On January 31st, 2019, I saw the World Premiere Production of the Christina Anderson play "How to Catch Creation" at the Albert Theatre of the Goodman Theatre Center. The production ran from January 19th through February 24th, 2019. The production starred Keith Randolph Smith, Maya Vinice Prentiss, Bernard Gilbert, Jasmine Bracey, Ayanna Bria Bakari, and Karen Aldridge. I saw "How To Catch Creation" at the end of the 2019 Polar Vortex. The coldest temperature Chicago had seen since 1985 during the vortex was recorded on January 30th. The lowest temperature that day was was -23°F. I purchased a ticket for "How to Catch Creation" on January 29th in person at the Goodman Theatre box office. Luckily, by January 31st, the temperature had risen enough for it to be safe to go outside (relatively speaking).
This production of "How to Catch Creation" featured a set by Todd Rosenthal and was directed by Niegel Smith. The set featured two turntables that would stop at various angles throughout the show, aligning in such a way to present a new scene. Part of the subject matter involved same-sex selationships in both the 1960's and in the present. In the 1960's, it was between a young writer and her girlfriend. In the current times, I think the relationship was between a professor and a student, but I don't remember for sure. I remember one or two times where a character would go out of her way to say what year it was. Other characters include an aloof and oblivious male artist the student is dating, and the professor's male friend who wants to be a parent (and who I think was gay).
Seeing shows at the Goodman Theatre Center is a great way to see World Premieres, American Premieres, Midwest Premieres, and Chicago Premieres for a reasonable ticket price. The ticket prices for the Albert Theatre are slightly more expensive than those of the Owen Theatre. I cannot remember the ticket price for "How to Catch Creation," but if was well under fifty bucks. I think it was this show where there were a lot of empty seats around me in the mezzanine section. The theatre company might have been issuing refunds because of the weather. Whether that was the case or not, I really enjoyed the show.
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| Ayanna Bria Bakari and Jasmine Bracey in "How to Catch Creation." (Photo by Liz Lauren) |
If it were up to me to write scenes involving gay relationships in the sixties, I would have the characters say what year it was too. "Come on. It's 1966. Let's go shop for lava lamps!" Then the characters would suddenly start dancing like in the Adam West "Batman" TV series from that time period. Except for Mt show, I would have the turntables move, so when the characters came back around, they would be holding a sales receipt and a lava lamp. At that point they would look at each other, look down at the objects they clutch, then back at eachother. After laughing and switching objects, they would start rowing in an imaginary canoe, which obviously symbolizes the act of lesbian lovemaking.
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