“You Will Get Sick” by Noah Diaz is quirky and unpredictable but follows a path that will become most familiar. It’s the perfect blend of drama, power and surprise that has made Steppenwolf Theatre the gem it has been for a generation in Chicago and, of course on Broadway as well, as the Tonys pile up!

Here is Paul’s conversation with the cast: the legendary actor Amy Morton (Tony Nominee for August Osage County and Who’s Afraid of Virginia Woolf), Namir Smallwood (Book Of Grace, True West and Bug), Cliff Chamberlain (The Minutes, Superior Donuts), Sadieh Rifai (The Humans, Ski Dubai), and Jordan Arredondo (making his Steppenwolf debut and seen recently in “In The Heights” at Marriott).

“You Will Get Sick” plays in the Downstairs Theatre in the Steppenwolf Theatre, through July 20th and tickets can be purchased at: www.Steppenwolf.org

REVIEW: “You Will Get Sick“

By

Paul Lisnek, Behind the Curtain, WGN+ and WGNRadio.com

****/4

They say there’s No Place Like Home…and Chicago….Amy Morton…has indeed come home, like a twirling tornado of energy, and thank goodness. She is a joy to watch.

“You Will get Sick” is quirky, yet familiar, unpredictable but follows a path that will become most familiar. It’s the perfect blend of drama, power and surprise that has made Steppenwolf Theatre the gem it has been for a generation in Chicago and of course on Broadway as well, as the Tonys pile up!

Namir Smallwood has been proving himself an invaluable Ensemble member with classic portrayals over the past several years, and when blended with the magical touch of Amy Morton we see this is a show with a brain….with heart…and with courage.

This vehicle is so perfect to bring Amy back home to the Steppenwolf stage on which she shines like the star she is…or perhaps like a rainbow…indeed a force powerful enough to fly over the rainbow in this production. Alas, I don’t want to give too much away.

Cliff Chamberlain demonstrates that he indeed has heart as he shifts from character to character playing humor with a bit of glorious absurdity…. in the best possible way….

It’s difficult to describe the plot of this show without giving much of its surprise away. Although I’m not sure playwright Noah Diaz would object to these leaks…he might say you are least guiding the audience…as the crow flies…and the direction is helpful. The connection to a classic becomes clear in time…well, you’ll fall like a pile of straw into laughter and wonder as the magic plays out and with a set in the final scene that make you feel like you’ve gone from black and white to glorious color!

Steppenwolf has done it again! This not to be missed production plays through July 20th… and tickets can be purchased at: www.Steppenwolf.org