In 2029, for some unspecified end-of-the-world-as-we-know-it reason, Father (Rom Barkhorder) and Mother (Shannon Cochran) moved to an isolated house in the desert, near a railroad. By the way, none of the characters actually has a name, merely a designation.
One day, Mother is going through the mail while listening to the radio (an old-fashioned simulated wood table model). Father, who is reading, is annoyed by the topic and turns it off. An argument ensues in which he scoffs at the topic and accuses her of not really listening. She says she’s multi-tasking, lets him make his mocking comments, then repeats almost verbatim the entire radio topic, all the while continuing to sort the mail.
Middle (Anthony Irons), the first of their children to arrive, has some mysterious job in the city. He brought a surprise, a Fiancée (Emjoy Gavino), a ditzy girl with a knack for rubbing people the wrong way by saying the wrong thing every time. Middle is secretive, suspicious and rarely comes to see his parents. When Youngest (Walter Briggs) arrives, he’s outraged when he discovers that Mother moved everything in his childhood room to the desert, including his childhood bed in a car!
Meanwhile, one letter, which no one can open, seems to have the ability to turn the lights on and off. Just then Eldest (Kristina Valada-Viars) walks in the door and proves that it’s just a piece of paper, albeit a letter from God inviting her/himself for dinner. Mother, who is ecstatic, concludes Act I with an aria.
By the way, watching the stagehands get things ready for Act II was almost as interesting as watching the play, as they strung Christmas lights and decorations everywhere.
In Act II, dinner is over and God, who is resting in their computer room – which hasn’t had a computer in years – is suffering from a bout of flatulence which has everyone reeling. As Father dozes off, Mother mourns the fact that God is a man, while all three adult children start airing their grievances while God rests, Father sleeps, and Fiancée stirs up trouble.
The problem with “Act(s) of God” it that I was never quite sure where it was going, or even where it had been. Somehow, though, it felt unfinished – even up to the end when the stage crew carries the furniture away and the house literally falls down around them.
“Act(s) of God” runs through April 7th at Lookingglass Theatre, inside the Water Tower Water Works, 821 N. Michigan Avenue, Chicago. Discounted parking is now available at 3 locations: John Hancock Center Self Park; Olympia Centre Self Park; and Water Tower Place. Get your ticket validated at the box office.
Running time is two hours, 30 minutes, including two intermissions. Performances are Wednesdays at 7:30 pm; Thursdays at 2:00 (March 21st, April 4th only) and 7:30 pm; Fridays at 7:30 pm; Saturdays and Sundays at 2: 00 and 7:30 pm (March 31st only). Tickets range from $45-$75. FYI (312) 337-0665 or www.lookingglasstheatre.org.