(L-R) Jenna Fischer, Francis Guinan and Chiké Johnson. Photo by Todd Rosenberg.
Highly Recommended
A dusty TV store onChicago’s Ashland Avenue is the flagging flagship of a once great regional empire that boasted multiple locations. During his tenure, owner Pete (Francis Guinan) became a local celebrity, famous for his “Crazy Pete” commercials. He is to be recognized with a citation from the mayor for his forty years of service to the business community.
The question becomes whether this publicity bump is truly the end of the road or does it signal the first step of a new journey.
Now in his early seventies Pete still has dreams and ambitions however, daughter Sam, played by Jenna Fischer (re Pam Beesly on the popular sitcom The Office), who has been by Pete’s side throughout her life is now ready for her own adventures with her husband, Mike (Chike Johnson).
On the surface, Pete’s once great empire has collapsed and he may not be as financially secure as he once was but his past accomplishments have value in the lives he has touched.
This play is certainly about Pete and his store but is also a subtle thesis on the rise and fall of America’s Main Street including the role retail has played as a community hub.
Open to all, small local shops have been proverbial gathering places were people assembled, sought refuge, traded, and enjoyed both incidental and meaningful encounters as is evidenced by Pete’s relationship with Jess (Cordelia Dewdney), a young woman and former employee who lives with Pete along with her two children.
The dialog is spectacularly natural and flowing with surgical precision to tell this slice-of-life tale. There is not one wasted word.
Playwright Lee Kirk seems to have insight or an uncanny ability to tap into the essence of Pete’s entrepreneurial spirit. This ability is reflected to some degree in Kirk’s film The Giant Mechanical Man which similarly explores the intersection of a person’s private and commercial persona. The film also stars Fischer which is where the two met. They were married in 2010 and have two children.
Susan V. Booth has done a wonderful job directing this production giving us a fly-on-the-wall view of the action taking place on the delightfully accurate set design of Kevin Depinet. It showcases a dizzying accretion of merchandise and promotional signage presumably assembled over four decades. The set is skillfully augmented by the lighting of Jason Lynch which includes multiple TV screens and store light fixtures.
The explosive appearance of Will Allan as Young Man cannot go unmentioned. Will demonstrates that there are no small parts. In his brief appearance he leaves it all on the stage thus providing an important and pivotal plot twist.
Ashland Avenue has all the best elements of a traditional stage play with a contemporary vibe.
Details: Ashland Avenue is at The Goodman, Albert Theatre, 170 N Dearborn Street, Chicago, IL through October 12, 2025. For tickets and information call (312) 443-3800 or visit goodmantheatre.org.
Reviewer: Reno Lovison