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Theatre & Box Office |
Reprinted with permission of The Post Tribune. A musical tribute to American worker The music is almost soulful. The salt-of-the-earth characters remind us of our own joys and pains as workers. That is the power of “Working,” Stephen Schwartz’s musical adaptation of Studs Terkel’s best-selling book — a collection of gritty interviews with American workers. Even though the play opened on Broadway more than 25 years ago, “Working” continues to stir audiences. Drawn from Terkel’s poignant interviews, the show chronicles the struggles of everyday workers. As a tapestry of American labor, “Working” is often embraced as a more edgy, thought-provoking, documentary-style musical. Opening tonight at Chicago Street Theatre, “Working” was presented once before in Valparaiso at the Opera House. “I am usually not a musical person, but I have always been drawn to this production,” says Jonni Pera, the show’s director. “Everything is strong in this show. That’s why I like it.” A veteran of many Chicago Street productions, Pera is pleased to work with Trisha Hales, one of Northwest Indiana’s most prolific musical directors. Pera says she can concentrate on the acting while Hales handles the musical score. “My strength is making people comfortable, and making them reach their full potential on stage,” Pera comments. “Trisha knows what people can handle and how to make them sound the best they can.” Pera has been handed what every director wants — a show that pleases actors and audiences. She is working with a large cast of 28 actors. “It’s a great ensemble because so many people are familiar with this show,” the 50-year-old Valparaiso director said. “Some of the actors have already done this show at the Opera House, and are excited to do it again,” she adds. “People are eager to recreate this show and see what they can do differently with it. The reason theaters keep doing this show is because the actors can really dig into their characters. There are a lot of opportunities for the actors to shine — in their monologues and their songs.” Even though “Working” is a musical, Pera says the show is driven by the narratives Terkel has so masterfully woven. The school teacher commiserates about feeling devalued. The prostitute hides behind her sarcasm and admits she has sold herself short by putting a price tag on her body. The stonemason sees his handprint in every building he has helped create. “The whole point of this show is to look at what our lives are, and what it means to work today,” Pera reflects. “A lot of people don’t like their jobs, they feel unhappy and unappreciated. With downsizing and changes in the workplace, the work has changed, but it’s still the same. The frustration of workers is as real today as it was when Studs Terkel originally wrote this play. People still put in their hours to try to earn their daily bread.” The show includes “Father and Son,” a stirring ballad James Taylor wrote about the lessons fathers pass down to their sons. The musical score blends pop tunes, pretty ballads and showstopping production numbers. During one of the more energetic moments in the show, a waitress moves to the infectious rhythms of a blistering blues ballad. Pera says what she really likes about this show is the heartfelt narrative. “Often we see people as just a secretary or just a housewife, but in this play, the author is constantly showing the human side of every worker. We tend to sell people short. This show is really a tribute to the spirit of the American worker.” What: “Working,” the musical based on Studs Terkel’s acclaimed book |
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