2011, 12-02:
Review of play: “IN THE JUNGLE” = Set in Chicago in 1912
Some HISTORY and Background
In 1918 (the year that World War I ended), a movie theater was opened (for the Ascher Brothers circuit) on the north side of Chicago at 5440 N Clark Street. Called the CALO THEATRE, it had a façade featuring beautiful terra cotta, & was originally designed to seat 880 people...
... In time (especially in the next 10 or so years), far more elaborate movie houses were opened in the area (the GRANADA, the UPTOWN, etc.), & the CALO eventually fell into disuse as a movie house...
... Seemingly, it at one point (by the 1970’s) was turned into a bowling alley, utilizing human (rather than automatic) pin-setters...
... Then, in the 1990’s, the GRIFFIN THEATER COMPANY made the building its home, which it was until 2004 (when upkeep became too expensive & the company left)...
... By the mid 2000’s, (as seen in the photo below), it was turned into a resale shop called THE BROWN ELEPHANT (as part of a group of such locations affiliated with the Howard Brown Health Center)...
... Starting on November 17th of 2011, the venue was used to stage a PLAY called “IN THE JUNGLE” produced by ALYSSA VERA RAMOS & EMMY-nominated KEATON WOODEN, the latter whom DIRECTED the play as a BENEFIT on behalf of supporting the Howard Brown Health Center & its mission...
... As to the play itself:
... In 1906, Sinclair Lewis wrote a classic “muckraking” book about abuses in the meat industry in Chicago called “THE JUNGLE”..
... I don’t know if that had an affect on German writer Bertholt Brecht, but he wrote a 1923 play SET in Chicago ( -- which he never had visited --) called “IN THE JUNGLE OF CITIES” on which this reviewed play (adapted by Wallace Dirges) was based...
... Here I have culled some of the remarks made about the play by KEATON (with the “emphasis” being mine), on various associated web-sites and in the flyer distributed to play attendees:
“ As someone of roughly the same age as the playwright at the time "Jungle of Cities" was written, I feel Brecht, like any visionary, tapped into a profound truth of our lives: there come points when we as people desire human connection so intensely that we lash out for it, as if intimacy were to be attained through hatred as easily as love...
“ ... Think to a time when you had an intense hatred of someone, and that hatred caused you to desperately wish to hear more of their affairs and lives, almost like a forlorn lover, if only to hear [&] revel in the "schadenfreude" (in Brecht’s language: "happiness at the misfortune of others")...
“ ... We as humans seek intimacy in various ways, and if one avenue does not provide fruit, we seek others. We see it daily, how easily groups intended to bring people together transform into hate speech, or a simple disagreement explodes into a battle of wits and friends...
“ ... And in the name of this hatred we will sacrifice so much happiness to fill a hole of connection. But whereas pure love can fill that hole, pure hatred only adds FUEL to a fire...
“ ... This story is a tragedy in the strictest sense, a story of two men who seek connection through hatred. I advise you to learn from their mistakes, seek intimacy in a way that GIVES and doesn’t take, and to concentrate on the SHOWDOWN... ”
“ ... In this modern retelling, battling social classes are translated to the dichotomy that exists in modern politics, complete with corruption, hypocrisy, and ultimately destruction... ”
“ ... In 1912, in the unforgiving city of Chicago, George Garga's blue collar life is assaulted by the wealthy Shlink for an unknown cause. Digging his heels in, George takes the fight to Shlink as his mind, family, and the city of Chicago hang in the balance.
“ ... [This] is a stark, dangerous, forboding tale of the power of love and hate between two men tossed TOGETHER in an inexplicable, metaphyscial boxing match.
“ ... The danger and perhaps even the draw of this story is its acknowledgment that we all have thought to resort to the vulgar actions made by these characters. I am thrilled to bring this haunting story to the Chicago community.”
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REVIEW of the PLAY
In order to put on the play, the central part of the resale shop had to be EMPTIED of its clothes racks, shelving & similar items...
... A very simple but clever set was designed by SHAUN RENFRO, wherein ropes outlined the “BOXING” area & dimmable lighting was set up at the corners (as seen below)...
... The play begins with two FIGHTERS entering a ring: George Garga (EDWIN J. EBERWINE III) & Shlink (DREW JOHNSON)...
... We also see the Fight Manager (played by EDWIN UNGER) & “hangers-on” & audience members nearby...
... At one point, very angry Edward attacks Shlink AFTER the round...
... In time, we see Edward working (sweeping-up) at a lending library run by Mr. Maynes (HOWARD RAIK)...
... Drew comes into the store, quickly lets it be known he’s a very RICH guy, & he & his associates (including Skinny, played by BRETT MESLAR) soon start ANTAGONIZING Edward, belittling him & putting him down...
... Edward responds with deep ANNOYANCE at their attitude & actions, pointing out that he’s from a working-class family & they – like most people -- have it very HARD in life, commenting on how, “Rotten fish is what my family LIVES off of!”, & how much he dislikes rich people who try to in-effect “lord” it over those less fortunate...
... Things keep becoming more & more tension-filled, particularly after Drew’s “group” comments on how they know his girlfriend JANE (ELISE SPOERLEIN)...
... Edward grows very ANGRY when they bring her name into the conversation (& speak about her supposedly being “drunk”)...
... Continuing to antagonize Edward, they at one point talk about his sister Marie (LAURA LAPIDUS) who does washing work... Edward gets “fed-up” & tries to order them out-- which angers his boss who works to FIRE him...
... As “Round 2”, Edward goes to visit DREW at Drew’s lumber mill. He’s irate (as usual), & dislikes how Drew speaks of his sister Laura who’s an employee there...
... Drew tries to force him to drink LIQUOR (which he doesn’t “handle” very well), & Edward is very peeved when Laura hugs Drew... Infuriated at the way Laura & he have been treated, Edward pulls a GUN on Drew...
... Drew changes his “tune”, saying, “I’m your SLAVE—”, & suddenly agrees to turn over ownership of the mill to Edward... Ed demands that Drew fire his assistant...
... At one point, a Salvation Army person (BRUCE McCONNELL) comes around, & Edward has Drew SPIT in the guy’s face (wanting Drew to keep doing his bidding in life)...
... Edward keeps talking about how his goal is to leave for TAHITI, with plans to use Drew’s lumber mill money to help accomplish that...
... In “Round 3”, we’re at the Garga family HOME... We meet Edward’s father John (HOWARD RAIK, shown with a beard in the next photo), & his mother Mae (HELENE ALTER DYCHE)...
... Visiting is a neighbor named Manky (MICHAEL MORAN), who has a strong Irish accent -- & a strong interest in George’s sister Laura... In time, we also meet a guy named Worm (EDWIN UNGER)...
... Edward is drinking again in the house. Laura tells the family how he was FIRED from his job at the Lending Library 2 weeks before (which he purposely hadn’t told anyone there), & he COMPLAINS to her about what she’d done...
... Edward tells her she should get the money due her from Drew for work she’d completed, & says he has to be going AWAY soon...
... Helene talks about wanting to stop all the PAIN Edward was feeling in life, & he gives her a then-huge amount of money to cover a ½-year’s RENT on their place...
... We meet a guy who wants to report on how Laura was acting “immorally” recently...
... “Round 4” has us outside a sort of “hotel” called the “CHINESE” place...
... Laura asks Drew to “Please PROTECT me!” against some people...
... He points out how her family LOVES her, & she kisses him...
... We see people talking at the top of some STAIRS of the hotel, & soon see religious Laura “crossing” herself... Shortly, Michael is heard to remark that he wants to SLEEP with her...
... From atop the stairs, we hear a remark that “Human skin is too THICK for this world!...”
... “Round 5” has scenes INSIDE the “Chinese” hotel...
... We see Edward in Drew’s nondescript room there... ... Edward tells his sister Laura how BAD she was looking. & comments of learning of “TRICKS going on”... She says she LOVES Drew, & irate Edward says she’s never learned how to “KEEP” a man... She talks in time about how there’s nothing she wants from him...
... Drew remarks about how he’s the one who’s been putting out money to help support Edward’s FAMILY, all the while Edward had been living on money TAKEN from him... Edward soon GRUMBLES to Drew...
... In a bar area, we before long see a drunk man (Bruce)...
... Soon, he tries to KILL himself in despair at his life, as others around him (including Brett) comment on how ineffective he is...... Drew talks about how he wants his land, & Laura desperately talks about how “They’re selling me!”...
... Soon, we see her talking with the “Irish” guy Michael, & see DREW ask Edward how much more money he needed for his planned trip to TAHITI...
... George reveals he’s heard about the CROOKED lumber deal Drew had been involved in before turning over the company to him (-- two events which may be “tangled” with each other!)...
... “Round 6” has people in some “WOODS”... Drew tells Laura about his deep feelings for her. She feels BAD in life, tho...
... In time, we see Michael talking about how Laura was lying in a “flophouse”... He soon tries to KILL himself (seemingly because his love for her isn’t RETURNED)...
... Marie eventually is heard to remark that “I am a WHORE!”, to which one of the men offers his money to her...
... Edward talks to his girlfriend ELISE about having been with her for like 5 years, & he wants her to MARRY him...
... “Round 7” has us in the Garga family home, where Edward is MARRYING Elise...
... After that, DREW visits... Edward says, he’s thinking of going back to working in the Lending LIBRARY... Drew asks him to read an important letter he had about his CROOKED deal...
... Edward mulls over the idea of going to JAIL about the crooked deal that he’s now “stuck” with as the owner of Drew’s company...
... Ed’s father Howard is very UPSET with how things are, & Drew talks about how he might “EXPLAIN” things to the sheriff about the crooked lumber deal Edward is being “charged” over...
... Howard tells Edward what he thinks he should do about things, & Helene states how she feels Ed is “DAMNED” in life...
... Howard refuses to tell Laura where HELENE has gone off to... Edward is heard to speak about Drew & a supposed “RAPE” that’s gone on...
... Edward talks about considering going to JAIL about the crooked lumber deal, & then presenting an important letter to the police BEFORE he’s released...
... We then had a 15-minute intermission in the play (which lasts around 2.5 hours)...
... When the players return for ‘Round 8”, we see Drew dictating a LETTER to Laura...
... There‘s a lot more TENSE action between Edward & Drew & problems regarding the OTHER characters...
... What will cause a character to remark that, “People are too DURABLE--”?...
... What will come about from a FIRE that arises in an important place?...
... What will happen to LAURA, & who (if anyone) will she “choose” to be with?...
... Will Edward go to JAIL?... He talks about a “RAGE” he feels in life...
... Will Ed follow-thru on threats made to DREW?...
... What will Drew DO regarding an important piece of “evidence” he has?...
... Who will state that, “I do declare that our FIGHT is OVER—”, & what will that “cause” to happen concerning the various characters?...
... Who will be heard to remark that, “The goal is NOTHING. What’s important is to come out ALIVE!”, & what will that “lead” to?...
... Overall, this a remarkable production-- a POWERFUL piece of work performed in an “unlikely” setting, with a host of amazingly STRONG ACTING performances, particularly by EDWARD & DREW who have loads of very long, “involved” dialogues with various characters...
... I can well understand the difficulties experienced by the various cast members, in learning & honing their intricate roles to a point that each could help the plot move resolutely forward, in the midst of a number of very “EMOTIONAL” underpinnings...
... Thus, with the pleasurable & often-unexpected “TWISTS & TURNS” in the story lines & the fine work done, I’m rating this at 9.0 of 10 stars...
... Accordingly, I heartily RECOMMEND attendance at the play (info about which can be found at: www.InTheJungleChicago.com )...
... It will be performed at 7:30 PM every Thursday, Friday, Saturday & Sunday thru December 18th at 5404 N. Clark Street, Chicago, IL 60640-1210 (phone # 773-271-9382; howardbrown.org )...
... Tickets are $ 30 each ( which can be purchased by visiting the web-site = https://www.brownpapertickets.com/event/207296 ), & 50% of ticket sales will be given to the Howard Brown Health Center in Chicago for the causes of HIV prevention and wellness, including research and anti-discriminatory health care services...
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Some ADDITIONAL INFORMATION about those involved with the Production
After the play (which was rehearsed for about 5-6 weeks to get everyone in the proper “place” for their roles), I spoke to various of the ACTORS...
... EDWARD J. EBERWINE III has been acting for a number of years (seemingly since like 6th grade), & also enjoys working on being a producer of independent theater & film work...
... Although he comes across as very “enraged” in his role of “George” in this play, he’s very “relaxed” & cheerful and ENTHUSIASTIC in person!...
... DREW JOHNSON was born in Alabama, but went to college in Arkansas -- where he got his MFA... His very “involved” role of “Shlink” marks his FIRST production in Chicago, which he’s much enjoyed...
... BRETT MESLAR (“Skinny”) said he’s been acting for like 19 years, because he LOVES the craft. He only fairly recently came to the Chicago area...
... EDWIN UNGER (the “Fight Captain” and “Worm”) has appeared in a number of productions in this area... If I recall correctly, he’s been acting for like 15 years...
... ELISE SPOERLEIN (Edward’s girlfriend “Jane”) has been acting for 7 years (in both “serious” and “musical” type roles), & recently graduated from Ball State University. This role was her first “official” role in Chicago...
... HOWARD RAINES (“Mr. Maynes” & “John Garga”) has been formally acting for like 3.5 years, & enjoys taking continuing acting classes (including from a man who was in tonite’s audience)...
... LAURA LAPIDUS (“Marie”) calls Chicago “home” now, & recently got her BFA from the University of Michigan...
... Although he uses a very convincing Irish accent in his role of “Manky”, MICHAEL MORAN is all “American”. He’s been acting for like 12 years (since he was 12), & has been in the Chicago area for like a year now...
... He’s been in a number of productions in the area, & -- even while he works in this production --, he’s also rehearsing for ANOTHER role, in Noel Coward’s “DESIGN FOR LIVING” (which will be given as another fundraiser for HOWARD BROWN)...
... HELENE ALTER DYCHE (in a photo above) is an acting veteran. When I spoke about her singing in her role (as “Mae Garga” & “Baboon”), she commented to me about having had an operatic background...
... Furthermore, she was proud to have been nominated as Best Supporting Actress in the 2011 DARK CARNIVAL Film Festival for her recent role in the horror film “THREE SLICES OF LIFE”, which was shown at Chicago’s PORTAGE movie theater...
... BRUCE ALEXANDER McCONNELL II (the Salavation Army officer who gets spit at, + the drunken bar patron who tries to kill himself) just recently moved to the Chicago area from his home town of Toledo, Ohio...
... He was very pleased to be chosen by director Keaton to work in this, his FIRST theater role in Chicago (which is represented by the photo below)...
... He’s working to further his career by taking continuing lessons at Chicago’s Acting Studio, & is rehearsing for a role to be presented at a Church near the Wellington el stop...
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