Highly Recommended
Two great minds collide over “A War of the Worlds.”
In 1938, twenty-five-year-old (George) Orson Welles became famous after his radio play based on this book shook the airwaves, purportedly nearly causing national panic.
The book’s seventy-five-year-old author, H.G. Wells, was not amused at how his intellectual property was, in his mind, misused without permission.
Based on an actual encounter in 1940 the two men, Wells and Welles, both happened to be on lecture tours finding each other in San Antonio, Texas on the same rainy night.
Done by Lucid Theater at City Lit, the production perfectly captures the moment in “Wells and Welles” when a young Orson Welles (Gerrit Wilford) arrives hat-in-hand at the motel room of H.G. Wells (Pete Blatchford) to – as he says – “bury the hatchet.”
The older Wells sees little need for further discourse as he has already agreed to drop any potential legal proceedings and makes it clear that, as the author of over fifty books, he considers the younger man’s endeavors in radio and film to be of little artistic value and simply sensational and crude.
Wells mentions in passing that he considers himself a journalist. Seizing on this insight Orson manages to get the author’s attention with a summary of a film he is working on called “Citizen Kane.”
The story is based loosely on the life of media magnate William Randolph Hearst. But in reality, it is about a man who seemingly has it all. However, in the process, has lost everything that is most dear to him.
The ensuing conversation involves the perception of age, youth versus experience, and using artistic expression to share a vision of the future but also as a means to fulfill one’s perceived personal destiny.
As the play progresses, we gain insight into the lives and minds of both men. We find Welles has an ulterior motive. Whether or not it can be fulfilled is where the tension lies in this soft-spoken clash of intellectual titans.
The exceptionally well written dialogue by Chicago playwright Amy Crider is superbly performed by Blatchford and Wilford. Produced by Lucid Theater, it is the type of smart, emotional, intimate theater that is particularly well suited to City Lit.
Nicely directed by Amber Mandley, the pacing is excellent and the players move thoughtfully and meaningfully around Kevin Rolfs’ set design depicting the motel room of H.G. Wells. Technical director Alvaro Ledesma’s lighting and sound design did an effective job of setting the rainy evening ambience.
Blatchford is a veteran Chicago actor who has performed in Scotland. His British accent is flawless.
Based on what I know of Welles, it is notable to say that the large fedora with matching topcoat, generally impeccable attire and the fastidious grooming of Wilford immediately made me believe I had encountered Orson Welles.
This world premiere play has national, indeed worldwide appeal and should be readily snapped up by other smaller theaters around the globe and acting pairs looking to showcase their abilities to embody two interesting and thought-provoking characters.
Details: “Wells and Welles” is at City Lit, 1020 W. Bryn Mawr Ave., Chicago, through August 11, 2024. Running time is 70 minutes with no intermission. For tickets visit Eventbrite.
Reno Lovison
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