Judgment Day
His name is Jay Scott Greenspan, but he is professionally known as Jason Alexander. His reason for changing his name isn't important because Jay was entering into a career where changing our name was a given. Jay Scott Greenspan wanted to be an actor. He changed his name to Larry Farber in Coneheads, as North's Father in the movie North, Mauricio Wilson in Swallow Hal, and in the role where he was nominated for seven consecutive Primetime Emmy Awards, he named changed again to George Costanza, a short, stocky, balding man who struggles with numerous insecurities, in the television series called Seinfeld. With all the names he has changed into, his role as Philip Stuckey, Edward's insensitive lawyer in the movie Pretty Woman, is the closest name-changed role he has played to his newest theatrical performance as Sammy Campo in Chicago Shakespeare Theater's Judgment Day, and Jason Alexander is downright despicable. And I love it! Judgment Day, starting with Jason Alexander, allows us to glimpse into the horrid behaviors of Sammy Campo, a man so self-absorbed, unethical, crude, insensitive, using vulgar language, and displays no social skills for caring about others that you would think he was running for President. I digress.
Judgment Day starts with a morality gut-punch, beginning with immoral, corrupt lawyer Sammy Campo closing a deal with investors on a factory that will use child labor. During his celebratory excitement, his secretary Della (Olivia D. Dawson) reminds him he has been called before the Bar Association again for his numerous egregious legal and ethical violations. Still, Sammy doesn't want her to spoil his happiness with trivial, unfounded legal manners — informing her that the only consequential thing he is concerned about is that money that once belonged to someone else now belongs to him. But as soon as he uttered those words, Sammy collapsed and fell unconscious, leaving Della in a state of shock and panic. He is immediately rushed to the emergency room, where a team of skilled medical professionals operates on him. The doctors and supporting staff worked tirelessly to stabilize him and keep him alive. Still, before the doctors could give a pronouncement, Sammy went through what psychologists would call having symptoms of depersonalization. He has an out-of-body experience, seeing himself on the table, about to die. But unbeknown to Sammy, he is about to get a horrifying visit from his childhood Catholic nun/ teacher, turned Angel named Sister Margaret. Unfortunately for Sammy, she despises him as an antagonistic, unruly child and gleefully describes to him all the torments that await him in Hell upon his death. Sammy is elated to hear that he hasn't officially died and realizes Sister Margaret has jumped the gun — and after hearing her words of doing deeds of kindness, he comes up with a scheme to do good for others, seeking to earn points through his acts of empathy, hoping that God will allow him to continue life on earth so he could do positive things to make it into heaven.
As Sammy places an ad, looking for despairing people in need of legal assistance, he forms an unlikely bond with a Catholic priest named Father Michael, who has a parishioner who needs Sammy's help to save her home. Father Michael, who met Sammy at confession, hearing about his sighting of an angel and his need to do good for points toward heaven, doesn't trust Sammy; however, he struggles with his faith. The two embark on a journey to save the house of the ailing widow and hopefully save the soul of a man looking for redemption. This second chance in life comedy is about the story of redemption and the pain we cause others as we pretentiously live. It only deals with the trials and tribulations in life that cause us to gain and lose our faith. It's full of situations and language that will make some uncomfortable and get turned off by the vulgarity within this performance. However, it was refreshing, as people have always spoken and talked in vulgar tones. The days are gone when Laura and Rob Petrie slept in separate beds or when television shows portrayed the clean, wholesome life we wanted people to display, even though, in reality, they never really lived that way in real life.
Judgment Day, raw, in-your-face, this is life, so live with it; witty comedy is like having a double-edged sword on stage, cutting and penetrating our false sense of righteous morality. As we seek to gain the American Dream, we humans can be egocentric, mean, and cold-hearted. Sammy Campo is what we, our families and friends, see in the darkness but hide from others as we unscrupulously walk in the light of our self-righteousness.
The situations where art imitates life are intriguing. In one such scenario, we witness a priest struggling with his vow and grappling with doubts about the very existence of God. Another character is a wife whom Sammy has abandoned, causing irreparable damage to her self-esteem and overall well-being. Lastly, we have a son who inherited Sammy's contentious behavior and struggles to find his place in the world. These real-life, complex, and deeply human struggles may be disturbing to some, but my feeling as I sat in the theater was the most. I found it a funny and compelling story— and Jason Alexander, with his exceptional skills, was absolutely incredible in bringing this character to life. Olivia Denise Dawson plays Della, Sammy's trusted secretary, possibly the only person who could handle his high-spirited, mischievous activity and devious tricks that usually involve questionable practices or conduct. Dawson was exceptional in her role as Della, the dynamic, diabolical duo of Sammy, only seeking the end result of getting other people's money.
Candy Buckley, who played the Angel, and Daniel Breaker, who played the conflicted Catholic priest, Father Michael, were both hilarious. The banter between Buckley and Alexander was priceless, but Breaker and Alexander's witty chemistry was simply brilliant. The supporting cast of Maggie Bofill, who is fantastic as Sammy's wife Tracy, Ellis Myers plays Sammy and Tracy's young son Casper, Michael Kostroff plays the Monsignor, Meg Thalken plays Edna, a widow whom Sammy must help in his quest to become a better person and the unruly and crooked insurance adjuster, is Joe Dempsey were outstanding. Judgment Day has that same dry, satirical humor of Seinfeld and has that magical chemistry of the show. However, its theatrical diversion to a more adult version did raise a few eyebrows. Judgment Day is an old-time, wholesome redemption story with a jagged twist. It's a gritty play and uproarious with an adult narrative that may not be for your mother or grandmother who still believes in the sanctity of the catholic church. Still, there lies a problem because we're never supposed to believe in the serenity of individuals in the church but in the sanctity of God, who is the head of the church. In the end, like most wholesome stories, things work out for Sammy, who changes from an absorbed, self-centered narcissist to becoming a good person. The play's ending is all about finding the inner you, doing good, and being satisfied with your choices. Which is all well and good for humanity, but it's questionable for when Judgment Day arrives.
I thoroughly enjoyed Judgment Day, deeming it a must-see theatrical comedic play.
⭐⭐⭐⭐
Chicago Shakespeare Theater
Judgment Day
Written by Rob Ulin
Now -May 26, 2024
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