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CHICAGO—James Sherman's partnership with the Victory Gardens Theater continues as his 12th premiere opens with by far his funniest work, " Relatively Close. This Neil Simon-ish look at a very dysfunctional family is one that almost everyone will identify with, and one that mixes races and ethnicities (some Jewish, Persian, an African American) to boot!
Three Jewish sisters from Chicago return to the family summer home in Union Pier, Michigan—the home where they spent their youth. Now that both parents are gone, they are returning to clean it and decide together what to do with it. One sister wants to sell it, one wants to keep it in the family, and the third would like to convert it into an art colony/school. Each of the sisters arrives with her spouse, and one with a troubled teen-age son.
Can they survive this family reunion?
The three sisters are Jan, the eldest, a realtor and politician (Penny Slusher); Beth, the middle child, a librarian on her fifth husband (Laura T. Fisher); and Marlene, the baby, who has some "shyness" problems (Wendi Weber). All actresses handle the comedic material admirably, but Weber is a stand-out when she comes out of her shell. The male cast is just as strong. Yousef, Jan's Persian husband is a very successful businessman (Usman Ally); Ron, is Marlene's husband and an Assistant D.A. (Daniel Cantor); and Arthur, is Beth's latest husband (played by Dexter Zollicoffer with perfect comic timing). Last there is Beth's son, Dylan (David Gonzalez) who offers a marvelous look at a depressed teen on his fifth father. While his character starts off surly, he also makes a transition during the piece.
This is a solid ensemble doing a true ensemble piece. Director Dennis Zacek fills the two hour-10 minute play with laughs throughout, despite the moments where we get into the characters' minds and souls.
The realistic set by John C. Stark comes very close to depicting Union Pier summer homes. As in Union Pier, here the rooms are each named: The Gold Room, The Green Room, The Blue Room, The Brown Room, etc.), and Julie Mack's lighting helps to deepen that realistic effect. Andre Pluess handles the sound and Christine Pascual's costumes add the finishing touches.
Relatively Close
The Victory Gardens Biograph Theater
2433 N. Lincoln Avenue
Reservations: 773-871-3000 or online at www.VictoryGardens.org
Closes: July 13
Alan Bresloff writes about theater in the Chicago area.
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