Blue in the Right Way presents its inaugural production WOMEN BEWARE WOMEN.
Blue in the Right Way, Chicago’s newest theatre company, makes a lasting impression in its ambitious debut. Co-founders Kevin V. Smith and Daiva Bhandari dust off Thomas Middleton’s classic. Their queer, feminist adaptation is a unique take on Middleton’s 1621 psychosexual revenge tragedy. Smith (co-adapter, director) and Bhandari (co-adapter, actor) blur the lines between 1621/2024, sex/violence, live/film, drama/comedy, performance art/staged play, and even English/Spanish.The results… it’s a lot to take in!
The show is a lot! It starts with Video and Projection Designer Eme Ospina-Lopez counting up from the year 1621 to 2024. Each year flashes on sheers as music plays. This is followed by credits projected for each of the cast and crew. For a show that started late, will break for an intermission after two hours and will eventually clock in at three hours and fifteen minutes, the projections feel like superfluous theatrics to actually getting to the story.
Eventually, the show starts with Kidany Camilo (Solange) and Bree Perry (Clara) dressed like ‘maids from the Clue game.’ It almost feels like a comedy warm-up as Camilo and Perry take turns setting up the joke and delivering the punchline. Some of the comedy is rewarded with laughter. Other moments get a quiet response. An amusing Perry goads the audience to lighten up. The fierce duo will pop-up frequently during the show. Sometimes humorously just transitioning the scene. Sometimes sharing stories about growing up transfemme. Both display an incredible range of vulnerability in their personal reflections. An impressive Camilo seamlessly switches from English to Spanish (translations by Sonia Perello) during her storytelling. Their narrations are often accompanied by Ospina-Lopez abstract projections. Camilo and Perry’s segments could have been its own emotionally-searing, stand-alone show. Yet, it was just one aspect of a lot more stuff!
In the first act, the essences of Middleton’s work play out in formal verse peppered with colorful expletives. Although the poetic dialogue sets the action in olden times, it’s hard to follow especially with a layer of distracting sounds. It’s unclear if this is actual music or a series of random clinking and clanging. It’s weird and continually takes me out of the storytelling as my mind wants to determine what that noise is. At one point, the ensemble sits down to dinner and echo the clattering. The storytelling takes a back seat to the performance art aspect. The second act goes in a completely different direction as avant-garde play-within-a-play. The costume and hair reflect contemporary looks. Hints of the original relational angst and revenge are present yet dancing, guns, and betrayal get piled on.The point gets buried under excess. Even though I can see where the ending is an empowering moment for women, the zig-zag journey getting to it weaken its impact.
WOMEN BEWARE WOMEN is a lot to take in!! The redeeming quality of the show is strong performances. Along with Camilo and Perry, Christin Prince and Mia Chase Van de Mark captivate as two maidens being forced into marriages by the patriarchal culture. A commanding Bhandari plays a conniving widow lusting over the steamy Brandon Wiman. And nod out to one of my favorite Chicago actors, Johnny Moran, for bringing his signature deadpan humor.
Beware Audience Beware: although this show has a lot to say, it’s not clear what the real message is.
Running Time: Three hours and fifteen minutes includes an intermission
At The Edge Theatre, 5451 N. Broadway
Written by Thomas Middleton
Adapted by Kevin V. Smith and Daiva Bhandari
Directed by Kevin V. Smith
Performances are:
Wednesdays, Thursdays, Fridays at 7:30pm
Saturdays at 1pm 7:30pm
Sundays at 3pm
Thru May 12th
For more information or tickets
Production photos by Christopher Semel and Anna H. Gelman
For more Chicago theatre information and reviews, please visit Theatre in Chicago