** Somewhat Recommended You may find the Steppenwolf production of The Book of Grace heavy going. I know I did. It’s dark, violent, and ugly. As I watched, I tried to figure out where playwright Suzan-Lori Parks was going with it, but I never could. I just watched the story unfold with horror. Apparently, Book of Grace is a timely follow-up to her earlier play, Top Dog/Underdog. if that's the case, I’m glad I missed that one! Although I do applaud the work done by the cast, this is not a play for the faint of heart. 2 Spotlights
Vet (Jerome Preston Btes), is an angry, bitter, brutal, mean man. His attitude is an asset in his work as a border patrol agent for I.C.E. In fact, he’s up for an award for spotting, then stopping and apprehending a whole truckload of illegals trying to cross the border, all without assistance.
Vet is married to Grace (Zainab Jah), a woman who doesn’t expect much because she never had much. He’s paranoid, assuming there’s an illegal under every table. He rules the house, setting petty rules for her behavior. He’s jealous and suspicious of everyone she meets at her job waiting tables.
When Vet’s son, Buddy (Namir Smallwood), shows up, fresh out of the army, Vet dons rubber gloves, does a complete body search – with a wand – and goes through his foot locker before he even lets him in the door. Buddy is looking for a job, hoping Vet will put in a good word with I.C.E.
In one interaction, Vet throws a VHS cassette at Buddy, telling him to watch it. When he told Buddy that he (Buddy) was a complication he didn’t need, then went on to say that Grace was a new start for him, I’d had it. By the way, everything goes downhill from there.
The Book of Grace runs through May 18th in Steppenwolf’s Ensemble Theater in Honor of Helen Zell, 1650 N. Halsted Street, Chicago. Self-parking is available in the Steppenwolf Garage, accessible parking in the lot north of Front Bar. Valet parking is also available.
Running time is approximately 3 hours with a 15-minute intermission. Performances are Tuesdays through Fridays at 7:30 pm, Saturdays at 3:00 & 7:30 pm, Sundays at 3:00 pm, with an added performance on Wednesday, April 10th at 2:00 pm, with an added matinee on Wednesday, May 7th at 2:00 pm. There will not be a 7:30 pm performance on Tuesday, April 22nd, Wednesday, April 23rd, Wednesday, May 7th, or Tuesday, May 13th. There will also be no performances on Saturday, May 10th at 3:00 or 7:30 pm or Sunday, May 11th at 3:00 pm.
Accessible performances: Audio-described & touch tour, Sunday, May 4th at 3:00 pm (1:30 pm touch tour); Open-captioned, Thursday, May 3rd and Thursday, May 8th at 7:30 pm; ASL-interpreted, Friday, May 16th at 7:30 pm.
Tickets range from $20-$102. FYI (312) 335-1650 or www.steppenwolf.org.