Courtesy of Off The Wall
Off the Wall’s Artistic Director Dale Gutzman was inspired to stage Tennessee Williams’ Camino Real after seeing an “outrageous and controversial” version of it at Chicago’s Goodman Theatre that nearly caused riots back in 2012. “The production taught me just how powerful a voice theater can have in society,” says Gutzman. “The play has always divided audiences. Some have hated it with a passion and many have loved it. Some critics claim this is Williams’ greatest play.” This “dream play” includes a diverse array of characters, many of whom serve as metaphors for the problems and conditions of our own lives. The cast includes Milwaukee actors Marilyn White, Jeremy C. Welter, Claudio Parrone Jr. and Alexandra Bonesho.
“It is funny and tragic, lyrical and violent, epic and intimate all at the same time,” says Gutzman. “It takes place in a town where people are kept prisoner like birds in cages…birds who want to be free. Famous characters from literature have been dumped there to waste away, lingering forever on the edge of being forgotten. Williams is truly experimenting here with a new poetic form of theater. While there is a coherent story, an audience member must not question the logic of the setting or the circumstance, but instead, must let the ideas and feelings of the play wash over him. He must commit himself to and immerse himself in Williams’ words.”
Gutzman adds, “Williams is now called America’s Greatest Playwright and here is a political, racial, religious and philosophical play of his that is seldom done. Milwaukee will never see another production of this show in our lifetime.”
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Camino Real runs June 3-14 at 127 E. Wells St. Seating is limited. For tickets, call 414-484-8874 or visit offthewalltheatre.com.
Theatre Happenings:
■ Memories Dinner Theatre presents Katherine DiSavino’s Nana’s Naughty Knickers, a comedy about a New York grandma running an illegal boutique that sells handmade naughty knickers to senior citizens. Show runs June 2-17 at 1077 Lake Drive, Port Washington. For tickets, call 262-284-6850 or visit memoriesballroom.com.
■Neil Simon’s Plaza Suite comes to Sunset Playhouse’s Furlan Auditorium (800 Elm Grove Road) June 4-21. The piece takes audiences through the misadventures of three couples as they face crucial moments in their respective lives, all while in the world-famous Plaza Hotel. For tickets, call 262-782-4430 or visit sunsetplayhouse.com.
■A Coupla White Chicks Sitting Around Talking, by John Ford Noonan is a comedy about two women who eventually join forces against their erring husbands. This Root River Theatre Company show runs June 5-7 at Crowne Plaza Milwaukee Airport’s Aviation Theater, 6401 S. 13th St. For tickets, call 414-301-9246 or visit rootrivertheatre.com.
■Waukesha Civic Theatre (264 W. Main St.) brings to stage Father of the Bride, by Caroline Francke June 5-21. Based on Edward Streeter’s book of the same name, this father-daughter story shares the challenges of putting on a wedding and a father’s heartfelt love for his daughter through it all. For tickets, call 262-547-0708 or visit waukeshacivictheatre.org.
■Returning to Village Playhouse of Wauwatosa is its annual One-Act Play Festival for Wisconsin Playwrights, June 5-21. Now in its 30th year, this showcase intends to “give playwrights a means to see their work move from paper to stage.” The event takes place at Inspiration Studios, 1500 S. 73rd St. Tickets may be reserved without payment by emailing oneactfestival@villageplayhouse.org or calling 414-207-4879. To purchase tickets, visit villageplayhouse.org.
