(Front) Angela Bullard and Brad Armacost and (Back) Barb Wengerd and Kelly Cooper star in LEAVING IOWA, playing through December 31 at The Royal George Theatre, 1641 N. Halsted Street.
CHICAGO’S SMASH HIT COMEDY
LEAVING IOWA,
a play written by Tim Clue and Spike Manton.
Reviewed by Amy Rogowski
Leaving Iowa is a story that follows the Browning family along past family vacations through different remote locations in Iowa and surrounding states. Told in flashback format, the story takes the audience along many different years of interesting Browning family road trips as the son (Don) returns from Boston to Winterset, Iowa in order to find an appropriate location for his father’s final resting place a few years after his father’s death. This very touching and hilarious story about family road trips and relationships is highly recommended and is entertaining for the whole family.
The cast was warm and very lively. Each of the members of the Browning family captured what life was like in the rural regions of Iowa. The parents, especially the father, were extremely hilarious. The father gave the audience a good look into his intentions behind planning the unusual family road trips; he was constantly trying to make the trips unusual and unpredictable. The relationships between the two children were very reminiscent of anyone who has ever endured long car rides with a sibling. The additional cast members also provided great additions to the comedic tone of the performance. The writing was humorous, extremely heartfelt, and charming. It is unusual for an audience to go from laughter to tears and back again so quickly. The writers take the audience on the journey with this family and back through their own childhood. The music and sound effects also help to enhance the story, along with the hilarious slideshow that played before the performance began, highlighting many interesting facts about Iowa.
Leaving Iowa is a humorous story highlighting the love of family,
and all of the wonderful family memories that accompany childhood. This play has been extended until December 31st at the Royal George Theater.
"Highly Recommeded" OPJ
Chicago— Leaving Iowa, the hilarious and sentimental family comedy now in its eighth smash month, has been extended through December 31, 2006, at the Royal George Theatre, 1641 N. Halsted Street, Chicago. Audiences of all ages have identified with the “Browning family’s” pursuit for the perfect vacation. The hilarious comedy was created by Chicago radio hipster Spike Manton and Tim Clue, who also directs.
Leaving Iowa is about a journalist who returns home to Winterset, Iowa, to find the perfect spot to scatter his late father’s ashes. Along the way, he relives the summer vacations that he spent traveling with his family on their annual road trips in their station wagon. Filled with charm, this touching play celebrates the love of family and the open highway. Told in flashback, Leaving Iowa speaks to everyone who has ever endured a family car vacation to an uninteresting historical site when they would have preferred to be in the Wisconsin Dells.
Theatergoers identify with the funny memories that are recounted in this hit play: dad providing mileage updates; squabbling over which child would sit on the “hump”; trips with mom into the town’s Amish fest instead of much desired go-kart trips; the terror of passing slow-moving RVs and tractors on the highway; frequent bathroom stops to dad’s chagrin; and the mindless entertainment that makes the miles go quicker. The family-friendly show features an original musical score by Bruce Roper of the popular Chicago folk trio Sons of the Never Wrong.
The play has gotten rave reviews from critics and audiences alike: “A must see comedy,” said Dean Richards, of WGN TV and radio. “A heartfelt and hilarious snapshot of Americana,” raved Chris Jones of the Chicago Tribune. Hedy Weiss of the Chicago Sun-Times said, “Simultaneously hilarious and touching…highly recommended.”
The performance schedule for Leaving Iowa at the Royal George is Wednesdays at 2:00 p.m.; Thursdays and Fridays at 8:00 p.m.; Saturdays at 5:00 and 8:30 p.m.; and Sundays at 2:00 p.m. Leaving Iowa’s special holiday schedule includes added performances on November 24 at 3 p.m.; December 26 at 8 p.m.; December 27 at 8 p.m. Two special performances on December 31 at 6 p.m. and 9:30 p.m. will feature champagne and party favors following the show and the cost will be $60. Holiday shows have been cancelled on November 23, December 24, and the 2 p.m. matinee on December 31.
Tickets for Leaving Iowa are priced from $37 to $43 and are currently on-sale by phone at (312) 988-9000, at the Royal George box office, 1641 N. Halsted Street, or by visiting www.ticketmaster.com. $25 tickets are available for
children under 18. Discounts are available for groups of 15 or more by contacting Group Theater Tix at (312) 423-6612 or visiting www.grouptheatertix.com. Also available for groups of 15 or more is a dinner package for $19.95 including tax and gratuity. This homestyle Iowa feast includes a salad, country broasted chicken, dinner rolls, whipped mashed potatoes and gravy, corn
and a dessert package. For more information, please visit www.leavingiowa.com.
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© Oak Park Journal
published by Suburban Journals of Chicago Inc.
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