Displaying items by tag: Eric Frederickson

Those familiar with the Factory Theater space might feel themselves do a double take upon entering the theater for Two Out of Three Falls. Scenic Designer Manuel Ortiz completely transforms the space. The three-quarter thrust stage that has been there for years is gone – replaced by a wrestling ring that consumes an entire side of the theater. The ring is detailed, complete with lockers and wall decoration that completely transform that side of the space into a wrestling gym. To say that Ortiz outdoes himself in this endeavor is an understatement, because you might just find that the design is highly effective in drawing you into the thrilling vibe of the event.

Written by Bill Daniel, Two Out of Three Falls follows Johanna Goodish (Brittany Ellis), a wrestler struggling to step out of the shadow of wrestling legend King Kong Bruiser, also known as her father. Haunted by his literal ghost (Eric Frederickson), Goodish commits to the one act that she feels can set her free – challenging her father’s killer, Eduardo Quinones “El Moreton” (Sam Ramirez), to a wrestling match on live TV. If all goes according to plan, Quinones won’t live to see another day.

Directed by Ashley Yates, much of the production feels like a live wrestling match. As Goodish and her various opponents throughout the play take the ring, audience members at this Opening Night performance screamed and hollered. The design invites audiences to choose their opponent of choice, and you might just find that the intimate feel of the theater makes you feel like you are a part of the action. The work of Fight Designer Kate Lass and Wrestling Consultant Axel Rico shines in these scenes and certainly makes for an entertaining and lively evening.

The high-energy wrestling scenes act as a helpful contrast to some of the more intimate moments of the play – particularly within the relationship of Goodish and her manager, Meg Bishop (SaniaFaith). For so much of the story, Ellis brings a strong, confident character to Goodish. She is unafraid to fight back against her opponents, and she ensures that she is the last one standing at all costs. However, with Meg Bishop, we see a different side of Goodish. Ellis brings a quieter, more grounded character to these scenes. There is a vulnerability between Bishop and Goodish that you might just find helps us believe in this duo win. SaniaFaith and Ellis play off each other beautifully, bringing a genuine humor to the relationship that pushes it over the top.

The hype of the wrestling matches alone makes Two Out of Three Falls worth a watch. The stellar scenic design and strong ensemble make it a night of intrigue and fun.

Two Out of Three Falls runs through July 18 at the Factory Theater – 1623 W. Howard Street. For tickets and information, see the Factory Theater website.

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So, remember a while back, when I took my kindergarten daughter with me to review the American Girl Doll Musical? No? Well, I wish I didn’t remember it, either. But I do. And I learned two lessons from it in the time since.

First, before the show started, my daughter was just as delighted to take her doll Violet, who is the Target-brand version of an American Girl doll, to see the American Girl Doll Store across the way. While there, I heard a girl in the store point out that Violet wasn’t a real American Girl doll, to which my daughter just shrugged and gave Violet a hug and told her she loved her. And right then I realized I love my little girl for being that kind of person who loves something unconditionally, warts and all. Maybe I’ve done something right.

And the second thing I learned that night was, as soon as I walked into that theater, I realized I’d done something very, very wrong. I wasn’t the target audience. But my daughter and all the other little girls in the seats were the target audience, and they were thrilled and delighted and entertained by what this old man thought was a bunch of snake-oil-salesmanship.

I was reminded of that second lesson this past Friday evening at the opening of the Factory Theater’s Oh Sh#t! It’s Haunted! I wasn’t the target audience. Nope. The target audience is indeed an old man, but an actual old man (I just play one here on the internet and after 8pm on weeknights). And he’s an old man from Chicago, which I’m not. And he’s an old Chicagoan who’s Polish and likes jokes about Polish stuff and likes Peter Cetera and likes jokes about Peter Cetera. That guy is the Oh Sh#t! It’s Haunted! target audience, I thought as I sat there, unsmiling, wondering when the Scooby-Doo spoof I’d been expecting was going to yank the mask off and reveal itself.

But then I looked around at everyone else there — the Factory’s cozy stage and cozier seating makes for the audience being as intimate with one another as they are the actors who I worried would trip over the feet of the folks in the front row — and I noticed that a good portion of them — all ages, all backgrounds — were cracking up and having a blast.

A big reason for that was that the cast seemed to be having a blast, especially Timothy C. Amos, who played Pa Aldrichzewski, the very kind of dad-joke-telling, kielbasa-chomping, Peter-Cetera-namedropping Chicago old guy who I pictured as the target audience. Christy Arington played Pa’s wife, Ma, and the two of them would be perfect for some kind of 1970s Polish Good Times or All in the Family or something. They looked their parts, too, thanks to Rachel Sypniewski’s costuming (she also nailed 50s sweetheart looks for Jose Cervantes and Raven Nichole, and a ghostly Jimi Hendrix played by Michael Jones). This was a total night for character actors, with Eric Frederickson’s looming Peter Jasonczevik landing somewhere between a spook and an Eastern European villain you’d see being dispatched on the big screen by James Bond or Liam Neeson or Keanu Reeves, and Stacie Barra’s needle-nosed, preening, scoffing real estate villainess stealing any scene she strutted into.

So, yeah, I get that the enthusiastic and eager cast earned both the audience’s attention and admiration, but I guess it was the play itself I just didn’t get. There were some Scooby-riffic music cues, and a haunted house and a ghost story and a gang, I guess, in there somewhere, too. But I guess I just wasn’t the target audience for what the Factory’s ensemble was trying to do with Scott OKen’s play. Apparently, most of the rest of the crowd was, leaving me remembering the first lesson I learned way back on my American Girl evening — maybe they’re all the understanding, accepting, loving little girls who can love something warts and all, while I’m the prissy little sourpuss pointing out those warts. In that case, if you enjoy humor that leans toward Chicago (the land and Peter Cetera’s band) and the Polish, then you just might enjoy Factory Theater’s Oh Sh#t! It’s Haunted!, running through November 9. If not, then maybe join me and the rest of the party poopers while we watch some old Scooby-Doo reruns, so long as it’s before 8pm.