|
|
|
Theatre & Box Office |
Reprinted with permission of The Times of Northwest Indiana. 'Working' connects a common theme THEATER SCENE with Kevin Murphy After working with them for a couple of months I learned that they were, in fact, very much like his description when it came to their work setting, but that they were active Scout leaders, band leaders, church and civic association members who accomplished impressively -- away from their job setting. I was reminded of that experience while watching the Community Theatre Guild's production of "Working," the musical based on the book of the same name by Studs Terkel. Directed by Jonni Pera, "Working" provides a seamless presentation of vignettes about people who work. That is the only story line, and it is enough. Because most of us spend much of our lives working -- earning our daily bread -- the chances are that most of us will readily relate to the accounts of ordinary people immortalized in the interviews conducted by Studs Terkel and reported in this musical by characters derived from the Terkel book. The story begins with Studs Terkel (John Ruhaak), sitting next to a large clock (as in "company time clock") above the stage, talking about work and people who do it -- and what it does to them. The 30-person ensemble enters, all clad in coveralls, singing "All the Live-Long Day." As the song ends, most remove the coveralls and reveal their respective work "uniforms." From CEO to truck driver, most indicate that their work is limiting, that their lives are dulled by the "Monday to Friday death" of their job situations. As one worker laments, "Jobs aren't big enough for people!" And the rest of the characters -- checkout clerk, newspaper delivery boy, hooker, housewife, parking lot attendant, secretary, teacher, steelworker, etc., generally reinforce that theme, with occasional exceptions, like a stone mason who takes great pride in the results of his work. As the time clock ticks on, the vignettes flow smoothly from one to another, with the only story being the continuous theme of work in all its manifestations and its impact on workers. The characterizations are strong, as is the singing. The songs, themselves, provide much of the text of the play. "Newsboy," "Nobody Tells Me How," "Un Mejor Dia Vendra," "Just a Housewife," "Millwork," "The Mason," "It's an Art," "Brother Trucker," "Joe," and "Cleanin' Women" are all pretty job-specific, while the rest, "All the Live Long Day," "Hey Somebody," "If I Could've Been," "Fathers and Sons," "Something to Point to" are, in general, about the effects of work, and the aspirations of those who work. Musical director, Trisha Hales, and her small crew of musicians provide adequate support to the singers, without overpowering most of them, although one or two were not strong enough to rise above the accompaniment the evening we attended. Sensitive viewers should be aware that the script contains some strong language and adult content. A labor of love, Community Theatre Guild's "Working" runs through July 11, with performances at 8 p.m., Friday and Saturday, as well as Thursday July 1, and at 2:30 p.m., Sunday, July 11, in the Chicago Street Theatre, 154 W. Chicago Street, Valparaiso. Tickets: $15 ($12 for seniors, $10 for students). Reservations: (219) 464-1636 or visit CTG's website at: boxoffice@ctgonline.org. |
|
|