Steppenwolf Theatre
Becky, a 17 year old, played by Rae Gray, is involved with the death of a mentally handicapped friend at a party in Massachusetts. She is sent to visit for one week with her reclusive uncle, Sterling, played by William Petersen, at his cabin in a remote jungle in Costa Rica.
Greg Pierce has written a near perfect two-character play with a brisk 90-minute running time with no intermission. The dialogue is funny and touching in turns but never falls into melodrama or even sentimentality. During the course of the play we learn that Sterling is also struggling to forgive himself for a financial crime that caused a friend to be incarcerated for 15 years, by hiding out in the jungle. Sterling justifies his jungle lifestyle with daily meditation/penance by walking the path of his own man made labyrinth.
William Petersen’s performance is subtle and well crafted at the same time, Petersen acts with his whole body, from head to toe, his every hand gesture is rich with meaning and humor. Even Petersen’s silences onstage resonate passionately with the fullness of a seasoned actor whose senses have thankfully not been dulled by the 10-year stint on his hit TV show CSI.
Rae Gray does a great job of holding her own opposite Petersen in a demanding role. Gray has good comic timing and handles the more difficult scenes with sensitivity and intelligence.
The sound design is wonderful and becomes a sort of third character in the show, as the sounds of the jungle and it’s creatures remind Sterling and Becky about the great power of nature, life and death and destiny that is beyond their control.
The most rewarding part about this production is the way it unfolds and it’s message about self forgiveness creeps up on you without hitting you over the head like an after school special.
The spaciousness and sparing exactness in which “Slowgirl” was written allows the audience room to consider instances in their own lives that required huge leaps of understanding and compassion to overcome. “Slowgirl” gently and easily leads the audience to feel that forgiveness, no matter what the circumstance, no matter how late, is always practical if not mystical and always possible.
“Slowgirl” is playing in Steppenwolf’s upstairs theatre through September 1st. For tickets and/or more information, visit www.steppenwolf.org.
