Tim O'Brien
WSDR
O'Brien News Service
Director Chuck Smith weaves a masterpiece with 'Working' at TLP Chuck Smith, guest director at Timber Lake Playhouse for the ... Craig Carnelia, Mary Rodgers and James Taylor, Lyrics by Stephen Schwartz, Micki Grant, Craig…Examiner
POSTED 6/21/12 - 11:30 P.M.
MT. CARROLL - "Working" is a stunning piece of work.
Chuck Smith, guest director at Timber Lake Playhouse for the 11th consecutive year, has weaved a masterpiece at the theater in the woods. This "Working" is not the big play but rather a six character piece that packs a powerful punch of emotion that makes you smile and then shed a tear or two.
hits home. It has to because we have all been in these situations or know people who are coping with the same ups and downs of this roller coaster we call living.
Examiner.com
Tim O'Brien/Chicago Celebrity Examiner
"Working" is a stunning piece of work.
Chuck Smith, guest director at Timber Lake Playhouse for the 11th consecutive year, has weaved a masterpiece at the theater in the woods. This "Working" is not the big play but rather a six character piece that packs a powerful punch of emotion that makes you smile and then shed a tear or two.
Along the way, it is a story of the American worker, and it is based on the Studs Terkel book. It is those stories that both enlighten and bring to life the six characters. So, this cast has their work cut out for them. If it doesn't work, it's on them. But it does work, on all levels. The stories, the costumes, the set and the music. It has it all and in fact, there is no point in the production when there is a letdown. Every song and story is poignant and makes sense on the level in which it is delivered. From the housewife to the waitress, to the fireman to the steel (mill) worker and to the phone operators to the cubicle workers. This is life and because of that, it hits home. It has to because we have all been in these situations or know people who are coping with the same ups and downs of this roller coaster we call living.
Advertisement Even though the songs are not as known as many other musicals, one of the songwriters is - James Taylor (his music played when entering and at intermission as well; a nice touch).
THE WORKERS
Each character blended this gem together and not one low spot throughout. So, here's an offering for each, since they played multiple parts.
John Chase - Dad. We all have stories and memories of dad. His voice was able to weave the stories and sadness together beautifully.
Judy Knudtson - the housewife that makes you feel for her plight, yet, she works, too.
Erica Stephan - something mesmerized me about her performance. Perhaps it was the eyes and voice combination.
Sharriese Hamilton - what a voice as well. She lets you in and you do not want to let go. Powerful performance.
Dryden Thomas Meints - one of the most consistently good actors around. He never lets an audience down.
Andrew Way - his was all about honesty in a performance. He took you to the fields and we felt the pain and sadness.
In all, you truly believed they were the characters they portrayed.
This is an unique musical where one need not know the songs by heart as it seems that the stories and the songs are really one and the same. Each Act came to a close with gusto with "If I Could've Been" and "Something To Point To." All the songs were great exclamation points to the stories that led up to them.
"Working" is simply spectacular, because it was not cluttered and it wasn't drawn out. It gave a precise message and it left you wanting more.
If one wants to get something else out of it, perhaps it is this. If you like your job, embrace it and be thankful you have it. Because, we all dream but face many roadblocks in life and those "If, Ands and Buts." Life stampedes along no matter what we have planned. If we do not watch out, it will be over before we know it.
It is now playing at Timber Lake Playhouse in Mt. Carroll and runs through June 30. Call TLP at (815) 244-2035 and get those tickets today.
* At the outset, Artistic Director James Beaudry noted "'Working' is a word of mouth play." Well, consider this your cue to get the word of mouth going. Go see this play.
* He is a resident director at the Goodman Theater in Chicago is Chuck Smith. He sat behind me during this opening night performance. At intermission, we talked and I noted how good it was, when it was over, I turned to him and said, "fantastic production." Then, I asked him to confirm again (James pushed for it in stage, too) if he would be back next summer, which would be his 12th. He said he would be. It is CONFIRMED.
ABOUT THE PLAY
JUNE 21-30. Based on Working by Studs Terkel; Book by Stephen Schwartz and Nina Faso; Music by Stephen Schwartz, Micki Grant, Craig Carnelia, Mary Rodgers and James Taylor, Lyrics by Stephen Schwartz, Micki Grant, Craig Carnelia and James Taylor and Susan Birkenhead.
The hopes, dreams, joys and concerns of the average working American are the focus of this unique, extraordinary musical. That the everyday lives of “common” men and women should be so compelling and moving will surprise and inspire anyone who has ever punched a time clock. Based on Studs Terkel’s best-selling book of interviews with American workers, Working paints a vivid portrait of the men and women the world so often takes for granted: the schoolteacher, the waitress, the mill worker, the mason, the trucker, the firefighter or the housewife. It’s an uplifting and highly original look at the American landscape that’s simply impossible to forget. RATED PG13 (Strong Language).
For more on Chicagoan Chuck Smith, head here.
For a Q&A with Smith, click here.
WSDR
O'Brien News Service
Director Chuck Smith weaves a masterpiece with 'Working' at TLP Chuck Smith, guest director at Timber Lake Playhouse for the ... Craig Carnelia, Mary Rodgers and James Taylor, Lyrics by Stephen Schwartz, Micki Grant, Craig…Examiner
POSTED 6/21/12 - 11:30 P.M.
MT. CARROLL - "Working" is a stunning piece of work.
Chuck Smith, guest director at Timber Lake Playhouse for the 11th consecutive year, has weaved a masterpiece at the theater in the woods. This "Working" is not the big play but rather a six character piece that packs a powerful punch of emotion that makes you smile and then shed a tear or two.
hits home. It has to because we have all been in these situations or know people who are coping with the same ups and downs of this roller coaster we call living.
Examiner.com
Tim O'Brien/Chicago Celebrity Examiner
"Working" is a stunning piece of work.
Chuck Smith, guest director at Timber Lake Playhouse for the 11th consecutive year, has weaved a masterpiece at the theater in the woods. This "Working" is not the big play but rather a six character piece that packs a powerful punch of emotion that makes you smile and then shed a tear or two.
Along the way, it is a story of the American worker, and it is based on the Studs Terkel book. It is those stories that both enlighten and bring to life the six characters. So, this cast has their work cut out for them. If it doesn't work, it's on them. But it does work, on all levels. The stories, the costumes, the set and the music. It has it all and in fact, there is no point in the production when there is a letdown. Every song and story is poignant and makes sense on the level in which it is delivered. From the housewife to the waitress, to the fireman to the steel (mill) worker and to the phone operators to the cubicle workers. This is life and because of that, it hits home. It has to because we have all been in these situations or know people who are coping with the same ups and downs of this roller coaster we call living.
Advertisement Even though the songs are not as known as many other musicals, one of the songwriters is - James Taylor (his music played when entering and at intermission as well; a nice touch).
THE WORKERS
Each character blended this gem together and not one low spot throughout. So, here's an offering for each, since they played multiple parts.
John Chase - Dad. We all have stories and memories of dad. His voice was able to weave the stories and sadness together beautifully.
Judy Knudtson - the housewife that makes you feel for her plight, yet, she works, too.
Erica Stephan - something mesmerized me about her performance. Perhaps it was the eyes and voice combination.
Sharriese Hamilton - what a voice as well. She lets you in and you do not want to let go. Powerful performance.
Dryden Thomas Meints - one of the most consistently good actors around. He never lets an audience down.
Andrew Way - his was all about honesty in a performance. He took you to the fields and we felt the pain and sadness.
In all, you truly believed they were the characters they portrayed.
This is an unique musical where one need not know the songs by heart as it seems that the stories and the songs are really one and the same. Each Act came to a close with gusto with "If I Could've Been" and "Something To Point To." All the songs were great exclamation points to the stories that led up to them.
"Working" is simply spectacular, because it was not cluttered and it wasn't drawn out. It gave a precise message and it left you wanting more.
If one wants to get something else out of it, perhaps it is this. If you like your job, embrace it and be thankful you have it. Because, we all dream but face many roadblocks in life and those "If, Ands and Buts." Life stampedes along no matter what we have planned. If we do not watch out, it will be over before we know it.
It is now playing at Timber Lake Playhouse in Mt. Carroll and runs through June 30. Call TLP at (815) 244-2035 and get those tickets today.
* At the outset, Artistic Director James Beaudry noted "'Working' is a word of mouth play." Well, consider this your cue to get the word of mouth going. Go see this play.
* He is a resident director at the Goodman Theater in Chicago is Chuck Smith. He sat behind me during this opening night performance. At intermission, we talked and I noted how good it was, when it was over, I turned to him and said, "fantastic production." Then, I asked him to confirm again (James pushed for it in stage, too) if he would be back next summer, which would be his 12th. He said he would be. It is CONFIRMED.
ABOUT THE PLAY
JUNE 21-30. Based on Working by Studs Terkel; Book by Stephen Schwartz and Nina Faso; Music by Stephen Schwartz, Micki Grant, Craig Carnelia, Mary Rodgers and James Taylor, Lyrics by Stephen Schwartz, Micki Grant, Craig Carnelia and James Taylor and Susan Birkenhead.
The hopes, dreams, joys and concerns of the average working American are the focus of this unique, extraordinary musical. That the everyday lives of “common” men and women should be so compelling and moving will surprise and inspire anyone who has ever punched a time clock. Based on Studs Terkel’s best-selling book of interviews with American workers, Working paints a vivid portrait of the men and women the world so often takes for granted: the schoolteacher, the waitress, the mill worker, the mason, the trucker, the firefighter or the housewife. It’s an uplifting and highly original look at the American landscape that’s simply impossible to forget. RATED PG13 (Strong Language).
For more on Chicagoan Chuck Smith, head here.
For a Q&A with Smith, click here.
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