Is Museum an absurdist comedy of manners? A panoply of urban stereotypes? A commentary about the role art and work play in our lives? Yes, yes and yes.
The play takes place in a gallery of a museum of modern art in an unknown city. It’s the last day of the show, titled “The Broken Silence,” which displays the work of three famous and fictionalized artists. The three types of art displayed are all very different: life-sized figures of neon colors hanging from a clothesline; sculptures resting on tables and pedestals; all-white textured paintings hanging on the walls. There is a guard in the room.
Throughout the day, 40 people visit the gallery and interact with the art, the guard and one another. We, the audience, observe this comedy of manners and marvel how varied people and their reactions are. They are funny, irritating, silly and crazy; it’s an absurdist hodgepodge of what it means to be human.
The large cast of eighteen undergraduate and MFA students handles the material well. Several actors portray as many as four characters during the 95-minute show. Each one is convincing. Unfortunately, the dialogue rarely identifies the characters by name or description. While it’s difficult to identify standouts by name, there are two exceptions.
Kyle Ringley as The Guard is on stage for nearly the entire time. He swerves, paces, jumps, saunters and hunts like a grumpy Gumby in a bad uniform. He dances alarmingly well. He’s lonely, power hungry, seductive, sensual, flirtatious, a strident rule follower and willing bad boy in quick succession. He’s protective of the art, but doesn’t share what he thinks about it, which is too bad.
Another highlight is Lori Navarrete. She plays several key roles, namely the French woman and the museum curator. She is fearless on stage with a commanding presence and captivating to watch.
Kathryn Walsh directed the show. In the Director’s Note, she writes, “Our search for meaning is a great leveler….Art reminds us that we aren’t alone in wondering, in desiring, or in wanting to believe.”
Tina Howe, an award-winning American playwright, wrote the show in 1976. Howe, who died in 2023, had a long and successful career as a teacher and absurdist playwright.
The expansive and functional set provides a blank canvas for the parade of colorful characters who flounce about and wander in and out. The characters are colorful in both outlandish behaviors and costumes.
Let’s talk about the costumes, which are fabulous, almost another character in the play. Josie Everett did a sensational job selecting each item to perfectly capture the 1970s vibe and who these people are. Wigs, makeup, clothes, accessories and shoes telegraph from 100 feet away so much about each individual. These outfits give the actors power and direction for how they portray their roles.
Museum will be on stage at the Virginia Wadsworth Wirtz Center for the Performing Arts, Josephine Louis Theater, 20 Circle Drive, Evanston Campus from Feb. 13-16. Showtimes are 7:30 p.m. except for Sunday, when it starts at 2 p.m. Purchase tickets at wirtz.northwestern.edu. Prices vary based on student status. Audience advisory: strong language, mentions of gun violence, flickering/flashing lights. Recommended for ages 14 and up. 95 minutes without an intermission.
Note: The photographer was misidentified initially; it is Jonathan Kirn. The RoundTable regrets the error.
Theater review: NU’s absurdist comedy ‘Museum’ features several standout performances is from Evanston RoundTable, Evanston's most trusted source for unbiased, in-depth journalism.