Crowds will flock to see “Judgment Day,” having its world premiere at Chicago Shakespeare Theater on Navy Pier. While many will be drawn by its star, Emmy and Tony-winning actor Jason Alexander of “Seinfeld” fame (George Costanza), and he is definitely a draw—but just one of many—in this remarkably funny, highly polished play by Rob Ulin.
With perfect comedic delivery, Alexander plays Sammy Campo, a craven lawyer who has gained riches continuously by winning cases at any cost, ethics be damned. From the moment Alexander begins his audacious performance, fueled by the razor wit of Ulin’s smart script, the audience was laughing and we knew, this is a comedy.
Yet “Judgment Day” treats serious subjects, a truly thoughtful discernment of weighty values and living a purposeful life. We hear throughout the play an important conversation going on, the laughter taking down barriers to really listening. This is a morality play, and a good one, in the mold of Moliere blending serious matters with fun. Sammy goes through a spiritual journey, not so different than Dicken's Ebenezer Scrooge. But "Judgment Day" has the added power of swimming in contemporary mores and values.
Jason Alexander stars as a corrupt lawyer attempting to make amends with the help of a conflicted priest, played by Daniel Breaker, in the world premiere comedy Judgment Day at Chicago Shakespeare Theater.
Sammy may soon be disbarred—for seedy practices such as suborning perjury from witnesses. As his secretary Della (Olivia D. Dawson is marvelous) delivers a world-weary litany of the sketchy legal methods for which Sammy may lose his law license, her droll deadpan is interrupted repeatedly by Sammy’s frantic interjections, after each of which she resumes undeterred, eliciting big laughs.
Della lets us know Sammy once convinced a client to saw off his own leg to win a claim. “It almost worked,” says Sammy, revealing his breathtaking depravity and lack of moral compass with such complete unselfconsciousness the only response we can have is to laugh. It’s clear that Della has seen it all, and knows Sammy’s MO only too well.
Working from Golden Globe winner Ulin’s extremely witty script, Tony-nominated director Moritz von Stuelpnagel coaxes split second timing from Della and Sammy, establishing the standard of interplay among actors that we will enjoy all evening. Without spoiling the fun, let’s just say Sonny passes out and falls to the floor.
“You dead?” Stella queries. And we laugh.
Not quite dead, it turns out, and following the ensuing near death experiences, the recovered Sammy decides to straighten up his life. But he hasn’t changed one iota. Always calculating, he goes to confession and meets Father Michael (Daniel Breaker is superb), putting it to him baldly: “What’s the least amount of good I can do to avoid going to hell?”
Father Michael, a conflicted priest in a crisis of faith, is the perfect pairing with Sammy, and much of the rest of the play is the two jousting abouty moral values, and whether good works for selfish reasons merits a heavenly reward. The heavy intellectual lifting falls to Father Michael, as he guides Sammy in his moral quest. (Breaker played Aron Burr in "Hamilton" and originated the role of "Donkey" in Skrek the Musical.) A lengthy scene puts the two together in a car during a stakeout. Bantering about issues personal and moral, Father Michael's inner struggle is revealed. The scene would have been at home on "Seinfeld," except unlike the series famed for being "about nothing," this one is about something.
As we get to know Father Michael—and for that matter the rest of the cast including the wife Sammy walked out on (Tracy Bofill) and his young son (Ellis Myers); Angel (Candy Buckley) Sammy’s deceased teacher (now in wings and a habit); a struggling widow Edna (Meg Thalken); Father Michael’s superior (Michael Kostroff as Monsignor); even the Principal (also played by Dawson)—each of these characters are so intriguing I wanted to see more of them, perhaps in another setting (spin-off shows?).
Notably, most of the cast and creative team make their Chicago Shakespeare Theater debuts in this show, many cast from New York. Chicago is a good setting for testing out this play, which like the city is very Catholic (no less than three scenes are in confessionals) but this is neither off-putting nor irreverent. In fact, it's a study in the transformation of the Catholic Church since the 1960s, beautifully expressed. And tt's another home run for CST's new artistic director, Edward Hall.
Presented in The Yard, Chicago Shakespeare’s newest, state-of-the art space, the stage itself allows large audiences to have an intimate theater experience. Scene changes (Beowolf Boritt does scenic design) whisk in and out as fast as camera cuts in the movies.The adaptable Yard, which can when needed replicate the courtyard stage of Shakespeare’s Globe, here simulates a proscenium space, with upstage and downstage, stage left and right all part of the action. This gives an immediacy and presence to the performance for the audience that surpasses anything I have seen in New York, London, or elsewhere in Chicago. You are drawn into the show, and the experience is captivating.
Suffice it to say, “Judgment Day” comes highly recommended: an excellent play, performed and directed beautifully, and a story that will stay with you. “Judgment Day” runs through May 26, 2024 at Chicago Shakespeare Theater.
*Extended through June 2nd
Individual tickets for Cameron Mackintosh's acclaimed production of Alain Boublil and Claude-Michel Schönberg's Tony Award-winning musical phenomenon, LES MISÉRABLES, will go…
Chicago Shakespeare Theater (CST) presents the Royal Shakespeare Company (RSC)'s Pericles, direct from a "triumphant" (The Telegraph) run at the company's home in…
Broadway In Chicago is thrilled to announce the Tony Award®-winning musical, PARADE, will play the CIBC Theatre (18 w. Monroe St.)…
I am delighted that Northlight Theatre chose to produce The Flying Lovers of Vitebsk, penned by Daniel Jamieson and expertly…
Kokandy Productions is pleased to conclude its 2024 season with an immersive production of Stephen Sondheim and James Lapine's classic Into The Woods, the first Chicago…
I was skeptical when I learned that Court Theatre was staging "East Texas Hot Links." The Pulitzer prize nominated play…
I chose to review LIGHT SWITCH because the play sounded intriguing, and also because every production I’ve seen at Open…
It’s the top of Act IV, and King Harry (Elijah Jones) stands alone on stage. The lights are dim –…
“Gonna have to study up a little bit if you wanna keep up with the plot ‘cause it’s a complicated…
Broadway In Chicago is delighted to announce the return engagement of THE BOOK OF MORMON, the nine-time Tony Award-winning Best Musical,…
“To love the beauty of the mistakes….the imperfect.” Isis Elizabeth, Playwright In Beneath The Willow Tree, playwright Isis Elizabeth weaves…
Producer and Director Jonathan James and The Home Creative Co. are proud to announce the opening of THE OUTSIDERS, the immersive and thrilling adaptation of the…
Hell in a Handbag Productions is pleased to conclude its 22nd season with the world premiere of The Golden Girls Meet The Skooby…
Mike Royko is a seminal influence on—and expression of—Chicago culture. Even today, if many locals might not know who Royko…
South Pacific, with music by Richard Rodgers and lyrics by Oscar Hammerstein, is undoubtedly one of my all-time favorite musical…
“This Is Our Youth,” with mesmerizing performances by Kason Chesky as Warren, Grayson Kennedy as Dennis, and Annalie Ciolino as…
BrightSide Theatre will open its 13th season in October, with a play especially appropriate for the Halloween season. Naperville's only professional…
Broadway In Chicago is pleased to announce the Golden Snitch Digital Lottery for the upcoming engagement of HARRY POTTER AND THE…
“The House of Ideas,” directed by Terry McCabe, is an aptly named recount of the rise of Marvel Comics and…
I think I’d better begin by answering some questions, starting with ‘WTF is the title of this show?’ to which…
Broadway In Chicago is excited to announce the National Tour of HARRY POTTER AND THE CURSED CHILD launches in Chicago in just…
Though Larry Kramer did not live to see the end of the 2020 COVID-19 lock downs, no doubt his contributions…
Chicago Opera Theater (COT), Chicago’s foremost producer of new and rarely produced operas, begins its 2024/25 Season, with an exciting and aptly…
TheaterWorksUSA (Barbara Pasternack, Artistic Director; Michael Harrington, Executive Director) is thrilled to announce that after a successful run in the…
“Network” at Invictus Theatre Co. is one fun, funny, exciting show. In this full-throttle Chicago debut at the WIndy City…
Broadway In Chicago is pleased to announce tickets for SOME LIKE IT HOT, the "Super-Sized, All-Out Song-And-Dance Spectacular!" (The New York…
Broadway In Chicago is excited to announce FAIRYTALE OF NEW YORK will play Broadway In Chicago's Broadway Playhouse at Water Tower Place…
Like the waves lapping along the shores of Lake Michigan, there is another wave that is hitting Chicago; a nostalgia…
Citadel Theatre, which was recently honored with Jeff Award nominations for Best Productions and Directors in the Midsize Play and…
Broadway In Chicago is thrilled to celebrate its 25th year, marking a quarter-century of bringing world-class theatre to the heart of…
Does your theatre company want to connect with Buzz Center Stage or would you like to reach out and say "hello"? Message us through facebook or shoot us an email at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..
*This disclaimer informs readers that the views, thoughts, and opinions expressed in the text belong solely to the author, and not necessarily to Buzz Center Stage. Buzz Center Stage is a non-profit, volunteer-based platform that enables, and encourages, staff members to post their own honest thoughts on a particular production.