The surprising intimacy of “Kubrickian” at The Factory Theater

Two dudes lost in space fight aliens and talk about movies

You don’t need to be an expert on Stanley Kubrick’s films to be able to follow Factory

Theater’s “Kubrickian.” But to fully appreciate the Kubrickian aesthetic it helps to be

familiar with the opening sequence of “2001: A Space Odyssey.” At the very least it will

explain the man in the gorilla suit I noticed tending concessions in the lobby. My theater

companion also pointed out the TV over the bar was showing Kubrick’s “Full Metal

Jacket.”

If films use a photographic, image-based medium to tell stories, playwright Zack Peersy

confidently uses the action and language-based medium of theater to explore the high-

stakes situation of three men trapped in a liminal space.

“Kubrickian” opens medias res. The men are under attack by an unseen creature in the

darkness. As the lights come up, we see them splayed out and independently taking

stock of their injuries. They appear to be marooned on a floating white plane with what

looks like one side of a white geodesic dome to their backs. There’s Chris, a

swaggering cinephile played by Taylor Mercado Owen, and Danny, a cautious,

unimaginative office drone played by Rio Soliz Ragazzone. A third man, Howard, played

by Ben Auxier, is a religious studies professor who is blessedly detached from the

horrors of the present.

Over an uninterrupted 90 minutes, Chris and Danny struggle with their physical and

psychological isolation. Between confrontations with the alien attacker, they discuss

sports, jobs, smartphones and Kubrick films. Some scenes pass in complete silent,

some with incredible verbosity. Some scenes are utterly still, and some frenetic with

movement. Within each, the men probe different methods of communicating and

connecting.

The play is not about Stanley Kubrick, but as Chris admits to Danny at one point, there’s

a surprising intimacy in showing someone your favorite movie. And what appears to be

just two dudes talking about Kubrick, their exchanges about the plots, shots and

implications of “The Shining” and “Full Metal Jacket” unlock a hidden trove of personal

information that begins to forge a genuine connection between them.

It’s an enticing and unpredictable play that leaves room for interpretation. What is the

nature of the alien creature beyond the wall that does violent damage to the men when

they face it alone? What does it take to free themselves from this dangerous and

uncertain limbo? I have my thoughts – but half of the fun is forming your own and

discussing it with others.

The production is solid all around, from the committed actors working up a sweat while

making their performances look effortless to the assured pacing and staging under

director AJ Schwartz. The design team creates a haunting minimalist aesthetic with

subtle, creepy changes to makeup, costumes, sound and the scenic backdrop that

would make Kubrick, a master of detail, proud.

Factory Theater has been producing original, ensemble-based theater in Chicago for 30

years – moving around the northside from their own space in the Loyola U

neighborhood to the Prop Thtr (now closed) in Avondale, to their current location on

Howard Street at the border of Chicago and Evanston. There is plenty of street parking

available outside, and a hospitable front of house staff inside – gorilla included.

“Kubrickian” proves why the company has lasting power, and I left the theater vowing to

see the work of this company on a more regular basis.

Due to popular demand, “Kubrickian” has been extended to March 28 at The Factory

Theater, 1623 W. Howard Street. For tickets and showtimes visit

https://thefactorytheater.com/.

Photo by Oomphotography

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