By Rikki Lee Travolta
Sean Hargadon is a brilliant theatrical director, highly respected in the city and suburbs of Chicago. Trained at the University of Warwick/Royal Shakespeare Company, he won the Heartstrings Award for direction of the thriller D.O.A. in 2023 (Steel Beam Theatre).
Now, Hargadon brings his expertise to The Resident Theatre at Edge of the Wood, both adapting and directing the quirky and fascinating “It Is So (If You Think So!)”.
Edge of the Wood is an intelligent theatre company. When they tackle a show, they do so with a thorough dedication towards finely-honed, well-acted productions. As a testament to their commitment to excellence, they were nominated in four categories in the 2023 Non-Equity Jeff Awards – their first year of eligibility.
“It Is So (If You Think So)” is translated from a work originally written in Italian by Luigi Piradello and first performed in 1917. It was the playwright’s first major success, achieved at age of 50 – proving you should never give up on your passions. The script has been translated into English multiple times, under multiple titles over the years.
It’s not a blockbuster title. Nathan Lane hasn’t starred in a musical adaptation. Queen Latifa has not headlined a television movie version set in a hair salon. But it is a good script all unto itself.
I applaud theatres like Edge of the Wood that explore alternative titles. Sometimes these little gems turn out to be the most rewarding theatre experiences for audiences. The classics and recent hits are always enjoyable, but sometimes something different is also equally appreciated.
In a nutshell, it’s the open-ended story that results when a new family arrives in a provincial Italian town, and their unusual living arrangements cause suspicion among the long-term residents.
For its production, Edge of the Wood has updated the story to the 1960s with an adaptation by Hargadon based on an original English translation by Stanley Appelbaum. As the director/adapter, Hargadon has allowed for an ample amount of inobtrusive humor to shine through, but at the end of the day, it’s a dramatic think piece.
The idea behind Piradello’s original story and maintained in Hargadon’s adaptation is that you’re supposed to consider many possibilities throughout the course of the play and draw your own conclusions rather than have specific ones spoon-fed to you.
Mr. Ponza and his wife move to a quiet provincial town. His mother-in-law, Mrs. Frola arrives as well, but is housed in a nearby building. Rumors about Mr. Ponza begin to mount as nobody has ever seen or met his wife in person since their arrival.
In their exploration of the juicy kind of suspicions that gossiping minds can generate, the nosey neighbors discover conflicting stories – one in which Mr. Ponza is insane and the other that Mrs. Frola is insane.
While the various minds on stage debate and battle over possible facts and the all too ridiculous concept of alternative facts, one voice of reason offers the possibility that maybe it’s none of their business.
Brian Hill, Bethany Weise, and Paige Lang play the Agazzi family with splendid authenticity capped in humor. Mrs. Agazzi and her daughter Dina initiate the drama of the evening, touting their unfounded suspicions to brother-in-law Laudisi.
Portrayed masterfully by Herb Metzler, Laudisi not only serves as the voice of reason in the play, he also steps out of the action from time to time to serve as a narrator talking directly to the audience. Metzler was the Heartstrings Award winner for Best Supporting Actor in “The Book of Will” at Edge of the Wood in 2022, and provides that same captivating level of talent here.
Tony DiPisa is an absolute delight as Signor Sirelli, one of the nosiest of neighbors. DiPisa breathes elements into his character that aren’t on the page, creating a well-rounded and intriguing personality. Molly Will plays his wife Signora Sirelli, who seems more interested in the other men in the room than her husband.
The family at the center of all the conspiracy theories features Skyler Tipton as Signor Ponza, Jeanann Power as his mother-in-law Signora Frola, and Kati Yau as his little-seen wife Signora Ponza. All turn in memorable performances.
Rounding out the ensemble are James Wheeler as Inspector Centuri, Lisa Stran as Signora Cini, Keely Smith as Signora Neeni, and Jennifer Cudahy as the Mayor. As can be expected at all Edge of the Wood productions, the ensemble is well-cast and well-rehearsed.
Brian Wasserman has done an excellent job giving the players the space they need to create an intriguing and enjoyable story. Wasserman has created a realistic upscale apartment circa the 1960s, where all of the action takes place. Singular sets like this seem ideal for the Edge of the Wood space.
Lighting design by Finley Wedge makes good use of the theatre’s technical capabilities. The lights effectively add the necessary ambiance to each scene. Costume design is nicely handled by Anna Rogers, helping to solidify the audience’s journey back to the 60s.
One of the things Hargadon excels at as a director is ensuring that the audience has the optimum opportunity to enjoy his productions. This includes an adherence to on-time starts and a comfortable pacing.
“It Is So” has two well-timed intermissions so legs, bladders, and attention spans don’t grow tired. Even with the two intermissions, the play still comes in under two hours making it a well-structured overall entertainment experience. The running of the production is terrifically orchestrated by stage manager Valen Lion.
The production runs Fridays and Saturdays at 7:30 PM and Sundays at 2:30 PM. Performances take place at the Edgebrook Community Church located at 6736 N. Loleta Avenue in Chicago.
For the thinking person, “It Is So” is an ideal piece of theatre. It keeps you entertained while inviting you to consider what constitutes reality.
For tickets visit: https://edgeofthewood.com/tickets/.
Photo credit: Stacey Lind
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