Evanston Salt Costs Rising a Tribute to Trades by First Floor

There’s a lot to like about First Floor Theater’s production of Evanston Salt Costs Climbing. The

acting is excellent. The standout performance was Dano Duran as Basil with his impeccable

comedic timing and wicked wit. He was given a lot to work with, and the gleam in his eye makes

perfect sense near the end of the play. Jacinda Radcliffe’s performance as Jane Jr. was natural

and nuanced. I saw her in The Love Object last year and much preferred her in this role because

her character had more depth. I wanted her dancing sequence to last much longer – it was

mesmerizing. Both Ashley Neal as Maiworm and Jelani West as Peter added intensity and

dedication to their roles. I felt their characters, as written, were a bit one note – through no

fault of the actors.

The staging was beautiful and the technical aspects of the show elevated the production. The

audio design and visuals, particularly the salt truck scenes, were arresting and otherworldly. My

partner works in the trades, and the salt truck scenes were his favorite. He remarked that he’s

never seen actual blue-collar work depicted in theater with such depth. Echoing some of Peter’s

lines in the play, these seemingly banal scenes were the most riveting. I had a visceral reaction

to them. My body temperature felt colder and it felt like I was in the scene with the actors.

My issues with the play lie solely in the writing. I loved the first scene. It was witty, absurd,

comedic, inventive, and this thread did carry throughout the show but I wanted to see so much

more of it. Playwright Will Arbury could consider trusting that his masterful incongruous writing

can introduce concepts as adeptly as specifics. The themes of mental illness and yearning for

connection were easily apparent within the absurdist scenes, while the subject of climate

change and the displacement of progress felt more heavy-handed as presented, sometimes

through expository. In fact, it seemed the main character of the play was not a character at all

but a concept: “anxiety about the future.” The actual characters often felt like devices to

explore the playwright’s main interest: progress in the abstract. As a result, I was not fully

invested in the character arcs. Sometimes I felt like I was observing their experiences as

opposed to being wrapped up in them.

The performance space at The Den is cozy and intimate. You’ll get to see the actors’ faces up

close, which is always a treat. Indulge in ube flavored gelato at Kurami Wicker Park, and

delicious food at Antique Taco before seeing the show for a thought-provoking night out.

Evanston Salt Cost Climbing is onstage at The Den Theatre, 1331 N Milwaukee Ave in Chicago,

through June 14 th . Tickets are currently available at thedentheatre.com or by calling (773) 697-