“Victims of Duty” starts with Madeleine (Karen Aldridge) sitting aside a clawfoot tub where she knits silently as her husband, Choubert (Guy Van Swearingen), reads the newspaper from his chair. Breaking the silence, she finally asks if there is anything knew in the news. There is not. Same old, same old. Their conversation centers on the humdrum of society. We sense a strong boredom between the two. Madeline enjoys the theatre, but Choubert points out how mysteries are so predictable – crime, detective (Michael Shannon), solved. It is then a knock is heard at their neighbor’s door. The two make little of it. Not much longer, the knock is heard at their own door. Enter the detective. This excites Madeline. She asks him to come in, but at first he says he can’t stay. He’s running late, he shows them his watch. He then comes in. He just has a few questions to ask them. When the two are asked about a missing neighbor, “Mallot with a ‘t’ at the end”, the mundane quickly turns into an introspective journey filled with twists and turns (literally) Choubert and Madeline will never forget.
Written in 1953, French-Romanian playwright Eugene lonesco taps into his own psyche in what is considered his most biographical piece. Choubert’s voyage includes real-life experiences of lonesco such as his tumultuous relationship with his father and a memory where he holds his mother’s hand along the Rue Blomet just after the bombing. “Murder for Two” is as penetrating as it is suspenseful as Choubert is forced to face his deepest fears. Michael Shannon as the detective or “Chief Inspector” is as powerful as they come as he guides Choubert through every step into his subconscious. He plays his character with ferocity and yet with a vulnerability that we can easily relate to as viewers, and to see the passion that Shannon so often exudes on the big screen in such an intimate setting is almost overwhelming. Karen Aldridge also puts forth a powerhouse performance as Madeline and does so by going through a gamut of emotions without skipping a beat. Rounding out the main trio is Guy Van Swearingen as Choubert who not only impresses with finessed acting ability but adds plenty of meat to the role with a strong physical performance, most of which is done while soaking wet. Richard Cotovsky (Mary-Archie Theatre fame) also makes a splash (again, literally) as French poet Nicholas D’eu.
Astutely directed by Shira Piven, takes this one-act play and runs with it showing provocative imagery at just the right moments to add to the show’s intensity. With an artistic team of Danila Korogodsky (Production Designer), Mike Durst (Lighting Designer) and Brando Triantafilou (Sound Designer), all the right touches are in place to make this a truly unique theatre experience. And smartly so, Artistic Director Kirsten Fitzgerald brings back Shannon and Swearingen who reprise the same roles they undertook in 1995 when the play first hit A Red Orchid Theatre. To round out the list of returnees, Piven also directed the play’s first run while Korogodsky was on hand as Production Designer.
“'Victims of Duty’ was the very first show I ever saw at A Red Orchid,” says Fitzgerald. “I am not entirely sure lonesco’s investigation of life made logical sense to me at the time, but it made perfect emotional sense and was viscerally stunning. So much so, that I knew I needed to work with these people in this space. That was 1996. With many of the originals returning, the investigation promises to go even deeper.”
Outside of memorable performances and its unusual setting, what makes this play so engaging is how much is left to the audience’s interpretation. Undoubtably, there are several certain moments that will relate heavily with many. There are several questions posed in the concentrated 90 minutes. Are we the victims of duty? Is it because of our place in the system that our actions should be forgiven to those we affected negatively? For instance, as Choubert speaks with his father – a former soldier - whom he has been so filled with anger for so many years, perhaps realizing that the chain reaction set off by his father’s “duty” must be recognized as the source of certain intrinsic behaviors that could not be helped rather than taking all actions at such a personal level. Maybe he should forgive his father. Maybe we should all have a deeper understanding of those around us and realize how being in such a system, whether the role that had to be taken on, has affected those they love.
Highly recommended.
“Victims of Duty” is being performed at A Red Orchid Theatre through August 5th. For tickets and/or more information visit www.aredorchidtheatre.org.
Obliteration, LLC & The Revival Theater announce a limited engagement of Obliteration, written by Andrew Hinderaker, directed by Jonathan Berry, featuring Michael Patrick Thornton and Cyd Blakewell. Obliteration runs April 10-May 4,…
The Dance Center of Columbia College Chicago announces 16 by Red Clay Dance Company for three performances only, April 17-19, 2025, featuring Founding Artistic Director and CEO Vershawn…
Stand Up Together, a comedy benefit in support of artists impacted by the Los Angeles wildfires, hosted by Second City and SNL…
Following a string of successful shows, Music Theater Works has once again hit the jackpot with their 2025 season opener,…
Two dancers stand center stage. The traditional, spiritual music begins to play as they start to move. Very much in…
Victory Gardens Theater, in association with Relentless Theatre Group, will present the Midwest premiere of a new work by Pulitzer Prize-winner,…
Prolific, and routinely recognized as being one of the most produced playwrights in the country, Lauren Gunderson’s range is as…
Do not bring the kids to TITUS ANDRONICUS; it has 14 killings, 9 of them on stage, 6 severed members,…
See Chicago Dance (SCD), celebrating 20 years as the most comprehensive resource for dance information in Chicago and one of the…
Get ready, Chicago! AKW Productions and Broadway In Chicago are thrilled to announce that the 13-time Tony Award® nominated Broadway sensation, HELL’S KITCHEN, is set to…
Under the continuing leadership of Executive Director Angel Ysaguirre, with interim artistic leadership from Senior Artistic Producer Gabrielle Randle-Bent and Senior Managing Producer Heidi…
The Patrick G. and Shirley W. Ryan Opera Center, Lyric Opera of Chicago's renowned artist-development program, will present its annual…
Ashley Wheater MBE, The Mary B. Galvin Artistic Director of The Joffrey Ballet, today announces the Joffrey's 2025-2026 season at…
‘Hedda Gabler’ has mystified audiences for generations, as this was certainly Ibsen’s intention when creating this endlessly fascinating character. The…
Sugar, butter, flour…beneath the flaky layers and buttery crusts of pies lay these three simple ingredients. They’re mixed and blended…
Broadway In Chicago is excited to announce individual tickets for RIVERDANCE 30 – THE NEW GENERATION will go on sale on Friday,…
I’m not a fan of board games. I’ve never finished a full game of Monopoly. Risk? No, thanks. But Clue?…
Rivendell Theatre Ensemble (RTE), Chicago's only women-centered Equity storefront theatre, ushers in its 30th Anniversary Season with the world premiere of No Such Thing by…
Steppenwolf Theatre Company, the nation's premier ensemble theater company, is pleased to announce full casting for the Chicago premiere of The…
The Grainger Academy of The Joffrey Ballet celebrates the 15th Anniversary of its choreographic competition, Winning Works, with five world premieres over…
Avalanche Theatre announces its Chicago debut with the world premiere of Time is a Color and the Color is Blue by Chicago playwright…
Do not believe the hype. AI will not replace the arts. By its very definition it is artificial, the antithesis…
Do you hear it? The haunting hum of Missy Mazzoli and Royce Vavrek's The Listeners will transfix audiences at Lyric Opera of…
I’ve never seen Cirque and have always longed to. It was SO worth the wait! Here’s what I saw: Color.…
Northlight Theatre, under the direction of Artistic Director BJ Jones and Executive Director Timothy J. Evans, continues its 2024–2025 season with Joshua Harmon's celebrated play Prayer for…
Chicago Shakespeare Theater (CST) announces today the cast and creative team of its highly anticipated North American Premiere musical event Sunny Afternoon. Based…
Beautiful: The Carole King Musical is a captivating tribute to the extraordinary journey of Carole King, tracing her path from…
“Don Quixote of La Mancha” is considered the oldest European novel, but it gets a fresh and exciting new treatment…
Love is often jokingly referred to as a socially acceptable form of insanity, but in Sam Shepard’s ‘Fool for Love’…
Like the dream deferred in Langston Hughes' poem that inspired its title, Court Theatre's latest production of "A Raisin in…
Does your theatre company want to connect with Buzz Center Stage or would you like to reach out and say "hello"? Message us through facebook or shoot us an email at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..
*This disclaimer informs readers that the views, thoughts, and opinions expressed in the text belong solely to the author, and not necessarily to Buzz Center Stage. Buzz Center Stage is a non-profit, volunteer-based platform that enables, and encourages, staff members to post their own honest thoughts on a particular production.