**** Recommended The Goodman Theatre & The 7 Fingers’ production of The Attic – Things I’ve Seen While Lying On My Back is one of the most creative shows I’ve seen in a long time. As I was watching, I had a case of Cirque de Soleil déjà vu. Of course, this is Shana Caroll’s tale of landmark moments in her life – and she was a trapeze artist at Cirque – so it all made sense. At any rate, this show is a must-see. 4 Spotlights
After retiring from Cirque de Soleil, Shana Carroll co-founded Les 7 Doigts De La Main (The 7 Fingers), a Montreal-based collective fusing theater and circus. Since 2002, she wrote, directed and choreographed many of their shows. She also received a Tony Award nomination as co-choreographer and circus designer for Water for Elephants.
The Cast of The Attic. Photo by Todd Rosenberg.
Tyler Meredith, the woman wearing a hospital gown in the middle of this production, narrates Carroll’s story in word and song. While lying on her back, she watched dust motes and shooting stars. She waited to be lifted into the air on a trapeze. She fell in love, gave birth, directed a show. When the C word entered her life, she got a CT scan lying on her back. At the end, she confronted her mortality and celebrated life.
While Meredith is lying on her back in a bed at the center of the stage, the 7 Fingers artists perform around and above her. They are: Fran Alvarez, Melfin Diggs, Eduardo De Azevedo Grillo, Kalani June, Anna Kichtchenko, Nancy Luna, Santiago rivera Laugerud, Alexandra Royer, Lucy Tan.
The Cast of The Attic. Photo by Todd Rosenberg.
The Attic runs through October 18th in the Albert Theatre, at the Goodman Theatre, 170 N. Dearborn, Chicago. Good parking options can be accessed through the Goodman website. Running time is two hours, 10 minutes, with an intermission. Performances: Thursdays & Fridays at 7:30 pm; Saturdays at 2:00 & 7:30 pm; Sundays at 2:00 pm. Tickets range from $34-$139. FYI (312) 443-3800 or www.goodmantheatre.org.
The Cast of The Attic. Photos by Todd Rosenberg