Drink Me, or the Strange Case of Alice Times Three
The problem is that Gail’s comedy, now receiving its local premiere from Seanachai Theatre Company under Kevin Theis’s direction, wavers between loving satirical homage to the various genres it apes, genuine murder mystery with sci-fi underpinnings, and quasi-feminist social commentary. That Drink Me works as well as it does is more a testament to Theis and his cunning cast than to Gail’s script.
Best of Chicago voting is live now. Vote for your favorites »
However, Gail wants both comic distance and convincing dysfunctions that have an emotional impact. When Gussie talks about her childhood rape with her son, she also comments, “You can’t see a play without some vulgar revelation.” Inevitably the audience laughs. But Gail certainly deserves points for trying to look at well-worn issues in new ways. In fairness, I can’t think of any playwright outside of the Theater Oobleck cadre who might successfully combine the wildly disparate themes and influences she’s introduced here.
