent.
Meanwhile, student journalist Saul, portrayed by Paul Brennan, is obsessed with protesting President George W. Bush’s war in Iraq. Hannah, played by Allison Gruber, is also on hand as a potential love interest for Terry and as a sounding board for Arthur and Jackie’s various neuroses. Jayita Bhattacharya rounds out the cast as Mrs. Chester, a homeless woman looking to escape an abusive relationship.
There are any number of descriptive words one could use to describe “Hit Me Like a Flower”. Experimental, abstract, and alternative are all words that apply – as is often the case with storefront theatre. You can easily toss in entertaining and adventurous to the mix.
The name “Hit Me Like a Flower” is taken from the lyrics of the Lou Reed song “Vicious.” To compliment the story, the play includes various covers of “Vicious” by T-Roy Martin, Jenny Magnus, Lena Brun, Whistling J Walter, Sherry Antoinini and Basil Abbot, and Paul Brennan.
Illnesses and weather did their best to thwart The Curious Theatre Branch’s winter endeavor, but the spirit of putting on the show no matter the obstacles proves to be alive and well.
Storefront theatre doesn’t always have elaborate sets. This unique staging is done with minimal set by Charlotte Lastra, complimented by a cleaver system for the show’s rain mechanics by Briavael O’Reilly. Sound design is by Jenny Magnus, the company’s other co-artistic director. Lights are by Briavael O’Reilly, Chris Zdenek, and Beau O’Reilly. Zdenek also serves as the production’s assistant director.
The Curious Theatre Branch certainly had its challenges bringing its winter show to the stage, but now that it’s here they can celebrate the triumph of having created something unique and entertaining.
The play takes place in two acts. The first act is about an hour, while the second act zips by leading up to an emotional conclusion.
“Hit Me Like a Flower” is a well-acted piece that embraces the tenets of alternative theatre. If that’s your bag, you’ll bask in the utmost appreciation of O’Reilly and The Curious Theatre Branch.
Performances of “Hit Me Like a Flower” are Fridays and Saturdays at 7:30 PM, with a special final performance on Sunday, February 4th at 3 PM. Facility Theatre is located at 1138 N. California Avenue. Paid street parking is available. Tickets are pay what you can, with a suggestion of $20.
For tickets and further information visit www.CuriousTheatreBranch.com.
Photo credit: Jeremy Biven and Stefan Brun
For more reviews visit: Theatre in Chicago – your source for What’s on Stage in the Chicago Area
