The Fourth Walsh

Tin Drum Theatre Company presents the Chicago Premiere of SOUTHERN RAPTURE.

It’s the 1980s. In a Southern city in the United States, Marjorie is directing a new play. It tells the story of homosexuals succumbing to a disease. The gay aspect of the show has the town rattled and rumors of male frontal nudity has angered the conservatives. With his dreams of hosting the future Olympic Games in jeopardy, Mayor Paxton moves to stop the nudity and the premiere. Freedom of speech and artistic expression are under attack. The drama unfolds and comedy ensues as a town divided tries to unite.

Playwright Eric Coble imagines the probable controversy around the debut of Tony Kushner’s “Angels in America” in 1991, especially along the Bible Belt. Coble explores the multiple reactions to his fictitious “Rapture in America” debut. And he does it with a satirical lens and familiar caricatures. An ambitious mayor, a narrow-minded pastor, an overeager reporter, a loud-mouth town busybody, and a progressive outsider. Coble’s script leans into all the hoopla of putting on a show under pressure. His insider’s take gives the audience a peek behind the curtains in this play about a play.   

Director Jason Palmer orchestrates a seven-person ensemble playing seventeen parts. In the leads, Teddy Boone (Mayor) and Shannon Leigh Webber (Marjorie) repeatedly square off. The zealous Boone and the earnest Webber are well-matched debating the pros and cons of the show. Playing snarky sidekick, Michael Stejskal (Donald) hilariously and continuously pops up to deliver zingers. The rest of the terrific ensemble play 3-4 parts. From the start, a fierce Jenny Hoppes stands out as an ill-informed blowhard, overburdened stage manager and adoring housewife. Andrew Bosworth also plays actor, pastor and playwright with impressive distinction.

Coble wrote a robust story about the intersection of art and politics. Although Palmer and his crew tackle it with obvious enthusiasm and commitment, some of it feels redundant with the second act dragging a bit as the clock ticks down to curtain. Still, SOUTHERN RAPTURE is a fun night out – especially for the theatre community. At my performance, a few artists were howling with laughter at the stage manager shtick and other amusing theatrical snafus.

Running Time: 2 hours and 15 minutes includes an intermission

At Theater Wit, 1229 W. Belmont

Written by Eric Coble

Directed by Jason Palmer

Thursdays, Fridays, Saturdays at 7:30pm

Sundays at 3pm

Thru June 28

For more information or tickets

Production photos by Lance Sorenson

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