Review: Potent "Measure for Measure" at Chicago Shakespeare
Director Henry Godinez’ new production opens in a freewheeling 1950s Havana playground of Cuban artistes and the Hotel Nacional.
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Director Henry Godinez’ new production opens in a freewheeling 1950s Havana playground of Cuban artistes and the Hotel Nacional.
That Goodman Theatre's superb "Swing State" moves audiences from laughter to tears is no surprise. What is noteworthy about Rebecca Gilman's powerful new drama is how it elicits those contrary emotions within nanoseconds of each other -- within a single line of dialogue, even. And more significantly, how its humor and its pathos are entirely earned.
Gilman's pithy new work, starring Mary Beth Fisher, is having its world premiere at the Goodman Theatre.
Even with Robert Falls at the helm, good portrayals, and good technical work, the poor script by Gilman overwhelms everything else in "Swing State."
"Swing State" is the 10th play by Rebecca Gilman to be staged at the Goodman Theatre in the past 25 years, and one of the last plays to be directed there by her long-time champion, Robert Falls, who is now working his way through his final season as the Goodman's artistic director.