City Lit’s “Psmith, Journalist” Review — Feast for Wodehouse Fans

City Lit Dedication to P.G. Wodehouse

In the program notes for “Psmith, Journalist”, City Lit Theater shares that throughout its thirty year history every season has included a P.G. Wodehouse play. They write, “City Lit’s relationship with Wodehouse’s work is of longer standing and greater durability than that between any other Chicago theatre and the work of any other author…”

Clearly, if you love P.G. Wodehouse, City Lit is your go-to place to feed your affection.

“Psmith, Journalist”, adapted and directed by Terry McCabe is no exception.

Often, Psmith’s dry irony pearls had barely escaped the lips of actor Richard Eisloeffel playing the eponymous role, when the audience broke out in titters. These were folks who knew Wodehouse inside and out. Their enjoyment of the show was at times a bigger show then the show itself.

Character Actors Having Fun

For the non-Wodehouse junkies there are amusements as well. The cast—entirely new to this reviewer—seemed to have a lot of fun. This seemed especially true of the actors playing street tough caricatures (Joe Ciresi, Robert Kaercher, and Lee Wichman).

Richard Eisleofffel as Psmith seems to have the requisite admiration for Wodehouse’s most wordy of wordy characters, but could use some direction on timing to slow, slow, slow his delivery down.

If you adore Wodehouse this is your play.

When:

Through November 6, 2016

Fridays and Saturdays at 7:30
Sundays at 3:00
Plus two Mondays, October 24 and 31, at 7:30

 

Where:

City Lit Theater

1020 West Bryn Mawr

Chicago

 

Tickets:

 

773 293 3682

or visit http://www.citylit.org

 

Photos: Tom McGrath

Amy Munice

About the Author: Amy Munice

Amy Munice is Editor-in-Chief and Co-Publisher of Picture This Post. She covers books, dance, film, theater, music, museums and travel. Prior to founding Picture This Post, Amy was a freelance writer and global PR specialist for decades—writing and ghostwriting thousands of articles and promotional communications on a wide range of technical and not-so-technical topics.

Amy hopes the magazine’s click-a-picture-to-read-a-vivid-account format will nourish those ever hunting for under-discovered cultural treasures. She especially loves writing articles about travel finds, showcasing works by cultural warriors of a progressive bent, and shining a light on bold, creative strokes by fledgling artists in all genres.

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