The program informs you that “You’re Invited” to the birthday celebration of Mrs. Suzanne Wellington on June 30, 1961. Mr. Beau Coutier and Mrs. Ellie Coutier are hosting the party at their home in Ashford, Georgia. The telephone rings. The caterers have been in a traffic accident. Heavens to Betsy! What shall we do? Leftover jello salad in the fridge can be repurposed! No need to panic, however, as the booze appears to be plentiful. Although Virginia Woolf has not been invited to this party, in Southern Gothic her spirit is alive and well.
When entering the theater at the Windy City Playhouse, as an invited guest you are entering the Coutier home. You sit on the perimeter (or stand) in the kitchen, living room, dining room, whatever suits your fancy. This is immersive theater and you are free to move around. The 28 audience members are silent but visible witnesses to the comings and goings of four couples who have scintillating melodrama bubbling close to the surface. Introduce alcohol and let’s find out who’s a thief, who’s a philanderer and who gets a dish best served cold.
The ingenious set design by Scott Davis is a remarkable time capsule. The kitchen in particular is classic formica and stainless steel 1950’s perfection. (I want to buy the table when the run is over.) As voyeurs, follow various parts of this story, some of which occur in different rooms simultaneously. You already surmise that our birthday girl gets sloppy drunk. She’s not alone. Everyone has significant personal dramas, some self-induced, some the product of living in the South during this era.
The skilled performances are impressively focused given that the audience is in such close proximity. Drinks are even handed out should you want to toast Mrs. Wellington. My pick for Best in Show would be the charmer politician Charles Lyon (played by an ideally cast Victor Holstein). Or maybe the slightly simple Beau Coutier (Michael McKeough)? Can’t forget his jittery wife Ellie (Sarah Grant). Never mind, all eight actors shine brightly (or vividly flame out in a supernova implosion) as needed. Written by Leslie Liautaud, Southern Gothic is a terrific entertainment given a memorable staging by director David H. Bell.