Stillman also has brilliantly directed this production with the Lookingglass signature “theater without a net” concept of stagecraft. Their work is best described as brilliant and completely flawless.
What we experience in three acts and over three hours is a masterful way of telling a murder and mystery story. We explore a family tearing each other apart because of their contradictory interpretations of what’s right and wrong.
Fyodor Karamazov is a hateful character; he is lecherous, greedy, and a despicable father to his three sons. He vies for the love of the same woman his eldest son loves (who, by the way, loves another brother). He steals money from each son and yet has an inheritance stowed away for each.
Ms. Stillman has put together a solid cast, making the characters as real as our neighbors. Craig Spidle has just the right touch as the evil father, yet we still care for him. Of his three sons, the eldest, Dmitri (Joe Sikora), is a formidable foe of the middle brother Ivan (Philip R. Smith). The youngest, Alyosha, a monk, serves as our storyteller (the very impressive Doug Hara). All four of these men work well together.
The women involved with these men are Katerina (the strikingly beautiful Louise Lamson), who is loved and returns that love; Grushenka, deftly handled by Chaon Cross; and Eva Barr, who handles the ensemble/other women roles and takes care of some of the comic touches.
The male ensemble is led by Steve Key, Lawrence Grimm, and Maury Cooper. A cast of young actors includes Nick Dilenardi, Abigail Droeger, Ruby Keutzer, Malcom Kenneth Harris, and Robert Gerdisch, who are all strong in talent.
Dan Ostling has designed a clever set that has a house moving on and off stage, which turns to allow us to look behind the fourth wall and gets as close as just inches away.
Chris Binder’s lighting makes each scene perfect. Ray Nardelli’s sound with Rick Sims musical composition, the choreography by Kirstin Hara, and fight choreography by Matthew Hawkins, all work together well.
The story is deep, but we are delivered the message in a most entertaining way.
We deal with life and death, the question of “Is there a God?” “Is there a Devil?” and “Is there life after death?” And ultimately, we ask if we are responsible for one another.
The Brothers Karamazov
The Lookingglass Theatre
821 N. Michigan Avenue at Pearson (Chicago’s Historic Water Tower)
Tickets: 312-337-0665 or online at www.lookingglasstheatre.org
Closes: Dec. 7
Alan Bresloff writes about theater in the Chicago area.
