What would you do when one day you meet your "older self"? What would you ask yourself? And if somehow you find out that what you thought would be your life didn't turn out as what you had expected. What would you do? This is the premise of Bruce Norris' new play, A Parallelogram, currently playing at the Steppenwolf Theatre here in Chicago.
I have to admit that it is quite difficult to write this post because I feel that I am still processing the play a week after I've seen it. It has an existentialist approach and tackles thought provoking concepts such as choices, conscience, destiny, life and of being.
In the center of the story is Bee (played by Kate Arrington) who is in a relationship with Jay (played by My So Called Life dad, Tom Irwin). Jay left his wife and kids for Bee and the play opens on an ordinary day in Bee and Jay's bedroom. Jay is watching a game on tv while Bee is seen talking to someone. We soon find out that she is talking to her "older self" which the play calls Bee 2 (played by Mary Louise Burke). Tim Bicknell plays JJ, Bee and Jay's Hispanic garderner who befriends Bee and completes this wonderful four person cast.
Bee contemplates her life with Jay and is able to interact with Bee 2 (who incidentally no one else in the play sees) at different points in her life asking questions. The play has a meta feel to it with Mary Louise Burke's character doing most of the commentary of the situation and boy is she hilarious! She has the best lines of the play. Bee 2 is the acerbic and wiser "older self" who's premise about a situation is "why bother changing things when, if it's your destiny, it will all come out as intended". This clashes with Younger Bee's more naive look at life that one is in charge of her own destiny. Bee 2 carries a remote that is able to rewind particular event but shows that the end resulting point remains the same. She tries to prove this to Bee in the scene where Jay was distracted and steps on a broken piece of glass on the floor. Bee then asks Bee 2 to rewind the event so she can warn Jay about it. Bee 2 obliges, Bee tries to get Jay's attention to warn him of the broken glass on the floor, she gets Jay to turn around and look at her but it was too late he still eventually steps on the broken glass.
Much of the play goes on with this conflict of choices and results and consequences. Though I don't want to reveal any spoilers, there is a scene towards the end of Act 1 where the audience gets a jolt from the play and grabs a hold of the playgoer. It makes you think of what you have just witnessed. For me it was very jarring but very, very effective and adds a totally new layer of conflict to the play.
It's a thought provoking and yet hilarious play. Two hours go by so fast you wouldn't believe it! But I digress, it makes you want to discuss it afterwards with friends who have seen it and even after a week I am still contemplating it. In the end, I think who you are as a person influences how you would see or perceive the ending. I think that, THAT, is a very powerful thing that the playwright gives to the audience.
Some photos I took:
Steppenwolf Theatre on Halstead St. with Amy Morton as Barbara from the very powerful end of Act II scene of August Osage County
the Balcony lobby of Steppenwolf Theatre
the marquee
No comments:
Post a Comment