Thu. November 10, 2005
By John Olson
after the quake
Steppenwolf Upstairs Theatre
There may be no deeper, no more fundamental question in life than asking the extent to which we have the ability to ensure our own survival. Can we save ourselves through our own good and wise choices, our courage or even through gaining the protection of those more powerful? Life becomes frightening or even pointless without the belief that we generally have some control over our well-being. Can anything be more devastating than the realization that acts of God or pure randomness can end life? The 1995 Kobe earthquake inspired Murakami to write after the quake a collection of six short stories all dealing with the aftermath of that disaster. For this stage adaptation, Frank Galati has cleverly woven two of the stories, “honey bear” and “super-frog saves tokyo” into a concise one-act meditation on human powerlessness.
The back story of “honey bear” - which follows the meeting of Junpei, Sayoko and Takatsuki at college through the courtship, marriage and divorce of Sayoko and Takatsuki - is interspersed with “super-frog saves tokyo.” Junpei narrates the “super-frog” story in which an under-recognized loan officer named Katagiri (Pang) is chosen by a giant frog (named simply “Frog” and played by Keong Sim)to help him fight a giant worm (named “Worm”) that is threatening Tokyo from beneath the city. Katagiri is never entirely certain if Frog is a dream, though Frog assures him he is not and in the end Katagiri is not even sure if he in fact helped to save Tokyo. As Katagiri is drawn into heroism by Frog, Junpei is finally able to win Sayoko, at least partially overcoming his feelings of worthlessness. He vows to protect Sayoko and Sala and it appears they will begin a life as a family.
after the quake will run through February 19, 2006. Curtain times are Tuesday through Sunday at 7:30 p.m., and Saturday and Sunday matinees at 3 p.m. There will be Wednesday matinees on January 18 and 25, February 1, 8, and 15, 2006 at 2 p.m. There will be no Sunday evening performances January 22, 29, February 5,12 and 19. Additionally, there will be no performances on November 24, December 24 and 25, 2005; or on January 1, 2006. Tickets are $20 - $60 and can be ordered online at www.steppenwolf.org, by phone at 312-335-1650 or at the box office. Steppenwolf is at 1650 N. Halsted, Chicago.
Photo: Kayla Tucker and Hanson Tse in after the quake by Michael Brosilow
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