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Head of Passes

(steppenwolf.org)

(steppenwolf.org)

WHAT: Head of Passes
WHEN: April 4 – June 9, 2013 (schedule)
WHERE: 1650 N. Halsted Ave.
RUN TIME: 2 hours with a ten-minute intermission
WHO: Steppenwolf Theatre Company
PRICE: $15-$78

OUR RATING: Do it!

(Photo by Michael Brosilow)

(Photo by Michael Brosilow)

As is traditional, Steppenwolf Theatre Company continues to churn out a plethora of plays that one can classify as “living room dramas;” in other words most, if not all the action takes place in the homes of the characters, and that home becomes a central character in itself. Indeed, the house is one of the main protagonists in ensemble member Tarell Alvin McCraney’s newest work, set in the Louisiana marshes and brimming with superb oceanic symbolism. The home has a sense of fallen grandeur about it, as its dilapidation turns to ruin, much in the same way we see the decline and fall of the matriarch residing within.

(Photo by Michael Brosilow)

(Photo by Michael Brosilow)

Head of Passes, said by McCraney to be loosely inspired by the Book of Job, charts the course of dying Shelah (Cheryl Lynn Bruce), as she is swept up in the surprise festivities for her birthday, thrown by her adult children. Her life seems to be defined by only pain and devotion to God, one begetting the other, although it seems clear that the question of which came first weighs heavy on Shelah’s mind. Bruce’s depiction is solid and captivating, even if some of the scripting is rather long.

(Photo by Michael Brosilow)

(Photo by Michael Brosilow)

Similarly captivating is actor Chris Boykin, playing the Angel in Act 1 and a construction worker in Act 2. His charisma floods the stage and the parallel between his two characters is riveting and forceful. Our only complaint is director Tina Landau’s ignorance towards the house right audience in regards to staging Boykin, who is turned away from this audience for most of Act 1, leaving them in the dark in regards to many important physical gestures he displays.

(Photo by Michael Brosilow)

(Photo by Michael Brosilow)

Perhaps most powerfully, Scenic Designer David Gallo and Scenic Design Consultant Collette Pollard conjure up Mother Nature in their fantastically magical set design. You can feel the creaks and dampness of the Head of Passes and the ongoing storm outside the house is brought inside with great ferocity. Beginning with a few drips of water on stage, the set is catapulted by winds and rain, ending with the house subsiding chaotically at the end of Act 1. A true feat of engineering, and a wonder to watch.

(Photo by Michael Brosilow)

(Photo by Michael Brosilow)

Scott Zielinski’s lighting design dances hand-in-hand with the scenic design, and one can feel the power of the storm and the magic of what happens on stage with his strings of lights, extreme side-lighting, and the beautiful shadows cast within the home as Mother Nature shifts and does her work. Unfortunately, one is slightly distracted by Michael Bodeen and Rob Milburn’s sound design through it all, as the sound doesn’t seem real but rather far-off and full of static. Perhaps this was an artistic choice, but it’s far too dissonant for our liking.

(Photo by Michael Brosilow)

(Photo by Michael Brosilow)

Ultimately, this world premiere of Head of Passes takes its audience on one heck of a roller-coaster, and leaves us pondering our life choices and convictions and allows us to contemplate how we define our family and our idea of home. Tragedy is an unfortunate yet exceedingly human element to every life. How one deals with it defines their character, whether they be resilient, avoidant, vengeful or forgiving. McCraney’s exploration of these ideas enhances our appreciation for the high complexity of everyday life and how we too must all face tragedy.

Insomnia Cookies

WHAT: Insomnia Cookies
WHERE: 2260 N. Lincoln Ave.

OUR RATING: Chance It!

Just as the name suggests, Insomnia Cookies are for those die-hard students up studying until the small hours who just need a quick sugar fix. Complete with a cute logo and accessible location near DePaul, Insomnia Cookies looks like it’s set to thrive, just so long as students continue to want cookies. And who doesn’t like cookies?

Adam: Insomnia Cookies is one of the most student-centric ideas I’ve seen for a long time. For those of us who attended university in the last five to ten years, the necessity to have a quick on-campus snack while furiously finishing a paper in the dead of night will be a familiar memory. At my college, we only had a few late night venues open, but I can remember frequenting a certain market more often than not, while trying to put off writing those last few paragraphs on Roman military formations for just a little longer. This particular strategy probably didn’t do much for my health, but at least the paper was finished and I now know the difference between a double envelopment and an encirclement.

Insomnia has a good variety of basic cookies, including chocolate, oatmeal raisin and simple sugar. But I’m a chocolate guy, so I immediately picked up one of their regular sized double chocolate mint cookies. With the addition of mint chocolate chunks, unsurprisingly in green, I didn’t regret the fact I had missed the Shamrock Shake this year, as Insomnia’s cookie was more than making up for it. I also tried the M&M variety, which provided a greater amount of sumptuous chocolate with every mouthful than even the previous cookie. Served warm and in an individual wrapping, these are darn good cookies, but I can’t help wondering if at $1.25 some savvy college entrepreneur might outcompete them. We’ll just have to wait and see, but for now if you’re roaming the streets late at night looking for a fix, Insomnia’s the way to go.

Alicia: With more than 30 locations, this Lincoln Park satellite is the first to hit the city, but I wouldn’t be surprised if some others sprout up in the Loop and even in Hyde Park and Evanston. Honestly, it’s not that Insomnia Cookies’ cookies are that special. I’d rather head to a local baked goods shop and pick up my sugar fix there, but with Insomnia Cookies’ convenience (they deliver!) and late hours (delivery goes all the way until 3am), this is a college student’s version of Willy Wonka’s chocolate factory.

I’ve tried three flavors at this chain, including Double Chocolate Chunk, Peanut Butter and White Chocolate Macademia. All three were incredible. The key is not which cookie to choose, but to eating it as soon as you get it. The chocolate in the double chocolate chunk oozes devilish goodness, the peanut butter chips seep into the peanut butter batter, and the toasty macadamia nuts and melty white chocolate chips contrast in texture and sweet and savory glory. So as long as you don’t wait too long to gnash on these guys, they’re pretty darn yummy.

Other offerings on hand are deluxe cookies, including s’mores, cookie cakes, ice cream, and what will be next on my docket: cookiewich (ie. ice cream sandwich). Oh, and not to worry – they also provide skim, 2% and chocolate milk (but unfortunately no soy).

Final Thoughts: If you’re in the mood for a late night nibble but can’t leave your dorm/apartment/library because you’re knee deep in work, and your favorite local bakery isn’t open to satisfy your needs (and McDonalds just won’t cut it), all you need to do is dial a few numbers and some fresh baked cookies will be delivered straight to your door. This is also, obviously, the perfect solution on Christmas Eve night when you’ve discovered you forgot to leave out cookies for Santa…

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