Delicious Family Humor with a side of Heartbreak on the Menu for Joel Drake Johnson's New Dark Comedy "Four Places'
Cooking up indelible characters for the stage-outrageously funny painfully human, and full of surprises - is acclaimed Chicago playwright Joel Drake Johnson's specialty. His new dark comedy
Four Places, the contemporary story of a cantankerous, elderly "every mom," her two middle-aged children, and the family drama that unspools over the course of their usual lunch date at a local restaurant, is no exception.
Anyone who knows what it's like parenting his or her own aging parents will identify with the humor and heartbreak in Four Places. Set in a typical family restaurant in an unnamed Chicago suburb, Peggy's usual lunch date (and usual lunch drink) with her middle aged children Ellen and Warren turns from routine conversation to life changing revelation. Alternately sweet and acerbic, Peggy skillfully maneuvers throughout the meal to maintain control of her waning power. Meanwhile, her adult children must come to grips with
the fact that parents, at any age, may have lives entirely independent of their children's.
Like his earlier plays
Before My Eyes and
The End of the Tour at Victory Gardens, as well as
A Fall to Earth,
A Blameless Life and
Tranquillity Woods at Steppenwolf,
Four Places walks the line exquisitely between comedy and drama. Directed by Victory Gardens Associate Artistic Director Sandy Shinner, Victory Gardens Theater's world premiere of
Four Places stars Chicago favorite Mary Ann Thebus as Peggy, with Peter Burns and Meg Thalken as Peggy's adult children Warren and Ellen, and Jennifer Avery as their friendly waitress, Barb. Designers are Jack Magaw (set), Carol J. Blanchard (costumes), Avraham Mor (lights) and Andre Pluess (sound.) Tina M. Jach is production stage manager.
Low-priced previews of
Four Places begin March 28, 2008 at the Victory Gardens Biograph Theater, 2433 N. Lincoln Avenue, Chicago.
Preview times are:
Tuesday through Thursday at 7:30 pm
Friday and Saturday at 8 pm
Sunday at 3 pm.
Previews are $20-$35.
Regular performances are April 9-May 4:
Tuesday through Thursday at 7:30 pm
Friday at 8 pm;
Saturday at 5 and 8:30 pm
Sunday at 3pm.
(Exceptions: No evening shows Tuesday, April 8 or April 22, or Wednesday, April 23.) Additional matinees are Wednesday, April 23 and April 30 at 2 pm. Performances are $20-$45.
For tickets and information, call the Victory Gardens box office, (773) 871-3000, or purchase tickets online at Victory Gardens newly enhanced website, http://www.VictoryGardens.org Call (773) 549-5788 ext. 2131 for group rates. Or ask the box office about the "20 seats @ $20 discount promotion, subject to availability.
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