Pinter’s complex and layered one act The Lover has been played as a dark comedy and/or a drama, and the jewel box Facility Theatre version currently on view in the apartment above the theater is both AND a whole lot more. In an actual apartment, this claustrophobically close up view of a twisted marital relationship makes us awkward voyeurs. Originally created for television, directors Yasen Peyankov and Dado have converted it into a perfectly crafted piece of immersive theater for the 20 or so audience members lucky enough to sit in on this strange little masterpiece of intimate relations.
The 1960’s British sensibility is captured here through the detailed work of costume designer Lisa Kolesknik and consultant Bisa and the exquisite set dressing by Kirk Anderson and Beth Martini: when the audience wanders the playing space sipping themed cocktails before and after the show even the minutest detail is critical. And here in a performance where the changing of a pair of heels or the pulling of blinds means so much, the attention to detail has rich payoffs.
One of the truly amazing things about this production is that it is essentially a college student project: the entire show was produced with students at UIC in April of this year, and here the original cast is reprising their roles. Don’t let the actors youth dissuade you: Noelle Oh is the quintessential and eminently watchable and desirable Sarah, Jack Welshons is the chameleon Richard and Colin Callahan is a dynamite cameo as John the milkman. These directors knew they had lightning in a bottle.
If I lay out the plot I will ruin all the surprising twists and turns of this delightful experience. I am just going to exhort you to go and have this adventure. It is absolutely marvelous that two of Chicago’s most important directors took the risks and collaborated on this experiment that could have been an utter failure– uprooting a college production, ripping it from the safety of academia and putting it in a space where there is no safety net. And thank goodness they are gamblers: it is a triumph and a play that will keep you thinking and wanting to go back and see it again, perhaps from a different seat in a different room to see what else this abundant treasure will offer up. I’m telling you : be one of the lucky few who get to see this. We will talk about it years from now.
The Lover is playing Thursdays through Saturdays NOW EXTENDED through September 14 with no shows August 15-17, upstairs from Facility Theatre, 1138 N. California Avenue in Humboldt Park, for tickets and information go to https://facilitytheatre.org/news/2024/7/19/the-lover-in-the-facility-upstairs It has been selling out but they can possibly squeeze in walk ups.
Photo by Beth Martini
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Hey!! I really appreciate the review and I'm thrilled that you liked the production! Thank you so much for taking the time to see and write about it! Minor correction though, my (the costume designer's) name is Liza Kolesnik.