“7 Minutes to Live” at Chicago Dramatists begins with a high energy hook. We encounter
Henry, battered, pant-less, and handcuffed to a dumpster, who implores us to hear his strange
story before his scheduled death, expected mere minutes from now. Who will kill him? Is there
any way out? How did he get into this situation? It’s a great set up for making the audience lean
into the tale that follows.
From the arresting opening onward, the play leans into dramatic action. Henry’s flashback leads
us through the night and morning before the present moment. The characters of the play are
introduced largely through active scenes -- only in the shorter Act II, does the pace shift
momentarily for an expositional backstory on siblings Vanessa and Luke. On the plus side, what
could have been a more straightforward and predictable explainer for Henry’s predicament,
becomes something even more unexpected and strange.
Henry (Ryan Hake) is a hardworking average guy, from an average town, destined to join his
father in business. In a decisive act, he moves to the big city to make his own life. There he
becomes acquainted with vibrant and diverse people lacking from his former life, including his
neighbor Eddy (Tomer Proctor-Zenker), a super chill and empathic presence who likes to drop in
for a late-night bong. Stirring things up further is Henry’s street-smart and impulsive girlfriend
Vanessa (Christine Watt) from “The Heights” neighborhood whose sense of humor is dark,
twisted and extremely compelling to those around her. Pushed to his limits, Henry must decide
whether he should end his relationship with Vanessa and preserve his sanity. Enter Luke --
Vanessa’s volatile brother (played by Nathanael Vangine), who brings the simmering plot to boil.
Luke is the perfect foil for a normie like Henry and exposes the privilege of Henry’s bland life.
Luke lives completely on the edge as a homeless, wary and shrewd undercover agent. And he
now has a grievance against Henry, who has sent his sister into a downward spiral.
At the end of Act I you might use the intermission trying to guess the Who, What and Why of
Henry’s coming death sentence. But playwright Richard Lyons Conlon has several unexpected
plot twists up his sleeve in Act II.
Under Andrea J. Dymond’s experienced direction, “7 Minutes” has the edgy, high talent, low
budget, ingredients Chicago storefront theatre is famous for. The four-person ensemble of risk-
taking actors possess attention-commanding charisma and individuality. The production’s
propulsive music soundtrack, cool costumes, and hyper realistic set design capture apartment
life in a blighted urban neighborhood that is slowly gentrifying.
“Seven Minutes to Live” is a great showcase for Chicago theatre’s thriving and inclusive
ecosystem. Co-produced by Unexpected Theatre Company, Chicago Dramatists and Prop
Theatre, and utilizing a developmental process that includes Chicago Dramatists, Ubiquitous
Players and Naked Angels, it also boasts homegrown talent on the production team. Worth
calling out is director Dymond who guided the ensemble’s dynamic performances, the highly
convincing fight and intimacy direction by Becca Schwarts and the urban scenic design by
Stefan Roseen.
Part thriller, and part gothic romance with dashes of surrealism – “Seven Minutes” is a strange
mash-up of a play. But for an unexpected and entertaining night out, this funny, sexy, action-
packed play is well worth discovering.
“7 Minutes to Live” is playing Thursdays through Sundays through Sept. 22 at Chicago
Dramatists. For tickets and information go to
Photo by Joe Mazza at Brave Lux.
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