 James Pickering, La Shawn Banks, and Kelly Doherty in Milwaukee Chamber Theatre's production of Eugene O'Neill's A MOON FOR THE MISBEGOTTEN. Photo by Michael Brosilow. By Mary Boyle Irish American playwright Eugene O'Neill (1888-1953) is the only playwright to ever win the Pulitzer Prize for Drama four times. Though his name may not ring a bell to everyone, the titles of some of his plays surely will, such as Bound East for Cardiff, The Emporer Jones, Beyond the Horizon, Anna Christie, or The Iceman Cometh, among others. Interestingly, it is one of O'Neill's failed plays that, decades after his death, became considered one of his greatest works, and Milwaukee Chamber Theatre has taken great pains to bring A MOON FOR THE MISBEGOTTEN to their stage. O'Neill was revolutionary to American theatre in that he brought realism to the stage by writing the stories of people not usually represented in our culture: alcoholics, prostitutes, immigrants, and the poor. Moon for the Misbegotten is actually a sequel for his earlier work, Long Day's Journey Into Night, which was inspired by events in O'Neill's own life, and where we are first introduced to the character of James Tyrone Jr. (La Shawn Banks), now a failed actor who has come home to Connecticut. James has been left with his family's estate, which includes a poor plot of land that Phil Hogan (James Pickering) has been farming for years. Mike Hogan (A.J. Magoon), the last of the old Irish farmer's sons, is running away from the farm like his brothers before him, leaving his sister, Josie (Kelly Doherty), to care for both the farm and their aging, alcoholic father. While James and Josie have long had a tenderness for each other, and James made a promise to sell the land to Phil once the estate is settled, Phil isn't so certain that the money of their new wealthy neighbor, T. Steadman Harder (Zach Thomas Woods), might cause James to go back on his word. Brent Hazelton, MCT's Artistic Director, intended to stage a production of Moon for his first season with MCT in 2020, but I'll bet you can guess what happened next. A large part of MCT's mission is casting local talent and, though years passed before he could make the production a reality, his inspiration, Kelly Doherty, an up and coming local actor who he felt was made for the role of Josie, was still available when the time came. Doherty truly was perfect for the role, as was Milwaukee icon James Pickering as Phil. The bulk of the play is supported on the shoulders of these two actors, and they carry it so impressively. Although they spent little time on the stage, A.J. Magoon (who makes his MCT debut) and Zach Thomas Woods, two of my favorite local actors, also certainly make their mark. La Shawn Banks, who makes an impressive MCT debut as James, is a Chicago-based actor who has frequented plenty of other Wisconsin stages, including American Players Theatre and Children's Theatre of Madison. This production is the 24th show directed by Mary MacDonald Kerr, who is a local actor, herself, alongside an entire production crew filled with Wisconsin-based artists. Utilizing local talent is what MCT does best, and it is on full display in every aspect of this production. That being said, there is a reason O'Neill's works are rarely produced (this show hasn't been professionally produced in the Milwaukee area since 1995). Seeing this show reminded me of when I read Wuthering Heights by Emily Brontë in high school. To my modern mind, it was no more than a soap opera; however, I could also appreciate that, in the time it was written, it was revolutionary. The same can be said of O'Neill's plays. The struggle of Josie and James to love each other because they can't love themselves was probably enlightening to audiences of the time; the way that shame can get in the way of connecting with others and living the lives we want was a concept that needed to be spelled out then, but is far too obvious and overdramatized for audiences now. I was also reminded of MCT's production of Who's Afraid of Virginia Woolf? from last season, in that this is also a play that hits differently in our modern culture, yet I relish the chance to see where we came from in theatre. To that end, Milwaukee Chamber Theatre delivers in a way that no other local theatre company does. As with Virginia Wolf, you should see A Moon for the Misbegotten because it's a rare opportunity to see what great theatre was, but also because you should see James Pickering act if you have the chance and, as an added bonus, see three of the future icons of Milwaukee theatre on one stage with the current one. This one has a short run, so act accordingly. A MOON FOR THE MISBEGOTTEN runs through February 4th in the Studio Theatre at the Broadway Theatre Center, located at 158 N. Broadway in Milwaukee's Historic Third Ward. Tickets may be purchased online at www.milwaukeechambertheatre.org or by calling the box office at (414) 291-7800. Join MCT at MARN for A MOON FOR THE MISBEGOTTEN Happy Hour between performances on Saturday, February 3. Try an Irish Coffee or the Irish Blonde Cocktail while enjoying MARN's current exhibition, ‘Behind the Queen.’ Plus, local Milwaukee Irish band áthas will be leading a traditional Irish open session - bring your instrument and play along! MARN will honor 10% off selected purchases from the Cafe, when you bring in a ticket stub from ANY currently running show or performance in Milwaukee! This event is free and open to the public. About Milwaukee Chamber Theatre Founded in 1975 by Montgomery Davis and Ruth Schudson, guided until 2020 by Michael Wright and Kirsten Finn, and now led by Brent Hazelton, Milwaukee Chamber Theatre (MCT) partners with other arts organizations, community-based organizations and universities to produce thought-provoking productions and innovative outreach programs on an intimate, human scale. As a leader in developing Milwaukee and Wisconsin’s theater community, MCT provides regular employment and a stable artistic home to local theatre professionals through a five-play subscription season, the Young Playwrights Festival (YPF), and the Montgomery Davis Play Development Series (MDPDS). MCT performs at the Broadway Theatre Center in Milwaukee’s Historic Third Ward and is a proud Member Group of the United Performing Arts Fund.
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 Milwaukee Repertory Theater presents LITTLE WOMEN in the Quadracci Powerhouse January 16–February 18, 2024. Pictured Rebecca Cort, Katie Peabody, Colleen Madden, Amelio García, and Cy Paolantonio. Photo by Michael Brosilow By Mary Boyle Louisa May Alcott's famous semi-autobiographical novel, Little Women, originally published as two separate volumes in 1868 and 1869, was an instant success that has never fallen out of fashion. Inspiring several film versions, including the most recent one from 2019 starring Saoirse Ronan, Emma Watson, Florence Pugh, Laura Dern, Meryl Streep, and Timothee Chalamet, the novel has also inspired several stage adaptations, beginning with one for Broadway in 1912 and, more recently, an adaptation that made its world premier in 2018 in Minneapolis by Kate Hamill. Known for writing contemporary plays adapted from classic novels, Hamill has become one of the most-produced playwrights in the country since she was named "Playwright of the Year" by The Wall Street Journal in 2017. Now, Milwaukee audiences can enjoy this most recent production of LITTLE WOMEN through February 18th, courtesy of The Milwaukee Repertory Theater. Little Women is a coming of age story set during America's Civil War in Concord, Massachusetts, where the four March sisters and their mother, who they lovingly refer to as Marmee (Colleen Madden), are doing their best to keep their household afloat while Mr. March is off fighting in the War. The oldest sister, Meg (Cy Paolantonio), works as a governess to help earn money for the family, while Jo (Amelio Garcia), the second oldest, works for their rich aunt (also played by Madden). A tomboy and aspiring writer, Jo has no interest in leading the life that is expected of a young woman. Beth (Katie Peabody), the third youngest, is a fragile and timid girl, content to stay home with her family, while Amy (Rebecca Cort), the baby, cannot wait to grow up. Their lives begin to change when they become acquainted with their new neighbor, Laurie (Austin Winter), an orphaned teenage boy who has come to live with his grandfather, Mr. Laurence (Chiké Johnson). Directed by Marti Lyons, Hamill's adaptation, by necessity, streamlines Alcott's lengthy novel in order to fit it into an acceptable run time, which is to be expected; however, the resulting tale is very nearly relying on the audience's familiarity with the story to fill in some of the blanks that are left. Fans of the novel will note that some of the details of the main characters have also been changed, and while some have been made to give more focus to certain topics in the story, other changes seem unnecessary. Nonetheless, the heart of the tale is left intact, and those who are unfamiliar with the story will inevitably fall in love with it, as everyone else has for the past several generations, and those who know it well will undoubtedly come to see it in a new light. In its time, Little Women was somewhat radical in that it normalized nontraditional paths for women and legitimized their dreams to become something beyond mothers, while still honoring the importance and value of family and home -- concepts that we still struggle with, today. Furthermore, the story portrayed the idea of a "democratic family," in which the members were equal individuals with individual aspirations, regardless of gender. The character of Jo, in particular, as an unabashed tomboy, challenged gender norms for young women; this aspect, in particular, is what Hamill focuses on. Amelio Garcia, as a transmasc actor (a person who is assigned female at birth, but who identifies as male and lives as a man), is perfectly cast in the role of Jo. While Alcott, herself, may have simply wanted the same autonomy and independence as a man while still being a woman (after all, Jo does eventually fall in love and get married in the book), casting a trans actor in this role gives a new and timely lens to the story, while still retaining Jo's words, written nearly 150 years ago. Little Women, I think, has remained popular in large part because of its rare focus on the complexities of growing up as a woman in our culture; unfortunately, in all this time, that really hasn't gotten any less complex. Gender, as a whole, is a topic that feels more full of complexities than ever, and yet the way Hamill tells the story suggests that perhaps these seemingly modern complexities have always been there, along with the solution to them. Marmee's response to all of Jo's frustration about being expected to behave like a lady seems perfectly natural: acceptance, empathy, love, and understanding. Played brilliantly by Colleen Madden, Marmee is a mother who clearly loves each of her children unconditionally, equally, fiercely, and without any judgement. She cherishes her role as a mother without having any expectation of her children to be like her, yet her children clearly cherish their mother, though they do not necessarily want to follow in her footsteps. One can't help but wonder what the world would look like if we all had parents like Marmee. With a talented cast of largely debut actors, anchored by Milwaukee favorites Madden and Johnson, Hamill's Little Women is a funny, heartwrenching, endearing, thought-provoking, tear-jerking, and altogether lovely production that reaffirms why Alcott's classic tale endures. Don't miss this one. LITTLE WOMEN runs through February 18th, 2024, in the Quadracci Powerhouse Theater, located at 108 E. Wells Street in downtown Milwaukee. Tickets may be purchased online at www.MilwaukeeRep.com, by calling the Ticket Office at 414-224-9490 or in-person at the Box Office. For more information visit www.Milwaukeerep.com. Access ServicesASL Interpreted Performance: Thursday, February 1, 7:30pm – the show will be signed for patrons who are deaf or have low hearing. Sensory Friendly All Access Performance: Tuesday, February 6 at 6:30pm – tickets are $10, to purchase and for more information visit: https://tickets.milwaukeerep.com/56057/60544/ Captioned Theater Performance: Sunday, February 18, 2pm – the show includes captions. About Milwaukee Repertory Theater Milwaukee Rep is the largest performing arts organization in Wisconsin with three unique performance venues in the Associated Bank Theater Center. For over seven decades, Milwaukee Rep has been a centerpiece of Milwaukee’s vibrant arts and cultural scene with productions ranging from Broadway musicals to Shakespeare to American Classics and New Works that are entertaining, inclusive, and impactful. Under the leadership of Artistic Director Mark Clements and Executive Director Chad Bauman, Milwaukee Repertory Theater ignites positive change in the cultural, social, and economic vitality of its community by creating world-class theater experiences that entertain, provoke, and inspire meaningful dialogue among an audience representative of Milwaukee’s rich diversity.  By Mary Boyle There's nary a Wisconsinite who hasn't heard of GUYS ON ICE, the ice fishing musical by Fred Alley, with music by James Kaplan, which made its premiere at Northern Sky Theater (then American Folklore Theater, which Fred co-founded) in Door County way back in 1998. An instant hit, The Milwaukee Rep premiered the musical 25 years ago, and now brings it back for a 25th Anniversary production at their Stackner Cabaret through March 17th. Directed and choreographed by Jeffrey Herbsts and set in Door County, the musical features two friends, Lloyd (Steve M. Koehler) and Marvin (Doug Mancheski), who regularly spend their wintertime in Marvin's ice shanty on the lake, trying to catch fish. When Marvin gets an accepted invitation from his favorite TV fishing personality to visit his shanty, he invites Lloyd to join him to be on the show. As they wait for the TV crew to arrive, the two friends are visited by Ernie "the mooch" (Dan Klarer), a bothersome gossip who is always scavenging for some bait, a bite to eat, and a beer to wash it down while he spreads the latest news. Lloyd, expressing his annoyance after Ernie shares news about the state of his relationship, is reminded by Marvin: "It's Door County, Lloyd! There's tourists, pickled eggs, and gossip." All three actors, the director, and Ryan Cappleman, the accompanist, are veterans of this show, and it shows. Fast-paced and fun, it's easy to understand how this production has made multiple seasons at Northern Sky, but it's also an excellent show for the intimate Stackner Cabaret, where you can get dinner before the show or have appetizers, dessert, or drinks during the performance. With underground parking, it's easy to get in and out and enjoy a full evening in one place without ever having to get out into the cold, which makes for an ideal show for a Wisconsin evening, both in theme and location. Full of classic Swedish Lars and Ole jokes, love for the Green Bay Packers, and tales of the fish that got away, Guys On Ice is an ode to Northern Wisconsin, snowmobile suits, and the glorious sport of ice fishing that keeps the audience laughing from start to finish, even if you don't care about football or have never been ice fishing at all. Heartwarming, funny, and a little Door County in the heart of Milwaukee's theater district - you can't go wrong. GUYS ON ICE runs through March 17th at The Rep's Stackner Cabaret, located at 108 E. Wells Street in Milwaukee. Tickets may be purchased at www.MilwaukeeRep.com, by phone at 414-224-9490, or in-person at the Ticket Office. About Milwaukee Repertory Theater Milwaukee Rep is the largest performing arts organization in Wisconsin with three unique performance venues in the Associated Bank Theater Center. For over seven decades, Milwaukee Rep has been a centerpiece of Milwaukee’s vibrant arts and cultural scene with productions ranging from Broadway musicals to Shakespeare to American Classics and New Works that are entertaining, inclusive, and impactful. Under the leadership of Artistic Director Mark Clements and Executive Director Chad Bauman, Milwaukee Repertory Theater ignites positive change in the cultural, social, and economic vitality of its community by creating world-class theater experiences that entertain, provoke, and inspire meaningful dialogue among an audience representative of Milwaukee’s rich diversity. |
Mary BoyleReviewing live theatre in Wisconsin since 2014. Proud member of the American Theatre Critics Association. #OzTheatre
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