3 1/2 stars
During the course of “A Number” at Writers Theatre, Glencoe, a father admits he was an awful parent the first time around as his sons try to extract the full story of their existence.
It’s sort-of a two person play with stage veteran, actor/director Nate Burger (Writers Theatre, Americanh Players Theatre, Timeline) as the father, Salter, and popular Chicago actor Nate Burger (Chicago Shakespeare, Timeline, Goodman) as Bernard, his sons, 1, 2 and 3.
The play is only 65 minutes long but its high intensity acting and twists made it feel as if I sat through two hours of a suspenseful drama.
Eerie music and lighting enhance Robin Witt’s spot-on direction of clipped responses from the father in contrast to the emotions of Salter’s original and cloned sons.
Yes the show, written by Caryl Churchill back in 2002 when copying mammals’ DNA and genetic make-up was in the news, is about cloning. It’s also about examining uniqueness, identity, upbringing, abandonment and truth.
Salter, who felt he was not a good father the first time around, wanted to try again from scratch. He had scientists clone his first son so he could be a better father the second time.
What happens on how the son and clones react will be a surprise therefore there will not be an alert here. You have to go to find out.
But a word of warning. Don’t believe most of what Salter says. The real story emerges from the mist of his twisted mind in bits and pieces.
DETAILS:”A Number” is in the Gillian Theatre of Writers Theatre, 325 Tudor Court Glencoe through June 9, 2019. Running Time: 65 minutes, no intermission. For tickets and other information call 847) 242-6000 and visit Writers Theatre.
Jodie Jacobs
For more shows visit Theatre in Chicago