A fixture on the Toronto fringe theater scene in the 1980s, Canadian playwright Judith Thompson is one of the most exciting contemporary dramatists to emerge from north of the border. Thompson writes very short scenes about contemporary life in an elliptical, fast-paced style. Although most of her edgy, language-driven plays deal with such personal topics as childbirth, drugs, and familial relations, she usually injects a note of class and economic conflict.
Although Roadworks Productions did well with “Lion in the Streets” in 1994, Thompson has been generally under-produced in Chicago. So it’s good to see the Great Jones Theatre Company tackle such a provocative piece of writing.
“I Am Yours” is vintage Thompson. The action revolves around a young artist named Dee (Dina Gardner) who is stuck in a disaffected middle-class marriage with the smug and uncommunicative Mack (Paul Ratliff). Dee becomes pregnant after a one-night stand with a blue-collar building worker named Toliane (Danny McCarthy), and much of the play addresses what should happen to the baby. As Tolaine’s eccentric mother, Pegs (Meighan Gerachis), pushes her son to invade Dee’s elevated world, the struggling artist looks for support from her confused sister, Mercy (Jennifer Avery). It’s not a flawless piece of writing, but Thompson still manages to probe some important issues with considerable theatrical power.
This kind of gritty and complex script requires a very taut production. And while director Sheriden Thomas has staged some provocative scenes, this show seemed uneven on opening night. Part of the problem is Thomas’ unfortunate decision to stage most of the pivotal scenes at the back of the large American Theatre Company playing area, thus removing the audience from the action. There’s also an overall lack of visual cohesion and a strange musical soundtrack that goes in and out with little reason.
Although Gardner is miscast, most of the acting is nonetheless very competent. As Pegs, Gerachis goes much further; her bold and truthful performance in a difficult role is truly remarkable. Otherwise, this evening of theater does not fully live up to its potential; but then Thompson’s plays are far from easy to do well.
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“I Am Yours”
When: Through Feb. 15
Where: American Theatre Company, 3855 N. Lincoln Ave.
Phone: 773-279-0880
