It’s Just Like Coming To Church
Under the leadership of Gwendolyn Whiteside, American Blues is thrilled to announce the Chicago premiere of 'Stand Up If You're Here Tonight,' which opened at The Wit Theater. After decades of leasing, The old American Blues location has closed. They had purchased a 17,965 square foot property in Chicago's Lincoln Avenue North Arts District (LANA)' which will be the first permanent home in their history!
Created by Oliver-nominated playwright John Kolvenbach
'Stand Up If You're Here Tonight,' featuring Jim Ortlieb, is a refreshing look at life during and after surviving the pandemic. "You've tried everything. Yoga. Acupuncture. Therapy. You floated in saltwater in the pitch-black dark. You juiced, cleansed, journaled, cut, and volunteered. You got a mattress that fitted itself to your fetal form. You ate only RINDS for three days and nights. Then, finally, you reached out, and you looked within. You have tried. And yet here you are." Ortlieb, who performs as a man that is isolated and desperate for connection, reaches out to his audience to see if they had experienced the same trauma of loneliness during that proverbial time when the earth stood still.
As the play starts, we witness this slightly bald man with uncombed white hair, wearing a worn somewhat suit with a tie. This man, which name escapes me because he never provides it, has you standing, counting up to ten Mississippi and making you reflect on life during our isolation. His introduction is more about him being thoroughly delighted to see anyone, as he tells us; no matter where you were previously, you are here.
Ortlieb's is a mixture of Monty Python and George Carlin, providing a surreal, observational comedy where he enlisted the participation of his audience to lure them into the fun. His timely sarcastic wit psychologically mesmerizes you to focus on his every word as he twists your mind into seeing yourself unburdened from what holds you captive. And for a moment, or at least 60 minutes, you feel free.
Known for Flatliners, A Mighty Wind, and Contagion, Ortlieb, who reminds you of John Malkovich, is an accomplished actor. He has also been in enormous theatrical plays at Chicago theaters, Goodman, Northlight, and Steppenwolf.
A one-person theatrical performance has to engage its audience continuously. If there are monotonous moments, the comedian can lose the audience's focus, never getting them to return from the inner thoughts within their mind that will drift off if unattended. This can happen to the best entertainer, and even though some may get lost in translation, Ortlieb's 'Stand Up If You're Here Tonight' pokes fun at everyday life, which will cause laughter and free you from the scrutiny of life.
Let's Play Recommends 'Stand Up If You're Here Tonight.'
American Blues Theater
Stand Up If You're Here Tonight
Written and Directed by John Kolvenbach
MARCH 18 – APRIL 9, 2022
