The Flick Chicago

[ChiTheaterFan]

Posted: 2/6/16 at 9:09pm

I believe The Flick has now started at Steppenwolf. Is anyone here in Chicago planning to see it?  I'm on the fence. Steppenwolf usually has great performances but I've only seen one show in the upstairs theater and I wasn't a fan. So I'm not sure they get the same caliber casts for those smaller shows?  (Not to cast aspersions on the actors in the Flick... I am on my phone and actually can't even find a cast list for some reason so I don't even know who's in it.)  At any rate it's a long show and if it ends up not being good I'd rather save my 3 hours. From what I heard about the show t sounds like it will depend largely on the performances. So if anyone sees it I'd be interested to know your thoughts. 

[KJisgroovy]

Posted: 2/6/16 at 9:52pm

The caliber of casts for the Upstairs Theater is exactly the same as the caliber of casts they get for the Downstairs Theater.  Tracy Letts, Frances Guinan, William Peterson, Alana Arenas, Sally Muprhy, John Mahoney, Amy Morton, Rondi Reed, Jeff Perry, and K. Todd Freeman have all performed in plays Upstairs... and that's just listing ensemble members. 

That said, this cast is not particularly impressive. 

[ChiTheaterFan]

Posted: 2/7/16 at 1:08am

Thanks. Like I said I've only seen one production upstairs and the cast wasn't impressive, but I haven't followed the theater that closely and have seen only great casts downstairs. I finally found the cast list and am not familiar with them. (I'm not exactly familiar with the local theater scene, though...). I guess I'll wait to hear some reviews before deciding whether it's worth investing the three hours.

 

I do want to see more shows at Steppenwolf. The Herd struck a chord with me and was one of my favorite shows last year (in which I saw more shows than I've seen in any year ever). 

[KJisgroovy]

Posted: 2/7/16 at 1:53am

Danny McCarthy and Travis Turner have turned in really terrific performances and really mediocre performances. If you're interested in seeing the play I don't think they'd ruin it for you. 

Caroline Neff is absolutely one of the most exciting young actresses working in Chicago. I'm selfishly glad she wasn't gobbled up by Broadway while recently staring in Airline Highway.

Just based on the cast, it's hard to imagine this being wham-bam amazing... but I also can't imagine it being worse than "that was pretty good." 

 

 

[LarryD2]

Posted: 2/7/16 at 7:50am

Just based on the cast, it's hard to imagine this being wham-bam amazing... but I also can't imagine it being worse than "that was pretty good." 

 

What an odd comment. A production that features someone you call "one of the most exciting young actresses in Chicago" and two actors you say have turned in really terrific performances probably won't be amazing? 

[KJisgroovy]

Posted: 2/7/16 at 10:28am

I don't think it's an odd comment at all... but since it's fun to discuss things on the internet I will explain. 

 

I've avoided reading the play because I'm looking forward to this production, so I have no sense as to the kind of role Caroline Neff has. If the play is carried on her shoulders, then it'll probably be a not to be missed situation. As I have not read much talk about the actress in the off-broadway production (just general praise for the play and the ensemble), I made the assumption (perhaps foolishly!) that it wasn't a role for the ages. 

 

There's a fourth actor in the play who is routinely terrible. Not so terrible that they'd ruin the play, but terrible enough that the play will likely be kept grounded when it should blast off into the stratosphere. I was trying to maintain a generally positive tone, so I didn't mention this fourth performer in my post. Additionally, I mentioned the two other performers have the potential to be terrific but they are often not. 

 

Updated On: 2/7/16 at 10:28 AM

[Mister Matt]

Posted: 2/7/16 at 1:07pm

Steppenwolf and Goodman are both pretty much 50/50 hit-or-miss in their productions.  And given how reviews are generally unreliable and meaningless from the main critics, it will always be a crap shoot unless you get an opinion from someone who shares your tastes and has seen it.  I remember seeing good productions of We All Went Down to Amsterdam and Time Stands Still upstairs at Steppenwolf as well as one of the worst shows I've ever seen, The Designated Mourner.  I'm mildly interested in seeing The Flick, but not as much as I want to see 2666 at Goodman.  I will say that Caroline Neff is enough to make me want to see The Flick,  She is indeed one of the most exciting actresses I've seen in Chicago.

[ChiTheaterFan]

Posted: 2/7/16 at 1:43pm

Thanks for all the thoughts! Given the comments regarding Caroline Neff, I'll probably check it out. I always like to see great local performers on the rise, so even if the show isn't great, if she's one of Chicago's best young actresses, I'd like to check her out. 

[mpd4165]

Posted: 2/7/16 at 2:32pm

I'm attending this afternoon and have been really looking forward to this. Steppenwolf has been VERY up and down with me (Loved Clybourne Park, was meh about their Tribes, LOATHED The Wheel)...so it's always a crapshoot no matter what I see. 

[lotiloti]

Posted: 2/7/16 at 3:31pm

Whilst the play is long, I found it amusing, sad and ultimately tragic. For those unaware, of the demise of the projectionist. Imagine whatever you do for a living. Then imagine how it might feel when that job disappears, across the world in the space of 3 or 4 years. This was the reality of thousands of projectionists around the world. While digitalisation was a great technological advancement. It destroyed the lives of many talented people and sadly, almost no one noticed.