Review: "Strangers and Romance" Strangeloop Theatre @ Trap Door Theatre Chicago, IL

Full disclosure:  I did not receive a comp ticket for this production.


This was an adventure.  Both in going to the theatre and reviewing the show.  The theatre is (and this may be an understatement) off-street.  And the show is hard to review. Let me explain.  First, the theatre.

You should see this when you look down the walkway.

Trap Door Theatre is a small, intimate, black box venue, tucked away between the structures of Jane's restaurant on the 1600 block of W. Courtland in the Bucktown neighborhood.  It's lucky that I read up on the theatre before I ventured forth, because I knew what to look for.  However, for some, it's going to require some backtracking, because you can pass it up easily.  The big clue is the sandwich board that has the name of the theatre and an arrow pointing down the narrow walkway between the two buildings.  Still, I missed the sign on first passing.    Once you open the door, you will find yourself in a junction between the service area's of Jane's restaurant.  Avoiding busboys and waitstaff, I crossed the hall and opened the door to a comfortable 45-seat black box theatre.  Who knew?  By the way, head a few doors east of there and have something at Courtland Garage.  Thursday's $7 Taco Special is delicious, and the right start to the evening.


Strangers and Romance are two one acts written by Barbara Lhota, and presented by Strangeloop Theatre.  They share time (Christmas Eve) and geography (Boston).  More than that, they are both an exploration of the feelings of loss inside and outside relationships that have become dysfunctional.  Usually this is where I give you a wiki-link to a show description.  But there is none. I knew nothing about these plays, and I am convinced that's the best way to experience them.  Too much information here will spoil it for all.  It's a fun, thought-provoking journey to take if you give yourself over to how it all unfolds. Each beat reveals more of what is going on until you have an "ah-ha" moment.  That discovery is fun.  Each layer comes through conversations that sound like something people would actually have.  The difficulty in reviewing the show, specifically Strangers, is that much is revealed about the two characters through twists in the clever text, and that's how it should remain.  

Misti Patrella and Tony Ketcham

The setting for the first act is a commuter station that is about to close for the evening and becomes the backdrop for the encounter between the two characters.  Misti Patrella and Tony Ketcham, do a nice job, though I felt Patrella had more of herself invested in the performance and brought a level of honesty that held my attention.  Ketcham became too engaged in the acting, rather than the character, so for me, he drifted in and out of the scene.  Still, he was able to hit his stride in a wonderfully presented ending to his emotional arc.  Finally, I have to give kudos to the author for her wicked humor that undulates just beneath the surface of the text.

Stacie Barra and Timothy C Amos

The show's set is a nifty piece of work that transforms from the train station in the first act to a wedding chapel in Romance, the second act.  The act also explores loss both in and out of a relationships and the emotional baggage we carry with us. The characters go through an unburdening - an almost confessional process - that plays appropriately within the confines of the religious setting.  Again, Lhota's text is fun, witty and offers the right amount of pathos without becoming sanguine. And, as before, you can feel her humor layered through the piece.  Stacie Barra and Timothy C. Amos play the couple and Barra is superb.  She has honed her skills of nuance, timing, and honesty to create a mesmerizing portrayal of a woman asking questions and seeking direction in love and life.  Amos is not as successful in the start of the act, with a few moments that felt hollow.  But once the interplay between them really begins, his character becomes more accessible.


Directed by Doug Long who uses simple staging, the production allows the text and actors to shine in this intimate setting.


Was it worth the price of admission?  Yes, it was. And there is currently a special on Gold Star for 1/2-price tickets.  Oh yes, I almost forgot...keep the program.  You can use it to receive a discount on tickets to see another Lhota play, The Double, presented by Babes With Blades.  And, it is also the subject of my next review.