About Face Theatre SIGNIFICANT OTHER Review – Here Comes Love, Here Comes Marriage

Facing the future is one thing. Facing the future alone is another. It’s easier when you have a partner to depend on, but we’ve all been there - wondering if we’re always going to be perpetually single. For one gay man in New York City, he’s entering that internal crisis zone in About Face Theatre’s SIGNIFICANT OTHER.

Everybody's Getting Married at About Face Theatre

One of the best parts about being single is when your best friends are single. You share war stories about the worst dates and have each other for emotional support.

For Jordan Berman, he’s always been surrounded by his closest friends, Kiki, Vanessa, and Laura. They’ve all had their fair share of dating debacles, but as they near thirty, one by one his best friends get married leaving Jordan to go at singledom alone.

In SIGNIFICANT OTHER we’re taken down into Jordan’s existential crisis and wonder if he’ll be able to survive the champagne toasts, over-zealous amounts of tulle, and losing his secure group of best friends.

Leaving It All On Stage

Over three weddings and set to a soundtrack of sappy love hits, we follow Jordan, played by Alex Weisman, going from happy about his friends finding their significant others to wondering what will happen next as the last one gets married.

Weisman adds his own characteristics to define his character in more than just words. He paces back and forth while talking on the phone, makes facial expressions at a plate of cookies, and has killer dance moves to boot. He gives Jordan his own flair.

When he’s excited and replaying a promising date, we’re happy and giddy right alongside him. But when he’s reached the end of his rope, he holds nothing back. Out in the parking lot arguing with his best friend, we’re feeling the brunt of his emotions - his hurt, his anger, his uncertainty about their friendship.

We’re left absolutely stunned because he delivers his lines with such ferocity as his emotions bubble over.

Accompanying BFFs

His grandma, played by Ann Whitney is a real scene stealer as she acts as Jordan’s personal cheerleader. Even when Jordan lashes out, she’s nothing but kind and positive Jordan will find his special someone.

Not to be forgotten, the trio of BFFs played by Amanda Drinkall (Laura), Tiffany Oglesby (Vanessa), and Cassidy Slaughter-Mason (Kiki) each have their own unique personalities to round out their friend group.

So while the story is made up, the emotions portrayed feel very real - the love, the hurt, the acceptance. SIGNIFICANT OTHER will speak to a variety of audience members - those dealing with changing friendships, those struggling with today’s dating scene, those stuck in a dating rut, or those looking for emotional connections. This show would be a good fit for anyone searching for a play that deals with the uncertainty of being single in a world of couples.

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Note: This is now added to the Picture this Post round up of BEST PLAYS IN CHICAGO, where it will remain until the end of the run. Click here to read – Top Picks for Theater in Chicago NOW – Chicago Plays PICTURE THIS POST Loves.

When

Now through December 9, 2017
Wednesdays, Thursdays, Fridays and Saturdays at 7:30 pm
Sundays at 3 pm.

There will not be a performance on Thursday, November 9 or Thursday, November 23 (Thanksgiving); there are added performances on Wednesday, November 15 at 7:30 pm,  Saturday, November 25 at 3 pm and Sunday, November 26 at 7 pm and Saturday, December 9 at 3 pm.

Where

Theater Wit
1229 W. Belmont Ave.
Chicago, IL 60657

Tickets

$20-$38
Tickets can be purchased online at the About Face Theatre website  or through the Theater Wit website, by calling (773) 975-8150 or in person at Theater Wit Box Office.

Photos

Michael Brosilow

Note: An excerpt of this review appears in Theatre in Chicago.

Editor's Note:  Click here to read more Picture this Post articles by Alexis Bugajski