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Tom Williams
April 23, 2005
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Highly
Recommended
"Praying Small
is a
masterpiece"
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Praying Small
By Clifford Morts
Directed by Michael Colucci
At The Actors Workshop Theatre
1044 W. Bryn Mawr
Chicago, IL
Call 773-728-7529, tickets are $20
Friday & Saturday at 8 PM
Sunday at 3 PM
Running time is 2 hrs, 10 min with Intermission
Through May 8,
2005
Praying
Small is a masterpiece.
Local playwright, Clifford Morts has penned a marvelous work; part dark
comedy, part tragedy filled with an explosive, non-judgmental look into
addiction. Praying
Small is a brilliantly structured and stylized piece remarkably
free of sentimentality that depicts the effects of addiction (booze and
drugs) on an intelligent, charismatic young man. We hear Sam Dean’s (Jason Daniels) story in a series of
vignettes that highlight the symptoms, causes and effects of the
addictive personality as it grips him and strives to destroy him.
“Praying Small
is not meant to be a lesson-play. It is meant simply to tell the story
of one man afflicted with the most horrible of diseases---one good man
with the desire to change. The bottom line is this: recovery is for
people who want it, not necessarily for people who need it. This is a
play about a man who wants it. This is a play about the splendor of
redemption and the catharsis of forgiveness. This is a play about the power of
change,” stated playwright Clif Morts. I agree completely.
This marvelous show contains several style devices that serve it well.
The main character frequently addresses the audience directly adding
depth, personality and dry humor to the show. The mixed up timeline and
alternating scenes (with a repeated key scene) works as does the
monologues to weave Dean’s story into a cohesive entity. His
motivations, influences and the lifestyle effects of drinking are shown
as gradual destroying him. Director Michael
Colucci got Jason Daniels
to play Dean in simple, direct terms without whining or alibis giving
him an honesty that only comes from a truthful performance. Daniels was amazingly effective here as we
empathize with his struggle and we believe his struggle will be a life
long journey. We also believe he’ll succeed.
What gives Praying Small
its power lies in the straight forward, polemic free atmosphere in
dealing with the destructiveness of addiction. Even William J. Watt’s,
Greg (Dean’s AA sponsor), matter-of-factually gives the hard reality of
recovery a realistic, honest approach whose simplicity rings with
power. Like the entire play, this straight forward, non-preachy show
strikes a chord. This is dynamic theatre.
I’d have every teen and college student see this show so they can see
what happens when booze and drugs become a lifestyle choice. Praying
Small is an intelligent play that vividly paints a portrait of
the
power to change and the hope inherent in the human condition.
Highly
Recommended
Tom Williams
Tom99@chicagocritic.com for comments
April 23, 2005
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4/9/05
ACTORS WORKSHOP
THEATRE REPRISES PRAYING SMALL
by Ruth Smerling
Theatreworld
Internet Magazine
Clifford Morts’ PRAYING SMALL, a stark look at
the possibility that substance abuse can plague anyone, returns to the
Actors Workshop Theatre directed by Artistic Director Michael Colucci.
Jason Daniels, as
charming and impervious as Tom Cruise, stars as Sam Dean.
Sam is the kind of guy Matthew Perry’s Chandler Bing would be if
it hadn’t been for Ross, Joey, Rachel, Phoebe and Monica.
Unfortunately, Sam is not lucky enough to have a group of
supportive friends to horse around with. Instead he has wreckless
Roman (Eric Hoffmann), a buddy from work who won’t take no for an
answer when he’s passing the coke or handing out booze. Together,
Sam and Roman have a great time, high eveyday and still climbing the
corporate ladder. Soon Sam meets his wonderful wife, Susan
(Marisa Sanders). With work going well, being in love and having
the time of his life, he believes he’s at the top of his game.
Then suddenly the lines between working and partying begin to
blue and he spins out of control. He loses his job. He
starts lying to Susan and then disaster becomes the norm. Nothing
stops him from indulging in substance and booze, not even being
arrested for possession by two really scary cops. Only when Susan
walks out, does he know he’s hit bottom and must get help.
Despite his
ironclad conviction, the road to redemption is pretty rocky. He
tells Greg (William J. Watt), his AA sponsor that feels like he’s
seeing a dead lover when a waiter passes by with a scotch and water on
a tray. He has no wife. He’s lost his friends and looking
back over his life he starts to see the patterns set down early in
life. While Sam got a lot of praise from his mother for his
scholarly efforts, his father discouraged him and encouraged him to be
more like him, a tough guy who drank and wrought havoc on everyone
around him.
Jan Ellen Graves who
brilliantly directed the previous production, Arthur Miller’s THE AMERICAN CLOCK is
set designer on PRAYING SMALL. The stage is set simply and dimly
lit, leaving most of the light to come from the characters. Michael Colucci's
clever casting yields some stunning performances. Rebekka James
does a 365 degree turn from her role as the doting mother in THE
AMERICAN CLOCK. In PRAYING SMALL she dons a business suit as [the
Boss] and later as returns with Johnny Garcia as good cop to her foul
mouth and violent bad cop. James D. Farruggio is pivotal as the father
who has no time for son’s curiosity and makes him rebellious.
William
J. Watt as Greg, Sam’s recovery sponsor is inspirational, as he never
leaves Sam, no matter how weak and defeated he feels. Eric
Hoffmann is fierce as Roman, the instigator who finally gets his due.
Marisa Sanders as Sam’s devoted and loving wife, Susan displays
an near heartbreaking vulnerability and strength as a woman who must
make the most difficult choice of her life.
The Actors Theatre
Workshop is resounding with the vibrant energy of a cast that truly
loves to perform.
PRAYING SMALL runs through May 8 at 1044 W. Bryn Mawr. Phone 773-728-PLAY for show times and
information.
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