Steadstyle Chicago
	October 2009 Theatre Review by Alan Bresloff
	The Elaborate Entry of Chad Deity Is wrestling an art form, a sporting event or theater?  These are some of the questions posed in Kristoffer Diaz's marvelous new play "The Elaborate Entrance of Chad Deity" now on the main stage at Victory Gardens Theater.  This was one of the finalists in Victory Gardens "Emerging Playwrights of Color" in 2008.  Like the Studio production upstairs of "Year Zero," we were treated to a small part of this play last year and now, under the direction of Edward Torres in conjunction with Teatro Vista, we get to see a comic look at the absurd world of professional wrestling.  What an evening of theater!  Yes, this is unlike what most audiences anticipate, but let's face it, wrestling is theater of the absurd.  Each performer has a role to play for an audience that wants to be into the action as much as they can.  While I am sure many Victory Gardens regulars were scratching their heads over this wildly physical production, I am sure that many found themselves laughing as hard as I did and of greater importance, they had a great time and may have even learned a little about why wrestling has attracted such a large audience both in arenas and on television.  Make no mistake about it, they do have the audience.  Perhaps this production will bring some of these "wresltemania" fans to the real theater and expose them to another form of art and just maybe, one or two of them might just come back for more. "Chad Deity" is more than just a comic spoof of the craziness that wrestling brings to the public.  It is also a look at the racial stereotypes that we seem to have about the sport.  And through its fun-filled hop-hop charisma, we learn more about what it is that makes people want more.  The story also involves some fears that people have about the unknown.  Diaz, it turns out grew up watching wrestling on TV and from his youthful memories, he has drawn characters that could easily have been the real thing.  Torres has put together a solid cast that makes this production truly believable.  Our storyteller/narrator is Macedonio Guerra, played by Desmin Borges, who continues to grow as an actor in leaps and bounds.  I recall seeing him many years ago in a small play produced by Teatro Vista at Steppenwolf, "Elliot, A Soldier's Fugue," where I said this young man will be brilliant one day.  Well, today is that day.  He is onstage almost the entire two hours and ten minutes telling us the story of his youth and his job.  He is the guy that does the lifting, the wrestler that loses to make the untalented wrestler look good.  He loses on a regular basis to the Champion, Chad Deity, a powerful and comic touch by Kamal Angelo Bolden who is new at his chosen profession and to Chicago.  I am sure we will see him grace more stages in our community. The boss E.K. Olson, who makes the wrestling work shows how this is all about "the business and the money".  As always, James Krag brings to this character something special and although you know that he is a selfish man, there is something about him that makes you smile.  When Macedonio brings in a free spirited "Indian" from India (played with grace and style by Usman Ally), they plan to make a mockery of the entire game.  The ploy was that he could be "un-American" and the fans would boo him and Macedonio would be his manager and teach him the ropes.  After all, in wrestling "You can't kick a guy's --- without the help of the guy whose ---  you're kicking."  In other words it is all staged.  What takes place is not what we all expected and there is a little surprise at the end.  In reality, the last line (which I cannot divulge, as it would ruin the ending) is quite powerful and cause to make you really think about what you just experienced.  This production is a true theatrical experience as well as an educational experience.  Thanks to David Woolley the fight director and Christian Litke who plays the myriad of wrestlers (a stunt man who shows some great moves) there is some wonderful choreography.  I would say that what these actors experienced had to be harder than learning any dance in any play ever!  And it all looks very real.  What a workout! "Chad Deity" is a very complete production with all the details to make it so.  Brian Sidney Bembridge has designed a striking set and Christine Pascual's costumes (in particular the wrestlers garb) are divine.  Have you ever seen one of these TV shows?  She has it just right!  Mikhail Fiskel's sound makes it all audible with some very nice musical touches.  The lighting by Jesse Klug and the props by D.J. Reed complete the picture painted by Torres and Diaz.  It is a wonderful look at something that we all know is out there, but many know little about.  You now have the opportunity to learn more, but only thru November 1, 2009 at The Victory Gardens Theater located at 2433 N. Lincoln Avenue.  Performances are Tuesday through Thursday at 7:30 p.m., Friday at 8 p.m., Saturday at  5 and 8:30 p.m., Sunday at 3 p.m. with added matinees on Wednesday October 21 and 28 at 2 p.m.  No evening performance on Tuesday, October 13.  Tickets range in price from $20-$48, less than you would spend to see a wrestling event and far superior in the entertainment value you will get, and can be purchased at the box office, by phone at 773-871-3000 or online at www.victorygardens.org.   About Alan Bresloff Alan Bresloff, once an actor himself, has been covering the Chicago Theater Scene since 1993, first as the Theater and Arts critic for LaRaza newspaper, then with Salsachicago.com and then onto Extra Newspaper and The Epoch Times.  He also writes for ElImparcial and TeleGuia.  His reviews can also be seen on www.theatreinchicago.com.  Alan does not call himself a "critic" but a "reviewer" as he tries to educate the reader about theater itself, what is a good value, what to look for in a play or musical and more.  "Exposure to theater is a very important part of a young person's life" he says. "Learning about the arts and culture is in fact learning about life" and he tries to explain more in his reviews than just if it is good or bad.  Even some of the poor productions have some value, he often says and he would love your feedback on shows that you have seen.  You can write him here or at albresloff@sbcglobal.net.