'Distracted' at the American Theater Company

The Chicago Premiere of "Distracted" by Lisa Loomer is running now through February 28^th at the American Theatre Company (1909 W. Byron).  In "Distracted," we meet Mama (Donna Jay Fulks), a woman who teeters on The Edge as her 9-year-old son, Jesse (Noah Jerome Schwartz) dissolves from being rambunctious to a hoodie-wearing hellion most certainly bound for Special Ed.  We don't see Jesse for most of the show, but his presence is always felt as we hear his commanding voice.  The situation sends Mama on a journey to find out what Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder is and if Jesse has it.

"Distracted" lacks the intimate view of mental health that Loomer often gives to her works, such as the screen play of "Girl Interrupted."  For a freelance Interior Decorator whose workload is spotty at best, Mama has no problem throwing out all of her food because of suspected toxins, hoping on planes to Holistic health clinics in New Mexico or scheduling expensive therapists at the drop of a hat. (I would love to see who her insurance provider is or better yet the balance of her checking account).  In "Distracted," education professionals are heartless, doctors are quacks and Special Education is portrayed with an antiquated stigma.  "Distracted" feels like a play written with Wikipedia open.

Nevertheless, as much as I was disappointed by the playwright, the American Theatre Company production of "Distracted" is slick.  The set is beautiful, maybe a little clinical, playing into the feel of the numerous therapists and doctors Mama goes to for help.  The staging in this somewhat unconventional space kept my interest and frankly...the acting was pretty good (great, considering the fact that I didn't like the actual script itself).  I have to give special notice in particular to two of the actors, Dina Facklis and Sadieh Rifai.  Rifai found levity and humor in the character of Natalie who was darkly out of place in a play that relied so much on its levity.  Facklis, who you could probably count all of her lines on your hand, displayed her brilliant comic timing as Vera, Mama's OCD neighbor.  Everything she said was a true homerun out of the park.  I'm obviously familiar with Facklis' work in the Improv community; however, "Distracted" shows what a sheer pleasure it is to see her on the theatrical stage.

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