ASHLAND AVENUE
Photos by: Todd Rosenberg
The Goodman Theatre is celebrating its Centennial Season, and they have chosen the perfect production to kick it off. Ashland Avenue is a story that is so relevant to many audience members of all ages.
Pete is an older gentleman who has owned a local Chicago (even though this storyline would fit in any city) television shop on Ashland Avenue for many years. At one time, he had several stores all over the city, but with the passage of time and the rise of online shopping, he is now down to the original shop on Ashland Avenue. His daughter Sam has been by his side, running the stores, and now she and her husband Mike are planning to move to LA. She thinks he should close the store. Pete also has a young woman and her two children living with him. There is a gray area on whether she is romantically involved with him or if he is just giving her a place to stay and is like a grandfather to her kids. Jess is also planning to leave and go back to the father of her children.
Francis Guinan, in the role of Pete, is warm with a splash of humor, a dash of hope, a lot of love for his family and shop, and a pinch of fear of what is going to happen next when everyone leaves.
Jenna Fisher brings us Sam as someone who has supported the family in helping to run the stores, looking after her dad, but putting the freedom of pursuing her dreams to the side. She is trapped fulfilling the legacy of the family store that is dying in these times. She wants to go to LA with her husband, Mike, to write a book. Is she turning her back on her Dad and everything he has worked for, or is it time for her to step out and do what she wants?
I had the opportunity to speak with Francis about the show. I asked him if he was in the audience viewing the play, what his thoughts would be. He explained,
“Everything comes to an end, and your knee starts going out on you, and you start to forget things, and you wonder, ‘Well, how do I hang on to all of this?” How does he hang onto his relationship with his daughter, Pete, so to speak, Pete and Sam? And how do you be what you’ve always been when you can’t be that anymore? You can’t be the father who constantly looks after his daughter or bullies her, as the case may be, and just what comes next. And that’s the interesting thing. The implication is that there is life after the curtain goes down. I think there’s a very strong indication of that. I mean, a lot of plays, you just, “Oh, well, happy ending or sad ending, and off we go.” But you realize that these people all have lives that have to be straightened out. I mean, there’s, oddly enough, no real resolution to their lives. It’s something that must; they have to go on and live it now.”
It’s just the way I viewed the show from my seat and the thoughts that ran through my mind while laughing at the same time. Ashland Avenue has so much room for laughter as well as being thought-provoking.
I can’t complete this review without giving big props to Kevin Depinet for his amazing set design. It is a major character in the play. It is beautiful down and so realistic.
Ashland Avenue receives 4 out of 5 winks of the EYE! It is an enjoyable evening at the theatre.
Until next time, keep your EYE to the sky.