Review Roundup: Haven Theatre Company's WE'RE GONNA DIE This Spring

Haven Theatre Company announces We're Gonne Die, the final production in its fourth season, written by Young Jean Lee and directed by Josh Sobel, at the company's home, The Janet Bookspan Theatre at the Den Theatre, 1335 Milwaukee Ave., May 4 - June 4.

A singer takes the stage, backed by her rock-band compatriots, to share Young Jean Lee's life-affirming show about the one thing we all have in common: "we're gonna die." Drawing from true stories of people's experiences with tragedy, despair and loneliness, this personal and rejuvenating play with live music reminds us that in our darkest, most isolated moments, we are not alone.

Cast for We're Gonna Die includes: Isa Arciniegas (singers), Sarah Giovannetti (band), JorDan Harris (band), Elle Walker (band), Spencer Meeks (band) and Kamille Dawkins (singer u/s). The production team for We're Gonna Die includes: Josh Sobel (director), Abhi Shrestha (assistant director), Julie Leghorn (stage manager), Krista Mickelson (production manager), Spencer Meeks (music director), Claire Chrzan (light designer), Izumi Inaba (costume designer), Mike Mroch (scenic designer), and Jon Martinez (choreographer).

Let's see what the critics have to say!

---

Chicago Tribune (Kerry Reid): In the case of the Singer, those fellow passengers are her kick-out-the-jams four-piece band, consisting of guitarist Spencer Meeks, keyboardists JorDan Harris and Elle Walker, and drummer Sarah Giovannetti. Offering sly asides and vocal back-up, the musicians join Arciniegas on choruses that remind us "You are not the only one." They also toss balloons to the audience - a touch of whimsy that could feel forced but somehow works.

Windy City Media Group (Mary Shen Barnidge): Don't haul out your hankies yet, though. Lee has more to share than slam-poem eulogies. Her spoken-word narrative is accompanied by songs designed to extend us comfort, and unlike the play's premiere that featured the author declaiming in delicately gentle tones, narrator/singer Isa Arciniegas and the band assembled for this Haven Theatre production proceed to rock out right into the Grim Reaper's bony face. For every soothing lullaby promising "You will sleep, by and by," the score delivers twice as many angry, head-banging, hair-thrashing, knee-springing, f**k-you-sickle-boy assurances that we are not alone, that nobody is exempt from pain ( "Who do you think you are/to be immune from tragedy?" ) and that the ravages of old age will make dying less scary. ( "If we got old/and we didn't feel like dying/we wouldn't want to go." )

To post a comment, you must register and login.