About Face Theatre presents the Chicago Premiere of THE SECRETARIES.
I went into this show with great expectations based on the cast list. I’m a huge fan of Kelli Simpkins, Meghan Reardon and Sadieh Rifai’s work. Despite the talented ensemble, THE SECRETARIES is a huge disappointment.
A lumber company’s secretarial pool is a Slimfast drinking cult. Every month, they kill a lumberjack for his coat. The Five Lesbian Brothers (Maureen Angelos, Babs Davy, Dominique Dibbell, Peg Healey and Lisa Kron) wrote a play that is a head scratcher. What were they trying to capture? Madcap absurdity? Pulp fiction? An American horror story? No matter where they intended to go. They don’t get there. The story starts after a killing and rambles a long hour and half to get to the next murder. The Brothers fill up the time collecting dirty tampons, hazing the new employee and fawning over Simpkins. I wanted to laugh. I really did. The bottom line is it isn’t funny.
At one point, everyone is in their underwear. What? What? Why? I just didn’t get the point of this play. It feels like The Brothers wrote it under-the-influence, hungry and without the ability to tell each other ‘that’s a dumb idea. It won’t work.’ The premise might make a funny 5 minute SNL skit. If it was more gory, I’d say it might work as a late night show for a drinking crowd. If Hell in a Handbag gave it a drag spin, it might find its campy essences. But this current production? Take a memo, THE SECRETARIES is a pass. I can’t recommend seeing it.
Running Time: One hour and fifty-five minutes with no intermission
At Theater Wit, 1229 W. Belmont
Written by The Five Lesbian Brothers (Maureen Angelos, Babs Davy, Dominique Dibbell, Peg Healey and Lisa Kron)
Directed by Bonnie Metzgar
Wednesdays, Thursdays, Fridays, Saturdays at 7:30pm
Sundays at 3pm
Thru June 12th
Buy Tickets at www.aboutfacetheatre.org
For more information and reviews on Chicago theatre, visit Theater in Chicago.
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