The Fourth Walsh

Chicago Shakespeare Theater presents the North American Premiere of BROKEBACK MOUNTAIN.

Ennis doesn’t say much. Jack says everything! Two strangers are assigned to work together herding sheep. In the vast isolation of a mountain, they discover within themselves and each other a magnetic attraction. Their fiery passion is the answer to their loneliness. They have each found ‘the one.’ The only problem: it’s Wyoming in 1963.

During Pride Month, Chicago Shakes puts in perspective the true danger of bigoted people towards the LGBTQ community both in the past and -unfortunately- the present. Author Annie Prouxl published her short story in “The New Yorker” in 1997. The story became the basis for Ang Lee’s 2005 film starring Heath Ledger and Jake Gyllenhaal. Playwright Ashley Robinson debuted his stage adaptation in London in 2023. Robinson’s play focuses on the men’s relationship over two decades. Although both live traditional lives with marriage and kids, they escape regularly for a lovers’ tryst under the guise of a fishing trip. Robinson incorporates songs by Dan Gillespie Sells to provide additional emotional layers of storytelling.

Director Jonathan Butterell rolls the story out slow and methodically. Campfire lit. Dishes washed. Blankets rolled. This repetition then punctuates the explosive nature of the “taboo” love affair. Harrison Ball (Ennis) and Jack Cameron Kay (Jack) get within a foot of each other and the sexual tension is palpable. Ball and Kay have undeniable chemistry. It’s hot! Their characters’ personas are opposite. Ball delivers guarded and resigned. Kay plays it expressive and idealistic. Their foreplay is always abrupt surges of volatile longing. Their afterglow is sweet moments of lying in each other’s embrace. And when they talk about the future, they angrily clash over conflicting views of the world. It’s an emotional roller coaster of a love story.             

Scenic and Costume Designer Tom Pye aids the storytelling with a stunning set. Behind the stage, Pye has an authentic and expansive mountain landscape. It’s wonderfully poetic as Ball or Kay stroll through the grassy knolls to get to the campsite. The stage itself goes from outdoors to indoors with pop-up features. The furniture disappears in a seamless scene transition. And I was absolutely mesmerized by actors’ entrances and exits from the bed.

BROKEBACK MOUNTAIN is both a tender and poignant play. And -unfortunately- it’s a story of bigotry that still needs to be addressed in 2026 as LGBTQ rights are threatened. We must protect and celebrate that everybody has the right to love who they love. Happy Pride Month!   

Running Time: 1 hour and forty-five minutes with no intermission

At Chicago Shakespeare Theatre at Navy Pier

Based on the novella by Annie Prouxl

Adapted by Ashley Robinson

Directed by Jonathan Butterell

Songs by Dan Gillespie Sells

Performances are:

Wednesdays at 1pm

Tuesdays, Wednesdays, Thursdays, Fridays and Saturdays at 7pm

Saturdays and Sundays at 2pm

Thru June 28

For more information or tickets

Production photos by Kyle Flubacker

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