Steppenwolf Theatre presents LITTLE BEAR RIDGE ROAD.
Ethan returns to Idaho to settle his dad’s affairs. Sarah reluctantly welcomes him back home. Although their relationship isn’t initially clear, their annoyance with each other is palpable. Playwright Samuel D. Hunter’s set-up engages immediately. This duo face-off like a well-scripted reality show. Their interactions feel organically awkward. It’s uncomfortable for the audience and also impossible to look away.
LITTLE BEAR RIDGE ROAD captivates for its writing, directing and acting. Hunter pens a relatable tale of flawed people ‘stuck’ in their own circumstances. His smart dialogue reveals snippets of each’s story to be pieced together over time. The nuggets of revelation are sarcastically uttered, frustratedly screamed or reluctantly confessed. Hunter perfectly captures the messiness of family.
Director Joe Mantello masterfully orchestrates the angst on a stark stage with just a couch. The couch is re-positioned to change location or spun around to show time passing. It also serves as neutral territory for chit-chat over a TV show as well as the hotbed for emotional discord. Mantello uses the simplicity of the set to heap in the complexity of the characters. He focuses all the attention on the exchanges between the cast. And Mantello’s cast is superb!
In the lead, Laurie Metcalf (Sarah) is fierce! She portrays a cantankerous woman unapologetically set in her ways. Metcalf, known for her signature deadpan humor, delivers the one liners with incomparable comedic timing. There is a hilarious scene where she is talking on the phone while using a Dustbuster. Not only is she waking up the household, the person on the phone can’t hear her… it doesn’t stop her. Metcalf is relentless yet still likable. Glimmers of her damaged fragility are apparent in her harsh statements and how she holds herself. In another scene, Micah Stock (Ethan) crumples in her lap. I’m so tethered to these characters, I found myself willing Metcalf to stroke his hair.
An impressive Stock showcases a range of emotion. He and Metcalf authentically spar over a TV plot or his father’s drug addiction. He uses his cynicism and impulsive behavior as a protective shield to keep an endearing John Drea (James) from getting to close. Stock is amazing going from being a tool to being completely vulnerable. At one point, his raw, guttural disclosure conjures up images of a little bear trapped in a steel-jawed contraption. Heart breaking!
LITTLE BEAR RIDGE ROAD is excellent! The writing, the directing, the acting, it’s the trifecta of live theatre. And just when you think it can’t get any better, Chicago favorite Meighan Gerachis (Paulette) appears in the final scene to finish the storytelling in style. LITTLE BEAR RIDGE ROAD is a must-see!
Running Time: Ninety minutes with no intermission
At Steppenwolf Theatre, 1650 N. Halsted
Written by Samuel D. Hunter
Directed by Joe Mantello
Performances are:
Tuesdays, Wednesdays, Thursdays, Fridays, Saturdays at 7:30pm
Wednesdays at 2pm
Saturdays and Sundays at 3pm
Thru August 4
For more information or tickets
Production photos by Michael Brosilow
For more Chicago theatre information and reviews, please visit Theatre in Chicago
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