Fabrizio O. Almeida

As far as subject matters go, 9/11 pretty much remains dark, daunting and potentially divisive. But as evidenced by "Recent Tragic Events," playwright Craig Wright's theatrical response to America's darkest day making its Chicago premiere courtesy of Uma Productions, it can also be funny, illuminating and ultimately healing. The premise involves a blind date on September 12, 2001, that morphs into an impromptu evening of pizza and beer with neighbors and literary giant Joyce Carol Oates (represented by a sock puppet that works better than you could ever imagine). For anyone who congregated around the television set with friends, neighbors or ex-lovers, watched the numbing images of flesh and concrete collapsing and experienced that terrifying shift in thought from what one would do with life to what life would do to one, Wright's play about the human response to tragedy will strike deep in the soul. Director Mikhael Garver's unhurried and delicately observed production, boasting a strong ensemble and a naturalistic, slice-of-life environmental set that places the audience alongside the performers, make "Recent Tragic Events," literally and figuratively speaking, "event" theater. Not to be missed.

"Recent Tragic Events" plays at Chopin Theatre, 1543 West Division, (773)347-1375, through October 15th. (2005-09-27)

Also by Fabrizio O. Almeida

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