Slowgirl - Chicago july 2013 part 3

Day three in Chicago, third play was the event I timed this trip for... PREVIEWS!

I'm in love with previews... when on a longer trip and an interesting play is in previews I try to fit in a few over the course of my trip.


First preview is always special, because it's the first real opportunity for the cast to try out their interpretation of the play on a live audience, the (part of the) audience that is aware of this special moment and pays special attention has a rare opportunity to see actors shaking off their first night jitters, getting used to each other in this space that is suddenly filled with more bodies than just the creative team. The room comes alive, the creative team gets to see if their choices connect with the audience... to me it's the magic of theater!

Then coming back a few times over the course of previews (best to see first and last preview in any case, and then one or two along the way), if you pay attention you get to see the small changes, the little things that actors unconsciously adopt, the difference that a different audience makes... some things that are funny to one audience, make no connection to another... it's fun to try and figure out why (from an outsiders pov... I'm sure the creative team has it's own analysis on things, I've never been privy to their 'notes' meetings, one of my 3 genie wishes would be to be a fly on the wall there).

Becky (Rae Gray) and Sterling (William Petersen)

On with the play of the day: SLOWGIRL

A small, 2 hand, one act, 90 minute play. William Petersen's trademark of late it seems.

"I don't understand why you're in
worse trouble than everyone else"

Slowgirl is a very introvert play, no emotional outburst until deep into the play. A middle aged man who has run away from his problems and settled in the jungle of Costa Rica, content or at least he has convinced himself he is content with his lone uncomplicated existence. Until his niece arrives, 17 years old, unfiltered teen Becky who is on the run from a tragic recent event in her life. Becky's retreat is meant to be temporary, Sterling aims to live out his life there.

"Have you met my tongue?"

Becky's unfiltered way of uttering whatever is in her head rattles Sterling at first, he has no idea how to handle this 17 year old outspoken, sexual being that he saw last when she was his cute 8 year old little niece.

Slowly he gets a grip on things, we see his development on stage, we see the development of Becky's versions of the truth of the event that got her to Costa Rica and we get Sterlings backstory and see him more or less forced to deal with his past as we - along with him - see a parallel to Becky's story.

I adored the play, it's such a subtle play, the actors can't hide behind big emotions, big gestures, big sets or a big cast. They are 'naked' (no props to speak of) and have to engage us by skill and emotion. Both William Petersen and Rae Gray were great in their own character, and managed to mold their separate storylines and characters into one, a thing of beauty.

I'd seen Rae in a play called 'Crooked' last year, which seemed  a perfect jumping board to this one (I doubt Slowgirl was on her schedule at that time, but call it Karma)... William Petersen's last play before this was 'Endgame'... and before that was the magnificent 'Blackbird', three very different plays that I think take three very different skillsets not to mention states of mind. I have no idea how he selects his plays, I wish I knew the secret.

True to my habit, I saw this play 4 times in previews, and as fate has it, that last preview really truly was the moment when everything fell into place and every moment hit its mark... brilliant to see that AND be aware of it.

Sterling (William Petersen) and Becky (Rae Gray)

Greg Pierce did a wonderful job in writing this play, it had it's worldwide premier in New York last year at the Lincoln Center Theater with Zjelko Ivanek and Sarah Steele, I am told there were some changes to the play to adjust to a different kind of cast here. Also according to the Lincoln Center website it ran 10 minutes longer... I wonder if it was just a different pace? I wish I had seen the NYC version so I would be able to make the comparison.

a pivotal moment

from the official website:

In the wake of a harrowing accident at a house party in Massachusetts, a teenager flees to her uncle's isolated retreat in the Costa Rican jungle to await, or avoid, the repercussions. As the reclusive Sterling and his impulsive niece get reacquainted over the course of a week, startling details about their pasts slowly unfold. Performed in the newly reconfigured intimate Upstairs Theatre, Slowgirl is a compelling story about owning your past—and getting on with your life.








Review blurbs:

"Engaging, compassionate and well-written…you’ll likely find yourself touched by how well it charts the loving complexities of families"
–Chicago Tribune

"Under the sensitive direction of Randall Arney, two marvelous actors—William Petersen and Rae Gray—deliver finely tuned, often surprising performances."
–Chicago Sun-Times

"Petersen and Gray make an absorbingly off-kilter onstage pair"
–Time Out Chicago

"The intriguing chemistry between these two masters of the intimate stage is delicious to observe."
–Chicago Sun-Times

"This 90-minute dialogue is funny, introspective, and an excellent chance to showcase the talents of Steppenwolf ensemble member William Petersen and Rae Gray."
–Chicago Theatre Review

"Eloquent…wonderful…Pierce understands life’s unsolvable complexities."
–New City