Finding community in catastrophe

‘

We’re all going to die!’ is an oddly liberating mantra in these times. This is the mantra

suggested by a member of the group at the center of “Support Group for the End of the

World: A Dark Comedy about Death,” and adopted by the others as they reckon with the

massive meteor on a collision path with Earth.

This 90-minute ensemble piece, written and directed by Corn Productions’ Artistic

Director Justin Oliver Lance, uses this high-stakes premise, to explore how to go on

living, and find purpose and connection in the face of tragedy.

The program notes that Lance lost a brother after a short but intense battle with cancer

which led to a struggle with his own grief and mental health. Writing the play became a

way of processing his journey and a way to find laughter and healing in the process.

“Support Group” is set in a school classroom within a society that is unraveling as

humans worldwide prepare for an extinction event. The internet and cellular phone

towers are out, making communication impossible, except for a few radio stations still

broadcasting meteor news and random pop music.

Within the support group, some members hold out hope the meteor might be knocked

off path before collision, others find it hard to get out of bed in the morning, another

channels his anxiety into battling germs with a battery of cleaning products, and yet

another finds resourceful ways to bake treats with scavenged items.

The group’s regulars are committed to their weekly meetings. They include Ben (Tom

Cannan as an anxious germophobe), Mary/Marty (Lance stepped in for Mary Ferguson

the night I saw the show, as a severe depressive struggling to find purpose), Grace

(Deanna DeMay as a radically accepting, ritual-loving intuitive), Crissy ( T-Bixby, as a

blunt spoken but generous person learning to manage her anxiety). The group is led by

Alex (Gretchen Greear, a type A schoolteacher who needs the support group as much

as its members).

Rounding out the cast are Lucy (Jamie Link as an AA member learning to live one day

at a time through bowling), and Rae (Maddy Grady, a stranger who brings the group

alarming news that ultimately brings them closer together).

As if the impending meteor collision and the assortment of mental health challenges

weren’t enough to deal with, the classroom radio seems to be possessed. It powers on

and off randomly, blasting songs with eerily on-the-nose lyrics, which seem to echo

whatever is being discussed by the group.

The radio serves as a defacto member of the group, echoing sentiments expressed by

the members. Perhaps it can even send messages from loved ones who are not

present?

As a new play, it’s not perfect. Some characters, like Ben, Grace and Crissy are more

dynamic and fully developed than other characters, and it would be fun to see more of

the humorous moments pushed to unexpected extremes. But it deserves to be seen

and further developed for the way it playfully tackles existential issues like loss, grief,

anxiety, and isolation. It’s also a good example of the kind of ensemble theatre and

improv/sketch comedy-based work Chicago is known for.

Ultimately Lance’s play reminds us that small gestures, like noticing a flower, hearing a

favorite song on the radio, or just showing up for others – with or without treats to share

– are important everyday actions that can knit random people into a life sustaining and

life improving community.

And while community may not save us from death, it can make the remaining time we

have more enjoyable. Trash donut anyone?

Corn Productions’ “Support Group for the End of the World” runs June 5 to 28 at the

Cornservatory Theatre, 4210 N. Lincoln Avenue, Chicago. For tickets and more

information visit http://corn.tiny.us/support-group.

  For more reviews go to https://www.theatreinchicago.com