3 (newly discovered) by Tennessee

On Saturday I went to see three newly discovered one acts by Tennessee Williams at the EP Theater for the second of the two nights they were being performed for the first time in Chicago.

The Palooka is about two boxers preparing for their respective fights, and is an intimate look at the concept of the childhood hero, as well as the debate about whether to burst someone's "bubble" about his or her hero.

Mr. Paradise involves an exchange between an author and a college student, and discusses the serendipitous events that can lead us to discover works of art that change our lives. However, what happens when the creator of those particular works wishes to remain in obscurity?

The Pink Bedroom explores the intricacies of extramarital relationships, and takes place (you guessed it) in a very pink bedroom. Jealousy and anger come into play and there is an ironically hilarious conclusion.

All three plays were brilliantly acted and staged very well. Tennessee Williams has a definite feel to his work that is undeniably his own. Having worked on The Night of the Iguana, I remember that feel and it was recreated to perfection.

Each one act was introduced and followed up by live music from the band Pet Peeve, a group of Chicago locals who sing in French and introduced their song in English as "a foreign language." They're a great live band, and fit the mood perfectly with their guitar and violin blend.

The EP Theater is an intimate venue which is a rehabilitated store front. It looks very much like a 1920s speakeasy with exposed wooden rafters that have white Christmas lights strung along them and old movie theater seats in the lobby. There's a piano with an Ouija board propped up on the music stand on the way into the house. From the lobby, you can look down into the green room/dressing room area. The walls are painted red with the exception of the wall behind the bar, which is wallpapered with Victorian women's faces. Some of their lips are red to complement the red walls. Inside the house, there are antique looking light fixtures that light up the metallic red and silver walls nicely. It's a great venue and a place I look forward to attending again.

www.eptheater.com
www.myspace.com/mypetpeeve