Displaying items by tag: Kathy Scambiatterra

Artistic Home has given theater goers a rare jewel of a comedy, a 1928 send-up of Soviet society that was never seen by Russian audiences because Stalin banned it. Well, his censors must have read only half way through, and clearly had no sense of humor, because this is comedy of the highest order. 

I’ll admit I was tempted to bail at intermission, as the humor in the first half felt a bit forced, and was mostly inside jokes for Soviet citizens. But as a reviewer I am pledged to see it through, and the outcome of the pivotal turning point was set up right before break. So I had to come back to find out what would happen. OMG was it funny! Take my advice and see this whole play, because you need the set-up to get the jokes in Act 2.

I’ll offer no spoilers, but in the first act we meet the hapless Semyon (Daniel Shtivelberg), an unemployed and hopeless young man who lives with his wife Masha (Kayla Adams) and mother-in-law Serafima (Kathy Scambiatterra is a hoot) in a crowded flat—perhaps situated in the apartment building lobby. The public setting of their dwelling and a common bathroom shared with the other residents assures us the opportunity to meet the postman Yegor (Reid Coker is great)—a model Soviet citizen—and another gentleman, Alexander (Todd Wojcik is a delight, as always) who seems to be sex trafficking with his willing partner, Margarita (Kristin Collins).

Semyon laments his unhappy fate, jobless and living from the earnings of his wife, while his mother-in-law manages the housekeeping. The two women are supportive despite Semyon’s dire emotional state. After failing in a last ditch effort to become a busker—he gets a tuba and instruction booklet but can’t master the instrument—his inner conflicts drive him to end it all. (The original play by Nikolai Erdman was called ‘The Suicide’ and is freely adapted here by Moira Buffini.)

Kristin Collins, Kayla Adams, Todd Wojcik and Kathy Scambiatterra in The Artistic Home's production of "Dying For It" at the Den Theatre.

Ironically, his decision to off himself makes Semyon suddenly of interest to others, and we soon see the arrival of three counter-revolutionary tropes of Stalin’s day: a member of the intelligentsia, Aristarkh (John Laflamboy plays it for all he's worth), the Westernized temptress Kiki (Brookelyn Hébert) a romantic poet Viktor (Khyel Roberson in a spot-on performance), and an Orthodox priest Father Yelpidy (Patrick Thornton). All hope to leverage Semyon's suicide to their benefit, mostly by encouraging him to write about them in his suicide note.

His neighbor the hedonist sees the occasion as a good excuse for a party, and with that Semyon’s plans to off himself become bigger than him—and the laugh fest begins in earnest.
Watching the players perform for all they’re worth in the first act had me curious, their earnest performances almost over the top with energy. Now I know why: they had all seen the second act!

Comedy is all in the timing, and credit director Monica Payne for keeping everyone on cue. Scenic design by Kevin Hagen is excellent, and costumes by Rachel Lambert are noteworthy in their authentic feel.

This rare opportunity to see a hidden gem should not be missed. "Dying For It” runs at The Den Theatre through April 23.

The Artistic Home chose a sure-fire winner for its return to in-person productions, with a creative staging and knock-out cast in Eurydice by celebrated playwright Sarah Ruhl. The "press night" show October 28 at the Den Theatre found a well-oiled machine delivering flawless performances. The joy of sitting in a sold-out room was soon surpassed by the show itself.

Distilled from a range of Greek and Roman myths, Eurydice recounts the story of Orpheus, the renowned demigod musician—his playing could draw tears from the stones—who descends into hell to lead his young bride Eurydice back to life. She was killed prematurely, and so the lord of hell permits her to leave—but Orpheus must not look back before they reach the surface, or she will be lost to him. When he reaches the surface, Orpheus does look back, losing Eurydice, who hasn't fully emerged. Most retellings focus on his tragic loss.

Ruhl’s 2003 play resets the story, taking the perspective of Eurydice. Played by Karla Corona, this Eurydice is a captivating character, a reader and thinker, a modern young woman immersed in self-discovery. Corona gives us an endearing innocent but strong Eurydice, magnetic. She has fallen in love with Orpheus, but he is even more in love with her. Bored at her own wedding reception, Eurydice strays and meets her early end, triggering Orpheus quest to bring her back. 

But in the underworld, Eurydice has an enveloping experience vastly more intriguing than Orpheus efforts, and she eventually meets her father (Javier Carmona). The play centers largely on the immense and unshakable love between Eurydice's father and his daughter. (Ruhl dedicated the play to her own father.)

Carmona gives us a surpassingly good performance. Before his daugher arrives, he is following her wedding from below, and by a simple shift in his expression goes from joy to sorrow, and back again, as he suffers the lost opportunity to give the bride away. When they are later brought together, he nurtures Eurydice and comforts her in his new home.

"Rock-star" performances are given by the incredibly entertaining and mean-spirited Chorus of Stones: Will Casey as Big Stone, Alexander McRae as Loud Stone, and Ariana Lopez as Little Stone. And as real standout is Todd Wojcik (above), arguably the best performance of the night, as “Nasty Interesting Man.” Wojicik gives us an almost indescribable package of self-infatuation, malice and brattiness, that alone is worth the price of admission. 

The production team includes Kevin Hagan (Scenic and Lighting Design), Zachery Wagner (Costume Design), Petter Wahlback (Sound Design), Randy Rozler (Properties Design), Julian Hester (Assistant Director), and Jac Pytlik (Stage Manager).

Eurydice had its world premiere at Madison Repertory Theatre, Madison, WI in 2003, and following high profile productions at Berkeley Repertory Theatre and Yale Repertory Theatre, it opened off Broadway at the Second Stage Theatre in 2007 and at the Young Vic in London in 2010. Artistic Home's production will be performed at The Den Theatre, 1331 N. Milwaukee Ave. in Chicago, Thursdays through Sundays, November 4 through November 21, 2021. 

Imagine some not too distant in the future totalitarian society where young people have never seen a book (much less a theatre play), computer screens had moved inside people’s heads, and language has so many technological terms, it’s barely recognizable. People work all the time, no one goes out anymore, and human interaction is reduced to a minimum. Luckily, mental health is well taken care of: everyone has a virtual psychologist and has to take “a pill”, just to cope. That’s the sad reality of Jason Hedrick’s two-act play ‘Vanya On the Plains,’ staged at The Artistic Home Theatre under the direction of Kayla Adams.

The play takes place in a house where an extended family co-habits without much interaction with each other: a 79 year old patriarch of the family, Elijah, his mad daughter, Anka (Katherine Schwartz), and two teenage grandkids (Sophia and Nicolas), as well as Elija’s mother-in-law, Gayle, and Anka’s boyfriend, Carl.  Gayle (superbly played by Kathy Scambiatterra) is very old; she is possibly just a ghost, since most characters just ignore her. But she is the breath of fresh air in that dreadful place: flamboyant and outspoken, and completely void of technocratic influences- it’s as if she’s been plucked out of some old, long forgotten reality. Gayle does like to drink quite a bit of vodka, but who wouldn’t. The entire house is like a perverse tea party: everyone’s mad in their own way. 

Many colorful characters keep the [slightly too lengthy play] entertaining. Special mention of great young talent Ariana Lopez (as Sophia), who added sparkles to the play.

When wise and bookish Elijah (wonderfully intuitive acting by Frank Nall) has a bright idea to “humanize” those around him by staging Chekhov’s “Uncle Vanya” at his house and making everyone act in the play, the rehearsals that would go on for years will have eventually become the much needed therapy for that crazy family. 

‘Vanya on the Plains is being performed at The Artistic Home Theatre. For more info visit www.theartistichome.org.