People come out to dance singing a haunting tune. Suddenly, their festivities are interrupted. They scream as the fire in the distance comes closer and closer. And one man laughs as his subjects are slowly engulfed in the flames.
These are THE FIRES OF NERO. A story of how one man ruled with extravagance, luxury, and to his own selfish whims.
Phoenix Rising Presents a Mentally Unstable Ruler
In comes Nate Hall as the infamous Nero. His portrayal gives us the impression that at first, Nero is just immature. He listens to everything his mother has to say and giggles when he announces his title of “Imperator.” But as time goes on, he gains more confidence as he realizes the extent of his power. His maniacal giggle still remains, but now it’s not a nervous giggle. Now it’s one of a man enjoying having people sacrifice themselves to him.
Hall has carefully crafted the character of Nero as a portrait of an unhinged dictator making more and more reckless decisions. He shows how this man has always been unhinged, but those around him were more concerned with power and influence rather than acknowledge putting him in charge might be a bad idea.
Resemble Anyone You Know?
How this ancient Roman emperor came to power sounds a bit like someone else we know today as our reigning president of the United States. Though people questioned if he had the intelligence and experience to lead, he was still elected as leader of the free nation
The playwright, Aaron Harris Woodstein, wanted people to walk away from THE FIRES OF NERO saying “Wow, I can’t believe they let that happen.” It draws a parallel to our present day state and delivered on that comparison. Most people would suspect something was not quite right about this guy, and yet those people around him still enabled him to win and rule. It begs the questions, will this presidency reach the same point where suddenly the city is burning and how did we let that happen?
Disjointed Story & Characters
In this writer’s opinion, though it’s a great parallel, the story lacks cohesiveness. It feels like the play jumped from scene to scene giving us more vignettes or individual situations when we could see Nero acting particularly crazy. We transition very abruptly from becoming the emperor, to funeral pyres, to commanding those around him to bend to his every whim. In this same vein, the other actors seem disjointed where they don’t blend well together and fully transport us to ancient Rome.
THE FIRES OF NERO would be a good pick for anyone who likes political and historical dramas with some original musical numbers thrown in. This play is not a direct political satire, rather a loose calling for the audience to question the world around them before it’s too late. This might not be the best for those who are looking for a comedy or a fully staged history play.
SOMEWHAT RECOMMENDED
CAST
Kamil Borowski
Eliana Campbell
Danny Ferenczi
Sarah Ford
Val Gerard Garcia Jr.
Nate Hall
Bryce Saxon
Scott James Smith
Rebecca Sparks
Rachael Wilkinson
CREATIVE
Aaron Harris Woodstein
Seth N. Wilson
Sam Mullooly
Luke McLoughlin
Blake Cordell
Matthew Smith
Tori Keeling
Melinda “MJ” Deamon
Haley Schmidt
Renata Camara
Claire Rutkowski
Monica Llorente
Christopher Stone
Imani McPhaden
When:
Now through Sunday September 9, 2018
Thursdays, Fridays and Saturdays at 8 p.m.
Saturdays and Sundays at 2 p.m.
Where:
Stage 773
1225 W. Belmont Ave.
Chicago, IL 60657
Tickets
$15-$20
Tickets can be purchased online at the Stage 773 website Fires of Nero
Photos Renata Camara
About the Author
Alexis is a theater reviewer, travel bug, media specialist, and burger & beer enthusiast. During the day she works in the advertising business as a senior communications designer. When night falls, or when she can escape to New York, she’s hitting the theaters to see as many shows as she can. And whenever she’s not at her desk or in the audience, she’s out seeking the best burger and beer offerings in Chicago.
Editor's Note: Click here to read more Picture this Post articles by Alexis Bugajski
