Next Theatre's End Days Is A (Slightly Saccharine) Good Time

By Julienne Bilker in Arts & Entertainment on Nov 13, 2009 4:20PM

At the center of End Days is the Stein family. There’s Sylvia (a neurotic mother who, despite her Jewish upbringing, has recently found Jesus and Evangelism), her husband Arthur (a former corporate bigwig who lost his entire staff on 9/11), and their daughter Rachel (a high schooler in a goth phase). Add to the picture Nelson Steinberg, a newcomer to Rachel’s school who’s in love her (and his Elvis costume, which he always wears), Jesus, and Stephen Hawking, and it sounds like a ridiculous farce. But it isn’t. On the contrary, its earnestness is what makes it both successful and a bit too neat.

Before we go any further, a few general notes. First, no matter what the content of this or any other review, you should know that Next produces relevant, exciting work. However, like Writers Theatre and other suburban companies of similar caliber, its location probably deters many potential audience members from experiencing some really worthwhile stuff. You should also know that both Next and Writers are actually very easy to reach by surprisingly short train rides. Second, to the Next management: Don’t let your patrons buy Skittles at intermission and then bring them into the theater. Especially if they’re sitting in the front row. Audience etiquette seems to be at an all-time low anyway - why add fuel to the fire? And if the people who were in the front row at Sunday’s matinee are reading this: the actors are right in front of you. They can see you, and hear you, and so could we - despite being in the next-to-last row of the theater. (Stepping down from soapbox.)

As Sylvia, Laura T. Fisher is maddeningly overwrought with her newfound religion, but with her savior literally by her side, it’s hard to brush her off as crazy. It doesn’t seem so ridiculous to thank Jesus for, say, something in your kitchen, when he’s the one handing it to you. As entertaining as Joseph Wycoff is as Jesus, his constant companionship mostly serves as pretty strong justification for Sylvia's fervor, combined with the fact that she can’t count on her husband for, well, much of anything. Driven into a deep depression after 9/11, Arthur (William Dick, who is nicely understated in his role) has neither a job nor the will to get out of his pajamas, let alone buy groceries. With both of her parents completely wrapped up in themselves, it’s easy to see why Rachel is confused and angry. Carolyn Faye Kramer is a believable teenager, and an excellent foil to Wycoff’s spot-on, hilarious Stephen Hawking (yes, one actor plays both Jesus and Hawking), who appears to her as somewhat of a confidant and adviser when she smokes pot. Adam Shalzi is just plain cute as the bug-eyed and awkward Nelson, the new kid in town with poor social skills but an incredibly sunny, if naïve, disposition. Director Shade Murray certainly cast well.

This might be a byproduct of our steadfastly cynical personalities, but our problem with the show is this: Nelson comes into this family’s life, and essentially changes everything. It takes a bit of persistence but not a lot of difficulty to bring Arthur out of his depression. The same goes for Nelson’s progress in bridging the enormous rift that has formed between Rachel and Sylvia as a result of the latter’s insistence that her daughter attend church, and more importantly, repent for her sins before it’s too late. After much stubbornness and frustration, things change on a dime. The end of the show is a fresh start for the family, which makes sense given what happens - which we won’t ruin for you. Regardless, the relationships, both between Nelson and the family and within the family itself, become almost too sweet. The last few minutes of the show feel drawn-out, and honestly, kind of cloying. It was satisfying, but struck us as just a bit too perfect.

That being said, even through the cheesier moments, End Days is always funny, and definitely thought-provoking. There’s even a great Kirk Cameron reference that at least 90% of the audience seemed not to understand, which is probably because their childhoods were pre-Growing Pains. The show also has some really nice design work - we loved Andre LaSalle’s off-kilter set, the space-evoking lighting by Lee Fiskness, and Nick Keenan’s sound choices. Bottom line: it’s worth the trip up the purple line.

End Days, through November 29th. Next Theatre Company, 927 Noyes Street, Evanston. Tickets $25-$40 (group/student/under 25 discounts available), 847-475-1875.