Steadstyle Chicago
	March 2008 Theatre Review by Randy Hardwick
	Looking for a Ticket Broker? Check out the hottest broadway tickets from Gotickets.com A Steady Rain Critical Evaluation: **** out of **** (L-R) Randy Steinmeyer and Peter DeFaria in "A Steady Rain" at the Royal George Theatre.  Photo by Johnny Knight. "A Steady Rain," Chicago Dramatists' critically acclaimed box office smash from last fall has moved to the Royal George Theatre for a limited engagement.  The two-handed drama starring veteran actors Peter DeFaria and Randy Steinmeyer retains its original artistic team and is in my estimation one of the best plays ever to come out of Chicago.  "A Steady Rain" is the story of Joey and Denny, two Chicago cops who have had each other's backs since kindergarten.  It is a staggering work of human emotion and human flaw; and is presented with an air of authenticity that makes it seem more real than staged.  Disbelief could not be more suspended. Playwright Keith Huff's script is a masterful work that has Joey (Peter DeFaria) and Denny (Randy Steinmeyer) telling their tragic tale directly to the audience as they simultaneously talk to each other.  Differing versions of events are woven in and out of the narration/interaction in a seamless flow that appears effortless for DeFaria and Steinmeyer.  The dialogue is gritty and honest and the actors are so natural together that the only thing that seems implausible is that the two of them have not been together since childhood.  It's a great script, but without the non-stop jocular and loving interaction between the two pals the show couldn't work.  From horseplay to betrayal, through salvation and disappointment, the two veteran actors never miss a beat.  Their tragedy lays bare the range and depth of human feeling and in doing so becomes an astonishing artistic achievement. And the show's Chicago props don't end with the way Joey and Denny talk, either.  The events are set in places you know - the street corners, parks, freeways, and alleys of our noble city - with characters that are Chicagoans other Chicagoans recognize from their daily passages in the neighborhoods.  All of this is told through the eyes of the absolute authority on Chicago - two of the city's finest.  It's all fiction and neither the locales nor the myriad peripheral characters actually appear on the stage, but every aspect of Chicago is nonetheless present in "A Steady Rain" - even the weather to which the title refers.  Anyone who knows Chicago will identify with this show.  Will it read for Chicago visitors?  Definitely.  After 90 minutes in the theatre - for better or worse - a visitor will learn more Chicago than could possibly be gleaned from a mountain of tourist brochures.  "A Steady Rain" is a powerful commentary on contemporary urban life.  Veteran New York impresarios Frank Gero, Ray Gaspard and Jono Gero have teamed up to produce this revival of the Chicago Dramatists work.  If they've got Broadway on their minds and are looking to cook up something for the Big Apple, I say stick a fork in this one.  It's done.  "A Steady Rain" has been extended through October 5, 2008 at the Royal George Theatre, 1641 N. Halstead in Lincoln Park.  Performances are Thursdays at 7:30 p.m., Fridays at 8 p.m., Saturdays at 5 p.m. and 8 p.m. and Sundays at 2 p.m. and 5 p.m.  Ticket prices range from $40 to $50 and may be purchased at the theatre box office, by calling 312-988-9000, or online at www.ticketmaster.com.  Due to the mature nature of the dialogue and content "A Steady Rain" is not recommended for audiences under 16. About Randy Hardwick Randy Hardwick is an educator and sometime theatre critic.  He is a former member of the Drama Critics' Circle in Denver, Colorado where he published several entertainment related magazines and hosted The Heavyweights of Gambling, a weekly radio call-in show about casino gaming.  During the 1980's Randy was president of Tracks International, a nightclub chain renowned for its high-energy clubs in Denver and on the East Coast.  Hardwick first came to Chicago in 1999 and recently returned to his beloved Rogers Park neighborhood following three years of teaching at a university in Mexico.     Riveting 90 Minutes of 'Rain' Review by Alan Bresloff Last year, Chicago Dramatists produced "A Steady Rain" by Keith Huff. I was unable to attend this production and was very sorry to have missed it as everyone who saw it spoke highly of it. Well, now it is back onstage in the Cabaret Theater at The Royal George Theatre.  This is a stunning production, one that will mesmerize you as you watch these two police officers tell their story of just what happened one night and how their lives were affected by the turn of events.  If you are a lover of TV shows like "NYPD Blue" or the old "Hill Street Blues" or even "Law and Order" you will find the character study of these two officers akin to some of the characters you have seen on these shows. If you know police officers, you will see them in the two characters as depicted by Mr. Huff. This riveting 90 minutes (without intermission, the show could not handle any break at all) has two dynamic actors in Randy Steinmeyer (Denny) and Peter DeFaria (Joey) repeating their roles under the detailed direction of Russ Tutterow.  As they tell their stories of a journey into hell, we see it through each of their eyes.  Denny is married with a family and lives in a nice home.  Joey is the bachelor living in a one room apartment waiting for life to come to him.  They were boyhood friends and have been longtime partners who covered each other and were like family.  But just how loyal can one man be to another?  How sacred is the trust they have given to each other?  These two Chicago cops tell us (and show us) just how much the love and rage of the streets can affect those who are there to serve and protect.  This is gut-wrenching drama (there are some funny moments as well) that will be "in your face" but will cause you to feel for each of them and for the unseen characters as well. There is an unhappy ending that has a happy ending.  Confused?  To tell you more would reveal that which I cannot reveal.  I will tell you that in a way even the unhappy ending for one of the characters could be taken as somewhat happy, but to really get the whole story, one needs to see the whole story.  I would suggest every Chicago police office see this one.  This little play is one massive production filled with great emotion and two marvelous productions that should not be missed.  The entire original team is back and thanks to Frank Gero, Raymond Gaspard and Jono Gero for bringing it back.