So many theaters do the same old same old productions. Nothing against these but they just keep reappearing. I guess they prefer to go the safe classic route with tried and trues but a repeat every 5-10 years would be sufficient. So…my hats off to neighborhood theater Skokie Theatre for having the courage to try something out of the box.
“Dead Man’s Cell Phone” is one of those ‘out of the box’ productions. It is a simple story of how an introverted museum curator picks up a cell phone, that keeps on ringing and ringing in a restaurant because…the cell phone owner is dead. This simple story set up has complex ramifications as it creates relationships and an interweaving of characters who would otherwise not have met.
The pivot point of the story is today’s cell phone and its disruptive technology. This amazing technology has enhanced and disrupted people’s lives. The set design shows an abstract of a cell phone tower that stamps out the theme of the story. Jean, the museum curator, is played wonderfully by Heide Hansfield. Gordon, the dead man (he does have a speaking part) is played by Peter Goldsmith. His timing, impressions and delivery were plain out terrific.
The 2nd act takes a surprising turn by showing, in a surreal way, how relationships of strangers might have turned out. Using dark humor, it makes the audience 
the dots to understand and appreciate what the writer, Sarah Ruhl to trying to convey. Ms. Ruhl has taken an adventurous unique direction with this play and is to be commended. Wayne Mel, as production and theater Director, has also taken a bold direction to produce it.
If you’re looking for a departure from the same old stuff, see “Dead Man’s Cell Phone”. It will make you think, laugh, and appreciate a clever and well-done story. Support your local theater. It plays at Skokie Theatre, 7924 Lincoln, Skokie through April 19th. See www.SkokieTheatre.org for more details on this and other productions.