Filed by Bil at 5:07 pm under The Arts

Let’s be honest; this is not an industry blog so much as a personal blog with contributors who happen to be part of the Chicago theatre community. As such, this is not really the place for theatre reviews. It’s inappropriate, especially when friends and peers are involved, because nobody asked me for my criticism and it’s a public article for anyone to see. Even if I wrote only positive reviews, one could infer by the absence of a review of a show they know I attended that a negative opinion existed. So, generally, I will happily see a show and then happily keep my online mouth shut.

However, every so often a show will blow my mind just enough that I can’t shut up about it, so I tend to break my own rule here. My apologies in advance if there’s anyone out there who was NOT a part of Awake and Sing! at Northlight Theatre. I mean no offense to the rest of you.

In a nutshell: go see this play. See it as soon as possible.

It’s not exactly relevant to today, as it takes place in the Bronx in the 1930’s, but that doesn’t matter. The true theme of the play is not specific to current events from long ago. The ultimate message to the audience remains true enough: awake and sing. Are you young? Then follow your dreams. Are you old? Then pass on your knowledge to the youth and encourage them to follow their dreams. Awake: see your life for what it is and what it might be. Sing: embrace the things you love and let them love you in return.

Directed strongly and with unwavering control by Steppenwolf member Amy Morton and starring some of Northlight’s shining favorites (including Northlight Theatre co-founder Mike Nussbaum), this production is a living, growling Steppenwolf-Northlight hybrid monster of a show. It gives us the Steppenwolf-style cut-out house for a set placed atop Northlight’s three-quarter thrust stage. We get Steppenwolf’s mastery of gritty realism combined with Northlight’s ever-present reach for romantic escapism, which is a perfect blend for Clifford Odets’ heavy, beautiful, anti-poetic script.

I remember reading this play in college and not liking it at the time. Of course, at the time I was young and stupid, surrounded by too much Ibsen and too much beer. But in performance, and with about a decade of life between my first read and my first viewing, it’s amazing. At this stage in my life, the play’s greatest asset is that it inspires me to both follow my dreams and pass on what I have learned to younger generations. We’re all in the same country, we’re all the same family. Let’s make the most of life, yeah? Yeah.

Seriously, it’s all there. If you can go spare any money at all, shell out the dough and see it. If you know someone who can get you a comp, beg that person and promise to be their personal slave. It’s worth it.