Theatre Y MALAGA (OR THE INNER EAR) Review – Leaving It All to Chance

We enter a black box theatre with red fabric draped around center poles, creating a skeleton of a proscenium. Old black and white cartoons are projected onto a large screen in the middle of the stage piquing our curiosity as to what’s about to happen. As the opening credits for the show take that place of the cartoons, we’re in for an interesting weekend with this production of MALAGA (OR THE INNER EAR).

Theatre Y Presents Many Red Flags

Newly separated couple Vera and Michael are at odds this week. They each have important trips planned for the upcoming weekend when their regular babysitter gets sick. Neither will give up their weekend plans (her a trip to Spain, him a work conference) to stay home and watch their daughter, so they resort to a last minute option - a 19-year-old film student who even before they interview him is throwing up some red flags.

However, neither of them will admit to the other this might be a terrible idea. They jetset off leaving their daughter behind for a disastrous weekend.

Dance and Camera Work

The plot of MALAGA is very dialogue driven, and this production has taken a step further and added many theatrical elements to enhance the play. The cast performs movement sequences as they deliver their lines to create actions behind their words. Like when Vera is packing for the weekend, she performs repetitive movements of getting dressed and undressed while vamping in front of a camera.

This is also one instance of Theatre Y’s added camera and projection work. Throughout the show the actors use cameras to film themselves live and then that feed is projected on the large screen in the middle of the stage. These elements bring a voyeuristic feel as we watch the lives of these two people.

For this writer, the additional elements didn’t quite enhance the script as much as they did muddy the intentions of our characters. If you’re like this writer, you might prefer a show that is inherently dialogue driven to let the words be the focus.

On the other hand if you're someone who enjoys movement and technological components for an experimental theatre outing, MALAGA would be the right choice for you.

SOMEWHAT RECOMMENDED

CAST:

Katie Stimpson
Eric K. Roberts
Lane Anthony Flores

CREATIVE:

Melissa Lorraine
Héctor Alvarez
Cody Beyer
Neil Blackadder
Rebecca Hinsdale
Claire Sangster
Kevin Hurley
Justin Theodore Jones

When:

Now through December 16, 2018
Thursdays-Sundays at 7:30pm

Where:

The Ready
4546 N. Western Ave.
Chicago, IL 60625

Tickets:

Free to the public

Tickets can be reserved through the Theatre Y website

Photos Devron Enarson

When:

Now through December 9, 2018
Thursdays, Fridays, and Saturdays at 8:00 pm
Sundays at 6:00 pm
There are two additional Monday performances on November 5 and November 26 at 7:00 pm. There are no performances on November 8, 22, 23 or 29.

Where:

Athenaeum Theatre
2936 N Southport Ave.
Chicago, IL 60657

Tickets:

$22
Tickets can be purchased through the Red Theater website

Photos Matt Wade

Note: Picture This Post reviews are excerpted by Theatre in Chicago

Alexis Bugajski Photo: Liz Lin

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

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2 thoughts on “Theatre Y MALAGA (OR THE INNER EAR) Review – Leaving It All to Chance

  1. Thanks Mary for piquing my interest in becoming a better editor by peeking at our magazine from time to time. Don’t you think this is a peak season for Chicago theater ????? 😉

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