War of the Worlds and World Premieres

Happy Friday, Everyone!

Now that it’s been almost a month since I started this newsletter, it seems word may be getting out. I have more varied A&E news to share with everyone! Please continue sending press releases my way so we can get the word out about everything this vibrant city has to offer.

That said, if anyone has any feature ideas or shows/events to cover, please also drop me a line! Not every week needs to be a review week—and there’s no reason we can’t have two big stories to kick off the newsletter!

As always, thank you for reading. It means the world to me.

In Gratitude,

Amanda

Will Science Win the Day?

“Take a science class!” The scientists beg throughout the world premiere adaptation of H.G. Wells’ War of the Worlds at Lifeline Theatre. As tentacled alien life forms overtake the world, two enemies emerge: the literal aliens and anti-intellectualism. That leaves the not-so-merry band known as The Society, led by Professor Ogilvy (Anthony Kayer), to take them on alone—at least at first. In this Chicagoland set adaptation by Lifeline ensemble member John Hildreth, the world writ large doesn’t want to deal with scientists telling them what to do, let alone explaining anything scientific, which makes fighting aliens a whole lot harder.

That’s how this multi-character ensemble gets stuck begging for validation from both sides of the aisle, as many play both scientists and folks who decry them. It’s a conundrum I’m not sure Wells would have anticipated nearly 130 years after his novel was published. Or, perhaps, he knew this is where we were headed even then. In a post-2020 world, that dismissal of experts feels all too prescient.

But as easy as it might be to slip slowly into an all-too-familiar bog of cultural solipsism, you won’t have a chance. Because this production, directed by ensemble member Heather Currie, leans hard into the humor we’d find in B-grade science fiction movies. You know, the kind with clunky robot costumes and tinny audio quality. The classics.

This is most evident through the artificial life form, Assistant Professor Whitehurst (Amanda Link). Her inquisitive nature, barging in with a factoid, and eventual “boop” to signify the end of an interaction were too charming for words. Frankly, I hope our eventual AI overlords at least have her demeanor.

As someone who isn’t much of a Sci-Fi fan, this comedic bent takes the show to a whole new world for me. From the numerous set pieces turned tentacle to Nicholas Quinn’s projection work, War of the Worlds revels in the absurdity. Though the best effect time and time again is the electrifying light beams designed by Sarah Riffle. While some of the show's repeated schtick became too repetitive, the colorful beams were a delight.

Here’s the thing. We aren’t actually living in 1938 anymore (contrary to how some politicos would like us to believe), folks aren’t going to go into a panic if they hear someone reciting War of the Worlds on the radio or Instagram. Yet we are stuck in a time when a deep mistrust of science and experts runs rampant. This production reminds us that nothing good can come from complacency.

Even the opening of Wells’ novel warns us of the dangers of “infinite complacency”:

War of the Worlds at Lifeline Theatre, 6912 N Glenwood Ave, Chicago, lifelinetheatre.com. Now through July 13th.