Displaying items by tag: Mikael Burke

“What happens if we never loosen our grip?”

Director Mikael Burke ends his director’s note with the question above. He muses on the responsibilities of parents, and how all we want is to keep our children safe. We hold them close to keep them from harm, but ultimately, what does that do? Does it keep them safe? Or if we hold them too close, does the choice send them in the opposite direction – running towards any sense of freedom that they can find?

However, you might find that Burke’s question sheds light on a little more than just the role of parents in the play. What happens if we never loosen our grip on our children, but also our fears? Our insecurities? Our unhappiness, or even the dreams we once held so close? You might find that Burke’s question leads to another – If we never loosen our grip, how are we ever meant to grow and find something bigger?

Written by Terry Guest, Oak takes place in the south where we meet three young black people – Pickle (Jazzy Rush), Suga (Stephanie Mattos), and Big Man (Donovan Session). There is a town-wide curfew of 7pm during snatching season – the time of year where no child is safe. Every parent tightens their hold a bit more – including Peaches (Brianna Buckley), a single mother who just wants to know that her kids will be home when she gets back from her late-night job. Is it a mysterious Creek Monster that is to blame? Or is there something even darker afoot? All we know is that children are going missing, and no one really knows where to turn.

Helmed by Burke, the creative team brings this play to haunting life with what can only be described as superb talent. Scenic Designer Sydney Lynne completely transforms the stage – with a swamp filled with dead trees that immediately plants the audience in this southern gothic mystery. Lighting Designer Eric Watkins certainly does not hold back – taking full advantage of darkness and shadows that heighten the spooky feel. Especially when combined with Original Music and Sound Designer Ethan Korvne’s work, you might find it tough not to completely let yourself fall into the ghost story unfolding before you. There were quite a few screams at this particular performance, and I know I personally felt the tension rising in my own body as the characters dug deeper in the mysteries surrounding them.

Now, what is it that is so frightening? The scenery certainly does the work to invite the audience into the story. The ensemble as a whole is quite strong – particularly Rush and Session. The brother/sister relationship they build on stage is incredibly relatable. No one quite gets under your skin like a sibling, but at the same time, no one quite has your back like one either. As we see the two struggle to be honest with each other about how much they might need each other, you might find yourself leaning in – wishing you could help spell it out for them – especially if you yourself are an older sibling. Seeing the stakes and what this family has to lose certainly adds to the fear.

However, more than any of that, Guest writes a story that is unfortunately quite relevant. We see the disappearances of children happen daily. We also see that there are differences in how these disappearances are explored based on who is taken and where they happen to reside. Perhaps Guest’s story is so terrifying because this happens to be the truth in which we live, and we have yet to find a solution.

Oak is the perfect play for a Chicago that is slowly moving into the fall season. As we inch closer to Halloween, maybe we all need a spooky little wakeup call?

HIGHLY RECOMMENDED

Oak runs through November 9 at Raven Theatre. For tickets and information, see the Raven Theatre website.

*This review is also shared on https://www.theatreinchicago.com/!