Belleville - Chicago july 2013 part 4

after the triumph of Slowgirl the day before, on with the biggest disappointment of the trip: Belleville.

I had high expectations of Belleville, critics love it, I'd seen some of the cast before in fantastic performances.

But... this play never captured my attention, apart from the odd funny or tense moments, it was flat and boring, I had to consciously keep myself from checking my watch (too often)... like my neighbour surreptitiously kept doing.

at least it was a pretty set, though such
 a big apartment in Paris for  startouts?

Maybe the cast had an off day, who knows, all I took back from this play was that it had a pretty set, the story was boring and did not make much sense rationally (granted, we find out in the end half the characters are not prone to rationality) there are some funny lines and there are some Hitchcock-like suspense moments, but those were rare and sparsely doled out over the course of the play.

None of the cast managed to make me sympathize with their characters, none of them made me care what happened to them. The clean-up scene made no sense to me and was too long...

I'll have to re-read the professional reviews and figure out what they thought was so fantastic about this play... one day...

Cringe moment..., one of the few scenes that connected
with the audience,

Alana Arenas and Chris Boykin
(photo Michael Brosilow)

Kate Arrington and Cliff Chamberlain
(photo Michael Brosilow)

from the official website:

Newly married American expats Zack and Abby live an enviably hip existence in the colorful, multi-ethnic neighborhood of Belleville, Paris. But when a series of small, unexpected encounters escalates the tension between them, some surprising cracks in the foundation of their isolated yet idyllic life begin to show. Belleville is a taut, edgy psychological thriller that asks: does anyone really know who they’re with?

Official review blurbs:

"Unpredictable, breathless thriller…5-stars!"
–Time Out Chicago

"Heart-stopping Chicago premiere"
–Newcity

"A psychological thriller as suspenseful as any Hitchcock film"
–Chicago Theater Beat

"A very juicy night of theater"
–Chicago Tribune

"Shivers with intrigue…an exploration of what lurks in the world of relationships"
–Northwest Indiana Times

Chicago - William Petersen!

Just fixed tickets for William Petersen's summer play at Steppenwolf!

Slowgirl, by Greg Pierce... the play is intriguing by itself, the cast makes it even more a must see!

Another two-hander without intermission, Mr Petersen seems to have found himself a pattern.  So far his choices have worked out nicely,  female character will be played by Rae Gray, director Randall Arney. Randall is new to me, saw Rae last year in the wonderful 'Crooked' at Rivendell Theatre. Slowgirl was probably not on her radar at the time, but it seems her part in Crooked was an excellent precursor for this play.

Looking forward to seeing this one!!

TheaterMania: A Beautifully crafted twohander... audiences will find themselves on the edge of their seats, drawn into an ever-deepening relationship that's pulsing with intensity, confusion and love.

While in Chicago this summer... I'll take in as much good stuff as I can manage, definitely will go see Belleville, also at Steppenwolf (downstairs). written by Amy Herzog, Directed by Ann Kauffman, featuring ensemble members Alana Arenas and Kate Arrington.  

Dubbed a “thrillingly good” drama with elements of a “nail-biting psychological thriller” by The New York Times, Amy Herzog’s play asks unsettling questions about upheaval and the power of a lie.