The Fourth Walsh

Broadway in Chicago presents the Chicago Premiere of STEREOPHONIC, the 2024 Tony Award-winning Best Play.

It’s 1976. As their debut album is climbing the charts, a group of musicians are in the studio wanting to make something bigger and better. They party all night in celebration of the past. They work all day in hopes of the future. And in the present, fragilities, egos, lust and coke threaten to break up the band. STEREOPHONIC is a behind-the-vinyl peek into the messy process of making music.

The innovative team, Playwright David Adjmi, Director Daniel Aukin, Composer Will Butler, hit all the right notes. The music and the discourse and the humor seem to happen organically. It feels unrehearsed -in the best way- as if we are all in the studio together. Enjoying the camaraderie. Admiring the vocal and musical talents. Cringing at the overly personal jabs. Grimacing when the drummer resists using a click track. Rooting for the fourth attempt to be track-worthy. We are in it…. the wild mix of creative juices, intoxicated personalities and relational angst.

The Design Team (David Zinn-scenic, Enver Chakartash-costume, Jiyoun Chang-lighting, Ryan Rumery- sound, Robert Pickens and Katie Gell – hair & wig) create the authentic vision and vibe for a recording studio in the 1970s.   

Under Aukin’s masterful direction, the band (Claire DeJean, Emilie Kouatchou, Cornelius McMoyler, Denver Milord, Christopher Mowod) is rock solid. They sing, jam, love and fight with fervor. It’s hard to initially determine who is in a couple or even a throuple. The familiarity is palpable. They help themselves to each other’s cigarette, coffee or lap without any stilted politeness. They know each other’s capabilities, limitations and the buttons to push to go in either direction.

As the peacemaker, McMoyler plays the enabler to Mowod, pacifier to DeJean and friend to Kouatchou. At the heart of the group, DeJean and Kouatchou have genuine affection that seems to usurp any competition with each other. A high-strung DeJean seeks constant reassurance in search of her true voice. Although she finds solace in her tender bond with Kouatchou, Milord’s harsh criticisms cause ongoing friction with her. The intense Milord is hell-bent on producing the best possible album… at any cost.

Although his obsession leads him into estrangement with everyone, we hear the positive outcomes in powerful snippets. DeJean bares her soul in a meaningful solo. Milord, DeJean and Kouatchou beautifully harmonize through awkward moments. Even McMoyler bends to the beat of someone else’s drum. Original music composed by Butler plays out -eventually- perfectly on stage.

And nod out to the ‘crew’, Jack Barrett and Steven Lee Johnson bring hilarity from the sound booth. Many of the LOL moments are generated by these behind-the-action guys. A confident Barrett is hysterical revealing his engineering experience. And Johnson is riotous with a look, a comment, or lingering too long. Although he is dressed in Bay City Rollers flamboyance, Johnson is invisible to the band… priceless!          

STEREOPHONIC is a fun tribute to musicians everywhere.They work hard to create the soundtrack of our lives! Where would we be without them and music? STEREOPHONIC is a reminder to be grateful to the music makers. It is only in Chicago for a limited two-week engagement. Get an immersive ticket to album production 70s style!   

   

Running Time: Two hours and fifty-five minutes includes an intermission

At CBIC Theatre, 18 W. Monroe

Written by David Adjmi

Music by Will Butler

Directed by Daniel Aukin

Music directed by Justin Craig

Performances are:

Wednesday at 1pm

Tuesdays, Wednesdays, Thursdays, Fridays at 7pm

Saturdays at 2pm and 7:30pm

Sundays at 1pm and 6:30pm

Thru February 8

For more information or tickets

Production photos by Julieta Cervantes

For more Chicago theatre information and reviews, please visit Theatre in Chicago