Displaying items by tag: Debo Balogun

Keith (Debo Balogun) and Ryan (Nate Faust) sit in their rolling chairs in the middle of Keith’s office. The lighting is highly florescent, and the two are discussing Ryan’s current status and ability to convince a bank to give him a loan. Tension is high, and with Ryan’s desperation only increasing, Keith is doing everything in his power to help him out. We have been watching the duo become closer over the last many scenes, and at this point in time, you may feel yourself leaning in – nervous for Ryan’s fate and just hoping the two friends can figure out a path forward.

Then the lights shift. The stage becomes brighter, birds start to chirp, and the two bring their rolling chairs downstage so they are sitting directly next to each other. No longer are we in Keith’s office. The rolling chairs now represent a bench in a park, and the two single fathers are watching their kids play together. Through their commentary, it’s clear that the kids are becoming closer, and learning to share as they move through the various slides and playground equipment. Somewhere in mid-conversation, we hear Keith gasp as he grabs his phone. Their toddlers are holding hands, and the fathers simply have to capture the moment before it’s too late. As the two giggle on stage, I could hear the audience surrounding me share in the joy – laughing and appreciating the sweet humor.

Sam Hunter’s play is about a lot of things. The ups and downs of fatherhood. The challenges of bureaucracy. The difficulty of building a better life for yourself when everything seems to be stacked against you. But at the heart, this is a story about a friendship that forms between two strangers – two men who not only share the status of fatherhood, but also a certain sadness from their lived experience. As you witness Hunter’s cleverly-written story, you might just find that the journey is at times gut-wrenching, but also full of hope – a balance that keeps you intrigued and eagerly awaiting more.

Written by Sam Hunter, A Case for the Existence of God follows the story of Keith and Ryan. The two men come together on the day that Ryan arrives at Ken’s office door for help obtaining a loan. While the relationship begins with some tension, the barriers start to come down at the realization that both have a young daughter back home. From there, a friendship forms, and we witness the slow building of trust as they learn how to better support each other through both the financial and parental challenges that follow.

Directed by Robin Witt, the play is fast paced. The piece may only be 90 minutes, but once this train of a play starts, there is simply no stopping it until the lights come down at the end. Witt’s artistic team aids in that endeavor – particularly through the work of Scenic Designer Sotirios Livaditis. The stage is entirely consumed by Keith’s small office – a space that leaves little space for movement. The intimate feel of the Edge off Broadway thrusts the audience right into the action – forcing us all into this tiny office that represents multiple locations as the two characters start to uncover each other’s secrets. The ending result? For better or for worse, we are on this roller coaster with the characters – and personally, I feel that helps make the journey.

Hunter’s play is a two-hander, and considering the actors never leave the stage, the chemistry between the two actors feels essential. Balogun and Faust rise to the challenge. If you’re like this writer, then you have also perhaps caught these Steep ensemble members in many productions over the years. Always talented, but these roles in particular shine. In collaboration with Witt’s direction, the performances are gripping, and with every twist and turn, I personally found it impossible to look away.

With standout performances, a smart production, and a story that tugs at the heartstrings, this is one you do not want to miss. Steep does not disappoint and from the looks of the standing ovation surrounding me at the end of this particular performance, I was not alone in my opinion.

HIGHLY RECOMMENDED

A Case for the Existence of God runs through September 7 at the Edge of Broadway – 1133 W Catalpa Avenue.

If shock is the intent, then the opening scene of ‘Zürich’ is right on. The set: a hotel room, cleverly separated from the audience by a glass wall, furnished with a bed, a couple of tables and a mini-fridge. In the first scene it’s a couple of complete strangers who had just spent the night together; the scene feels awkward, not exactly helped by the full-on frontal nudity. “She” is played by Sasha Smith (credits include TV shows Chicago Fire, Chicago PD, etc.) opposite Jeff Kurysz, whose many credits include Support Group for Men, Romeo and Juliet, etc. The opening scene would have been just as effective had Kurysz been wearing underwear, the choice for full-frontal nudity questionable as it did not succeed in heightening any point and seemed unnecessary in general.  

The play consists of five mini-acts taking place in five rooms of the 40th floor of a Swiss hotel; people interacting, reacting to each other, to the maid and, sometimes unknowingly, to the other hotel guests.

Things pick up a bit in the next few scenes; there’s an angry lawyer (Debo Balogun), a miserable maid incredibly well played by Elizabeth Wigley, accent and all. Then there are the two spoiled brats - an 11-year-old boy and his older sister, alone in the room, squabbling and looking for trouble while their parents are out on a walk. Cole Keriazakos and Maya Lou Hlava are both outstanding; they’re the highlight of the play and its invisible center upon which everything converges. Cole Keriazakos’ impressive credits include TV series Southside on Comedy Central, Chicago Fire as well as multiple national commercials, while among many of Maya Hlava’s credits are parts in Oklahoma (Marriott Theatre), Violet (Griffin theatre) and voiceover work.

In the end, the self-righteous old woman and her bitter male nurse are up to no good and things might not end so well, but who is to blame them?

‘Zürich’ touches on a few current topics, such as gun control, government and corporate corruption, “toxic masculinity” (is there such a thing?), but also revives some old ones, like, the Holocaust. Written by Amelia Roper, directed by Steep ensemble member Brad DeFabo Akin, ‘Zürich’ premiered in New York this past spring.

A little trivia: founded in 2000, Steep Theatre is housed in a storefront space that was once a small grocery store called Grocerland; it belonged to a Greek immigrant, who happens to be my husband’s late grandfather. The store had undergone a nice makeover after having been abandoned for over 35 years, and is now a wonderful cozy little theatre in its own right.

Located at 1115 West Berwyn Ave, just steps from the Berwyn red Line stop. ‘Zürich’ is being performed at Steep Theatre through November 10th. For more show info visit steeptheartre.com.