ACT OUT: 9/11 Living Memorial Through Theatre--Sweet and Sad Highly Recommended #Review

PHOTO CREDIT: Michael Brosilow    

Kate Harris (blue dress ), to her right is Eric Burgher sitting next to Kristin Ford and holding hands across the table with Harmony France. Darrell W. Cox is wearing a white shirt

PROFILES THEATRE

Sweet and Sad (Midwest Premiere)

by Richard Nelson

Directed by Joe Jahraus

ChiIL Live Shows had the great pleasure of seeing Sweet and Sad on opening night.   This is one of the most eloquent memorials to 9/11 out there.   The truths that lie in the things spoken, the things forgotten, and the things remembered but left unsaid, speak volumes.   

Truly, memorials may stand and mark the scene of tragedies large enough to reshape the world,   but the purest memorials lie in the works of art, theatre, music, spoken and written word that arise from the effects on real people.    Sweet and Sad deals with losses as intimate and personal as the suicide of a child and the slow loss of a life time's worth of memories, and with mass losses like the death toll of 9/11 and our country's loss of innocence, invincibility and sense of security.

Sweet and Sad is a thought provoking must see.

The scene opens on a stark and barren stage, leaving everything to the audience's imagination.   Then the trappings of polite society are unfurled, physically and metaphorically, as an Oriental rug is rolled out, a table is set for a large, family brunch, and a buffet of real food is paraded out.   As the Apple extended family digs in to their meal and each other,  the audience becomes a fly on the wall, in this highly engaging, realistic, family ritual.   It's amazing just how effectively Profiles was able to pull off a theatre in the round production in their intimate, new space.   The banter and timing come off realistically, and there are certainly funny moments and more than a few chuckles of recognition of real life "characters".   

We thought Robert Breuler was a particular stand out with his zen-like, live in the moment, amnesiac.   

PHOTO CREDIT: Michael Brosilow    

Robert Breuler with cast

 With the 11th anniversary of the 9/11 tragedy today, and the election buzz in full swing, this show is as timely as ever.   

*In fact, they are adding a special extra 9/11 performance tonight, September 11 at 8 pm. The event will feature pre-show appetizers and cocktails at 6:30 pm and a post-show discussion with the cast and director.*

PHOTO CREDIT: Michael Brosilow    
Darrell W. Cox standing over Robert Breuler

Sweet and Sad is an excellent choice to introduce The Main Stage, 4139 N. Broadway, next door to Profiles Theatre's long time home, now called The Alley Stage, 4147 N. Broadway.   The Second Stage, rental space, has now been transferred to Rare Terra Theatre Company as of August 15th.

Featuring Profiles ensemble members Darrell W. Cox and Eric Burgher with Robert Breuler, Kristin Ford, Harmony France and Kate Harris

August 17 – October 7, 2012

Profiles Theatre, The Main Stage, 4139 N. Broadway

Tickets: $30 - $40

Box Office: www.profilestheatre.org or (773) 549-1815

With Sweet and Sad, Tony Award-winning playwright Richard Nelson continues his series of plays exploring the immediate present and the ever-changing state of the nation. Over Sunday brunch on the tenth anniversary of 9/11, the Apple Family finds themselves talking about loss, remembrance and the family struggle to maintain its moral equilibrium in a world that no longer reflects its values.

Profiles Theatre’s production follows the highly acclaimed world premiere at The Public Theater in New York last season. Named one of the top ten plays of the year by the New York Times, New York Magazine and Bloomberg News, Sweet and Sad is part of Richard Nelson’s planned series of four works charting the changes undergone by an extended family from the village of Rhinebeck, New York. Beginning with That Hopey Changey Thing in 2010 and the upcoming Sorry opening at The Public Theater in October 2012, the plays take place in real time and have their World premiere on the dates they are set.

Regular Run:   August 24 – October 7, 2012

Schedule:       Thurs., Fri.:  8:00 p.m.  

 Saturday:  5:00 p.m. and 8:00p.m. (no 5pm show August 18 and 25)

Sunday:  7:00 p.m.

**Added Performance: Tuesday, September 11 at 8 pm**

Location: Profiles Theatre, The Main Stage, 4139 N. Broadway

Parking is available for $10 - $12 at 4100 N. Clarendon

(One block east of the theatre at the corner of Clarendon and Belle Plaine)

Ticket prices:  

Thursdays are $35, Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays are $40; Tuesday, September 11 tickets are $40. Students and Senior Citizens receive a $5 discount on all performances; Group rates are available.

Box Office: Buy online at www.profilestheatre.org

or call (773) 549-1815