I can’t say this millennial was aware they were seeing a modern adaptation of a Greek tragedy (Hippolytus), but it shouldn’t have been surprising, given the fates of many of our early 2000s pop music girlies. The Story Theatre’s world premiere of its emerging playwright-in-residence Justine Gelfman’s one-act is a funny, sharp, and ultimately quite dark love affair with an era of music that chewed up and spit out its female stars. The fact that it feels like it’s in conversation with both Euripides and Britney Spears’s recent memoir speaks to the strong writing and, unfortunately, to the timelessness of misogyny and false idols. The star in question here is Ramona (a charismatic Emily Holland), selling out stadiums from within a fame prison that’s slowly destroying her personhood.
The Love Object
Through 11/3: Thu–Sat 7:30 PM, Sun 3 PM; Raven Theatre, 6157 N. Clark, 773-338-2177, thestorytheatre.org, $20 (students/active military/veterans $10)
Under Jasmine B. Gunter’s direction, this production uses a small space strategically to illustrate the ugly underside of fame, starting out with clever tour rehearsal scenes featuring the stereotypically tacky “out of this world” space aesthetic so common at that time. Ramona’s best friend and assistant Paula (a multidimensional Kaylah Marie Crosby) giving her notice is our first glimpse of the crumbling foundation, and from there, it’s a race to the bottom of narcissistic self-interest. Paula puts it best: “If everyone else is selling out their friends to get ahead, then why can’t I?” While this isn’t a new story onscreen, bringing it to life in a live theater setting with a cast this capable adds a uniquely raw, “under the microscope” element to both the humor and bitter end.
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