Playwright: Stephen Karam. At: American Theater Company, 1909 W. Byron St. Tickets: 773-409-4125 or www.atcweb.org; $38-$48. Runs through Dec. 21
With so many people recoiling from recent holidays spent with the family, American Theater Company is making a big ask for audiences to spend time experiencing another family's fraught Thanksgiving gathering in the world premiere of Stephen Karam's The Humans.
But this voyeuristic view into the lives of the troubled Blake family is definitely beguiling thanks to such a well-acted production under the direction of PJ Paparelli. The Humans is also a must-see production, since it has already been announced that New York's Roundabout Theatre Company has scheduled the show to play off-Broadway next season.
Much like his Pulitzer Prize-nominated Sons of the Prophet, Karam once again explores the frailties and unfair disparities handed out to peoplebe it from aging, disease or unwise personal choices. But in The Humans, this is all condensed down in real time to the Blake family's visit from Scranton, Pennsylvania, to the youngest daughter's rundown, two-level Chinatown apartment in New York ( realistically conveyed to show patched-up damage from Hurricane Sandy by set designer David Ferguson )..
Father Erik ( Keith Kupferer ) doesn't conceal his disdain too well for the shabby new surroundings for his daughter, Brigid ( Kelly O'Sullivan ), or toward the age disparity with her much older boyfriend, Richard ( Lance Baker ). But then Brigid herself isn't above rolling her eyes at the middlebrow likes and religious spouting of her mother, Deirdre ( Hanna Dworkin ). Deirdre is also on edge, since she has decided that a shocking revelation will be announced at some point during this family gathering.
There's also plenty of unhappiness due to health issues afflicting the family. Grandmother Fiona "Momo"( Jean Moran ) needs constant care since due to Alzheimer's Disease, while lesbian banker daughter Aimee ( Sadieh Rifal ) is sure that her colitis problems helped to contribute to her painful breakup with her longtime partner, Carol, and her impending job loss.
In The Humans, Karam expertly touches upon issues of class, faith and the parental fear that their children won't have better lives despite all the hard work and sacrifices they've made. Karam's framing of the piece in an unfamiliar apartment also allows for plenty of eavesdropping, allowing various members of the Blake family to get painfully unvarnished views from their loved ones.
The Humans keeps its audience rapt by being keenly attuned to every character's actions and reactionsespecially to all the menacing and worrying noises ( a very effective sound design by Patrick Bley ) that punctuate the family gathering.
So even if some of Karam's insights in The Humans may cut too close to the bone based upon what might be happening personally in your own life, it's still a very worthwhile and enriching time out in the theater.