**** Recommended Picture the ultimate sleaze-ball of all time, put him up against his own mortality, and you’ll get Judgment Day, the world premiere comedy playing in the Yard at Chicago Shakespeare Theatre. It’s not a new idea but it stars Jason Alexander – who can deliver a devastatingly funny one-liner better than anyone – and it’s hilarious. I laughed so hard my face hurt! 4 Spotlights
Sammy Campo (Alexander) is the above mentioned scum-sucker aka lawyer. He has absolutely no morals, making semi-legal/underhanded deals, stepping on anyone in his way. He has no friends – not that he cares – and is disliked by everyone he meets.
After Sammy collapsed at his office, he ended up standing next to his body, watching a team of doctors. Suddenly he’s alone and he’s visited something more than terrifying. It’s his third grade teacher, Sister Margaret (Candy Buckley), who’s an angel – an angel with seven-foot high wings and a full nun’s habit!
Angel Sister Margaret is terrifying as she gloats. She says she knew in third grade he was no good. She goes on to describe the awful things that will be happening to him when he gets to hell. As she’s talking, he figures it out – he’s not quite dead, she fudged the rules, and he gets a second chance! Sister Margaret returns to torment him frequently, one time appearing with ruler in hand!
Sammy figures that getting into heaven has nothing to do with how you feel, it’s all about what you do. Heaven is all about the points, and good points wipe out bad ones. Deciding to represent the lowest of the low in order to build up good points, he instructs his secretary Della (Olivia Denise Dawson) to find him the sleaziest clients out there.
Meanwhile, Sammy looks up his estranged wife, Tracy (Maggie Bofill) to make amends only to find out she REALLY doesn’t want anything to do with him. When he finds out he has a son, he figures out that’s why she started getting fat ten years ago – which is the reason he left her. The boy, Casper (Ellis Myers), is mouthy and mean, basically just like Sammy, so of course Sammy offers to help straighten him out.
When the local priest Father Michael (Daniel Breaker) heard he was looking for the lowest of the low, he brought him an old lady who was getting screwed by an insurance company. After he passed away they refused to pay his life insurance because she missed one payment on his policy. Sammy has all kinds of ideas on how to make them pay, but Father Michael insists on a ridiculous policy of honesty.
The cast also features Maggie Bofil as Tracy/Mother/Chandra, Olivia D. Dawson as Della/Principal, Joe Dempsey as Jackson/Neighbor, Michael Kostroff as Monsignor, Meg Thalken as Edna. In addition to the role of Casper, Ellis Myers also plays Bethany.
Judgment Day was written by Rob Ulin, directed by Moritz von Stuelpnagel. Kudos to Beowulf Boritt, Scenic Designer for the ingenious roll-on set pieces – the office, the confessional, the apartment, etc. – and to Amith Chandrashaker for the Lighting Design.
Judgment Day has been extended through June 2nd in The Yard at Chicago Shakespeare Theatre on Navy Pier, Chicago. Parking in CST’s designated area in the Navy Pier Garage is available at a 40% discount with validation from CST.
Running time is two hours with an intermission. Performances are Tuesdays, Thursdays & Fridays at 7:30 pm; Wednesdays at 1:00 & 7:30 pm; Saturdays at 2:30 & 7:03 pm; Sundays at 2:00 pm. There will be no 1L00 pm performance on May 29th.
Accessible performances: ASL duo-interpreted performance – Friday, May 10th at 7:30 pm; Audio-described performance with optional touch tour – Sunday, May 19th, at 2:00 pm; Open-captioned performance – Wednesday, May 15th at 1:00 & 7:30 pm; Projected Spanish Translation – Thursday, May 16th at 7:30 pm.
Tickets start at $45. FYI (312) 595-5600 or www.chicagoshakes.com