Goodman's TEDDY FERRARA Opens Up Needed Dialogue

Teddy Ferrara, a new play by Christopher Shinn having its world premiere at the Owen Theatre in the Goodman, is a perplexing work on several levels. Loosely based on the Tyler Clementi suicide a few years back, Shinn's drama weaves its way through the complex socio-political climate of our higher institutions of learning. LGBTQ acceptance, as well as other ethical issues are explored, examined and debated by students and administrators alike, with each character allowed their own voice in a very complex environment.

Shinn's script revolves around Gabe (Liam Benzvi), a college senior who is head of the university's struggling queer student's group. Gabe's boyfriend Drew (Adam Posh) is editor of the student newspaper who blindsides his colleagues and the university hierarchy by outing a suicide victim who jumped off the library roof the prior year. This sets in motion a myriad of plot points including the newspaper editor's journalistic integrity; the University President's (Patrick Clear) run for Senator and the implications the suicide will have on his campaign, the different agendas of LGBTQ students and faculty; a copy cat suicide and the testing of old friendships.

With all this going on, much of the dynamic of Shinn's intent could easily get lost in the quagmire. Luckily, director Evan Cabnet has brought together a phenomenal cast that keeps their wits about them allowing Shinn's confused script to be more focused than it appears on paper.

Mr. Benzvi's Gabe holds this production on his young shoulders. He is truthful, moving and natural in his portrayal, running through a gamut of emotions that even the most polished of actors would find difficult. So too is stalwart Patrick Clear as the University President who innately knows the right balance of comic delivery combined with political vitriol. Intermixed is an ensemble who deeply cares about this production and the message it is attempting to send. Ryan Heindl is a very effective Teddy (who I would advise to choose Grindr or Scruff rather than Manhunt for his trists); Josh Salt terrifically walks a fine line as Gabe's best friend who is not quite the person he seems; Adam Poss' Drew nicely manipulates his prey like a gay J.R. Ewing; and the always sensational Janet Ulrich Brooks (my pick for best performance last year in Timeline's 33 Variations) makes the most of her Provost, whose knowing gaze says more than most others' dialogue.

What is most concerning about Teddy Ferrara is that Mr. Shinn, who is one our most prolific new playwrights, all too often resorts to preaching his point of view rather than having the story evolve to tell his vision. But the most disappointing factor is that after being invested in these characters for almost three hours, the play's climatic events (so to speak)are done off stage and left to a speech by another character. For the playwright, this inaction is disingenuous to do to Gabe's character and the actor playing him, who is more than up to the task to show the audiences the consequences of his actions.

As this is a new work, and an important one at that, it is my hope that these issues will be addressed and that Teddy Ferrara be able to create the important dialogue Mr. Shinn intends for this intriguing play.

Teddy Ferrara runs through March 3, 2013 in the Owen Theatre at the Goodman, 170 N. Dearborn St., Chicago. For more information, please visit http://www.goodmantheatre.org/Teddy For calendar information please visit www.TheatreInChicago.com