Steadstyle Chicago
	October 2009 Theatre Review by Alan Bresloff
	Lucinda's Bed After the huge success of last year's "A Steady Rain" theater people are taking more notice of the small but powerful Chicago Dramatists.  They have been around town for 30 years and while many are aware of them, having a smash hit that went to New York has brought out the "would be's" as well as the true theater lovers and now they have something new to see.  "Lucinda's Bed" was written by resident playwright Mia McCullough and is 100 minutes into the life of Lucinda, played by the wonderful and lovely Elizabeth Laidlaw, who can be funny and dramatic but of most importance real on stage.   She starts off being 9 years old and discovers that there is a monster under her bed.  He has always been there, or so he says, and will always be.  Lucinda wants to be good and she is told and taught in this tale that this is not an easy task.  Throughout her dating years, her college years, her marriage, her pregnancy, her questioning years and her separation, he is always there be it a single bed, dorm bed, King size or no bed.  Her monster is always with her showing up at some of the most inappropriate times. The Monster is skillfully played by Lucas Neff, who also handles many other roles, including her first sexual experience, date, her baby, her attempt at an affair, the plumber, her doctor and Ricky, a little boy.  While Neff doesn't really change that much in appearance for each character, his demeanor and character are total changes from this slippery monster who disappears under Lucinda's Bed with regularity.  The true measure of an actor's ability is to be able to take on different personalities, with very little change and have the audience know that he is not the previous character.  Neff succeeds at this.  The third character in the production is Adam (and also his son and also a father), Lucinda's true love who she marries and then leaves.  Doug Makechnie also is able to handle  the change of characters with ease and in these three actors being able to keep our focus on the story rather than trying to figure out who is who makes this a pleasurable experience. Director Jessi D. Hill has cleverly put together a smooth running 100 minutes roughly with no intermission.  I am glad that there is no break as we would lose the continuity of what McCullough has put before us.  The need to be good and the temptations not to be.  Are we destined to be what we were molded to be as a child and are the childhood monsters we imagined capable of detouring the path we were set on?  If there is a monster beneath our bed, are they there to get back what was taken from them?  Do they get to remain on Earth by making someone else's heart turn to stone?  These are some of the questions that are posed by McCullough and Hill makes it all seem very clear.  The play deals with sexuality as well and there is some language.  In fact, I would suggest strongly that no one under the age of 16 see this production, unless they are very mature as this is a story that does focus on morals and morality as well as finding one's self. The set design by Grant Sabin is very practical and in the intimacy of Dramatists small storefront theater works very well.  Diane Fairchild has done a marvelous lighting design and Nick Keenan's sound is perfect.  There are not many productions where the props are a main factor in the movement of the play, but this one needed someone who knew their stuff and Jennifer Thusing did a smashing job.  When one attends a theatrical performance, each detail of the production tends to make the whole experience and each member of this staff, from the actors, down to the people who painted the set or made the dust ruffles (I am assuming Costumer Kat Doebler took care of these and the magic bedspreads) made it all complete. The music and lights took us through decades of the life of Lucinda, beds changed, linens changed, pictures and paintings were changed from scene to scene.  All were kind of tossed under the bed, but lo and behold, they were gone.  Only a few spot changes were made that took longer than a minute, but based on those changes, there was no way that they could have been done any better.  This is a new play, a World Premiere and being so, as it runs will take on a stronger life of its own.  Based on what I saw tonight it will get better and better, perhaps to move to another venue in the future like "A Steady Rain," and who knows what else the future might bring. Meanwhile, if you want to experience a beautiful story told by three wonderful actors, take a trip to Chicago Dramatists Theater located at 1105 West Chicago Avenue (at Milwaukee Avenue).  The entrance is in the rear and while parking is not free (meters have moved in the area) it is easy to find and there are few eateries in the area as well.  You can also ask about the reserved spots when you call to make your ticket reservation.  The play will run through November 8, 2009.  Performances are Thursday, Friday and Saturday evenings at 8 p.m., Sundays at 3 p.m.  Tickets are a mere $25-$30 and can be ordered by calling 312-633-0630 or visiting www.chicagodramatists.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.