Steppenwolf Theatre Company Blog – Chicago Theater, World-Class Ensemble

I was coming home late one recent evening, having met up with some friends after a performance of Art, and I witnessed a fight in the street outside a bar in Wicker Park. It was not good.

A crowd of young men, who were dressed for the nightclub scene were accompanied by a solitary young woman in high heels and a white dress. I’d heard some yelling as I was walking on the other side of the street, and I glanced over just in time to see a guy catapult a bottle at another guy’s head. There wasn’t really anything I could do to help, except for maybe trying to get somebody to throw a bottle at my head, but that seemed pointless. So I stopped to rubberneck (as rubberneckers often do) because I don’t see real-life fights very often, and I was curious about what was going to happen to the girl in the white dress, who was screeching like a deranged crow. (more…)

Recently, during a post show discussion for Art, a young man in his mid-20’s and his grandfather took seats in the front row. The younger man held his grandfather’s arm as they came down the steps to sit closer for the discussion, whispering to him, “Watch your step” and “Just one more stair.” I was touched.

Moments later, after a few questions, grandson and grandfather were deep in heated debate: now the young man sat leaning away from the older man as the older man stared straight ahead, muttering quietly under his breath. (more…)

Poor Ivan… You got to feel for the guy. In Art, all he wants to do is just have dinner with his friends. Is that so much to ask?

I keep bouncing between two mindsets about him:

1: He wants so badly for everybody to get along and that’s a beautiful thing. Life shouldn’t be so hard. Why go creating more problems when there are so many already? Your friends are one of the few gifts in life, so treasure them.

2: Stop being such a friggin’ doormat and stick up for yourself. You are being run roughshod over by these 2 supposed friends of yours. Stand up to them. You’re the only sane one. Smack them down!

It’s a constant battle in my life, trying to find that balance: stand up for yourself but don’t be an asshole. Be easy-going and flexible but don’t be a doormat. (more…)

This week ensemble member Ian Barford joined the cast of Art in the role of Marc. This is the fourth and final iteration of the cast. The former changes have included actors assuming as well as changing roles. It has been fascinating to watch the play modulate with each cast change. And that is what it feels like – a modulation.

As opposed to most plays which require certain “types” to fill the roles, the only real requirement in Art is that the three men be of an age to have been friends for fifteen years. Apart from that there are no specific requirements of age, build, race, looks, or disposition. The play absorbs and is imbued by the qualities of the three actors engaged in the playing of the story. In a way, it is like the seemingly blank canvas at the center of the play. Perhaps this explains the tremendous popularity of the play – it has been translated into more than thirty languages.

I spoke to a 72 –year old woman after the post-show discussion this past Tuesday evening. It was her third time attending the production and each time she had seen a different cast formation. She said the play remained the same but was compelling each time as it revealed its multi-faceted nature in the hands of different actors.

Recently, I was traveling in Ireland with a dear friend of 25 years. One evening, we found ourselves dining at the old Ballynahinch Castle in Connemara when our conversation landed on Chicago’s Soldier Field. We both grew up with deep impressions of the good ‘ole Bears - the Monsters of the Midway - and consider Soldier Field to be central to the architectural character of Chicago. In passing, I commented on how hideous I found the new design, “The flying saucer that landed on the Parthenon…,” when my friend interjected, “I like it.”

In that moment, my blood went cold. Hackles raised. Instantaneously, I became a predator.

“You like it? How the hell could you like it?”

“I like it. I like that they kept the columns. I think it bridges the old with the modern in a beautiful way,” he said.

Appallingly, I found myself utterly incapable of accepting this point of view. “You must be joking…a beautiful way?! The grandeur of those old columns is being smothered by this oppressive appeal to the corporate demand. Fine if they need to do it - but don’t subjugate the old beauty under this cold and ominous flying saucer!”

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