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Theater review
The People’s History of the United States
Quest Theatre Ensemble at Blue Theatre. By Andrew Park. Dir. Park. With ensemble cast.
FACE BOOK Quest walks us through some key moments.Photo: Jeremy LawsonQuest Theatre Ensemble’s latest spectacle is an inventive and altogether moving survey of 400 years of American history, from the Pilgrims to September 11. Eschewing straightforward narrative, political agendas and grand unifying theories, writer-director Park relies instead on the far more evocative methods of song, movement and puppetry.
Told in rough chronological order, each brief scene features a poignant or humorous vignette from the nation’s past, accompanied by a well-chosen piece of roots music. No mere grade-school pageant, the show’s power lies in its use of imagery that’s at once beautiful, haunting and continually surprising: A rousing patriotic number suddenly turns heartbreaking when interrupted by a trio of the dispossessed (a suffragette, a slave, a Native American); separate water fountains on a bare stage simply but forcefully suggest Jim Crow; a tap- dancing Chairman Mao heralds the Red Scare; a young victim of Hiroshima sings Pete Seeger’s “I Come and Stand at Every Door” as dozens of white origami cranes float in like angels.
With sad-faced papier-mâché puppets by Megan Hovany, outsize masks by Amanda Church and a refreshingly sincere cast, Quest combines a homemade aesthetic with great technical skill to create a night of theater both accessible and sophisticated, a celebration of America that doesn’t whitewash its flaws. Best of all, thanks to the company’s dedication to making theater available to everyone, the whole thing’s free.
Time Out Chicago / Issue 179 : Jul 31–Aug 6, 2008
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Saw The People's History and it's a very moving and also fun piece. Very few stones left unturned from a history standpoint, and the music certainly runs the gamut...the kazoo chorus in Feel-Like-I'm-Fixin'-to-Die-Rag perfectly captures the in-your-face wiseassism of that Vietnam protest song.
If you are interested in the twists and turns that played into women winning the vote, you will find "The Privilege of Voting" fascinating. I am the author of a new historical e-mail series that tells the sexy, shocking truth about the suffragettes in a fun, serialized short-story format featuring 2 presidential mistresses, Isadora Duncan, Edith Wharton and the most outspoken and beautiful suffragettes. This story is hot! Subscribe to receive free twice-weekly e-mails at www.CoffeebreakReaders.com
I see A LOT of theater. This show is remarkable. I saw it last weekend with my family. It kept the attention of my four year old daughter--and me at the same time. This show will split you with laughter in one scene, then suddenly silence the audience in the next cause the visual is so intense and finally well your eyes up a little. Seriously. See this show. I think I found a new favorite Chicago company. They could charge so much money. These guys are too good to be true.
Everyone should know about this company. Who else in Chicago is doing free theater that is GOOD and for everyone. GREAT company. GREAT show. GREAT review.
Credit where credit is due! This company has a heart like no other! Quest has continued to make theater accessible for everyone and Mr. Thompson, thank you for recognizing that!