Steadstyle Chicago
	October 2009 Theatre Review by Alan Bresloff
	Lettice and Lovage Redtwist Theatre is one of our wonderful little storefront theater ensembles.  The new season is filled with psychological thrillers starting with a wonderful piece by Peter Shaffer ("Equus"), "Lettice and Lovage".  This is the story of two English women and how their crossing of paths changes their lives forever.  Director Steve Scott cleverly utilizes the intimacy of the Redtwist stage, with a marvelous set designed by Jack Magaw.  We are treated to some fine acting by this small cast.  Lettice is given a delicious portrayal by the lovely Millicent Hurley, who won my heart by the third tour group in the first act.  Lotte is played by the always reliable Jan Ellen Graves, who can handle roles of all types without ever being typecast.  The three other ensemble members all do their part in completing the picture as Scott painted it.  Tom Lally, in several tourist roles with very little to say, says a lot; Maura Kidwell is always a treat to watch on stage and makes each moment count; and Jim Morley does a standout job as Lettice's solicitor in the third act.  Each does their job to perfection. In fact, one might say that we as audience members have anticipations as to what we can expect when attending a theater.  Redtwist has proved over the past few years to be able to exceed the expectations and continues to do so with this wonderful production.  Erin Fast's costumes are very fitting, Christopher Kriz's Sound and Christopher Burpee's lights truly add to the overall picture painted by the playwright as directed by Scott.  And in this production the props are very important, so a hip-hip-hooray for Deborah Lindell. The story itself is a gem.  Lettice is employed at a tourist attraction that is very boring.  As a tour guide she has found that by adding to the history of the manor, she gets more tips and thanks you's from those who visit.  Lotte is an official in the Preservation Trust, Lettice's employer, and when she finds out about the non-historical tours, she must let Lettice go.  As they talk, Lotte feels guilt and goes to Lettice's home to try and help her find a new position, one where her talent may be acceptable.  The two women bond as they learn about each other and drink a special brew concocted by Lettice in which the herb "lovage" makes it a special drink. Their lives change from this second meeting and as they get into the third act, the twists and turns are both humorous and passionate.  The interplay between these two women is sparkling and the clever direction has you wanting more of them.  Despite the 2 1/2 hours, I found myself not wanting to have it end, so delightful were these characters.  This might just be lightning in a bottle for theater-goers, another brilliant production of another Peter Shaffer script at Redtwist.  I will say that his plays do work well in a smaller venue, but the small theater does limit the number of theater audiences who get to experience this wonderful piece.  So I suggest you get on the phone and call 773-728-7529 or email reserve@redtwist.org. The production runs through November 8, 2009.  Performances are Friday at 8 p.m., Saturday at 4 and 8 p.m., Sunday at 3 p.m.  Tickets range from $22-$30, a great value and seniors and students save another $5.   The theater is located at 1044 West Bryn Mawr in Edgewater and parking is not plentiful, but it is available (meters all over) but you might just want to use the CTA Redline, which is just 1 block away as a great alternate.   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.