Posts Tagged ‘contraband theatre’

Contraband’s “Professor House” is a Fascinating Unfolding Mystery

Posted in St Louis Theatre, tagged , , , , , on October 16, 2025| Leave a Comment »

Professor House
by Jacob Juntunen
Directed by Sam Hayes
Contraband Theatre
October 11, 2025

Cast of Professor House
Photo by Jennifer A. Lin
Contraband Theatre

Contraband Theatre and playwright Jacob Juntunen revisit some themes in their latest production, Professor House that had previously been addressed in their excellent show, See You In a Minute, although the tone and general purpose seem to be quite different. This is also a play set in the future, addressing climate change and a future pandemic, but the tone is generally darker. It’s a story that’s hard to describe without giving too much away, but I will say that it’s at once intense, fascinating, and cleverly staged.

The show begins with Peter (Ben Ritchie) a Mizzou English professor, in the cluttered attic of his home, which has become something of a refuge for him. He’s speaking to Tommi (Maida Dippel), who may or may not be a ghost. Soon, we also meet his wife Lillian (Claire Coffey), who is also a professor, but of math; and his adult daughter, Rosamund and Rosamund’s enterprising spouse, Louie (Ron Baker), who are trying to convince Peter to move to a new house that has been built for them, but Peter is reluctant, and we’re not exactly sure why, at least at first. The rest of the story unfolds in a series of confrontations, reflections, flashbacks, parallel scenes, and wanderings that eventually coalesce into a heartfelt tale of relationships, regret, loyalties and betrayals, and the struggle to move on from tragedy. There’s also a recurring theme of climate change and corporate greed vs. community responsibility. 

For the most part, this is a remarkable show. There are a few details I wish were better shown (like why Peter is so attached to Tommi, for instance), but it’s still a fascinating, thoughtfully staged and constructed work of theatre. The acting is fantastic, especially by Ritchie as the melancholy Peter and Dippel as in the especially difficult role of Tommi, whose character evolves somewhat throughout the play as we get to know more about them. Coffey is also memorable as the supportive Lillian, and Harvey and Baker are also convincing and sympathetic as Rosamond and Louie. There’s also a fine performance by Tiajha Silas in a smaller but significant role as Willa, who plays an important role in Tommi’s story.

This is a play that’s alternately dramatic, humorous, mysterious, and moody, and the production values work especially well along with the performances in conveying those shifting and evolving tones. The show also uses the performance space in the Chapel to its maximum potential, creating a world that’s thoroughly believable and partially immersive. Erik Kuhn’s set is meticulously crafted, aided by excellent work from Katie Orr on set dressing and props. The lighting by Theresa Comstock and sound by Ellie Schwetye also contribute much to the atmosphere here, and the costumes by Jen Blum-Tatara suit the characters well.

The overall mood here is striking, with strong pacing and staging by director Sam Hayes and fully realized characters who aren’t always what they first appear to be. There’s an air of discovery about this show that’s well-realized in the overall production, and intriguing and intensely personal themes. Professor House may be a difficult show to describe, but the wonder of discovering it as it happens is well worth the effort. It’s another profoundly impressive theatrical work from Contraband Theatre.

 

Ben Ritchie
Photo: Contraband Theatre

Contraband Theatre is presenting Professor House at The Chapel until October 25, 2025

Read Full Post »

Contraband’s Well-Cast “Am I Dangerous?” is a Fascinating Work in Progress

Posted in St Louis Theatre, tagged , , , , , on October 12, 2024| Leave a Comment »

Am I Dangerous?
by e.k. doolin
Directed by Tress Kurzym
Contraband Theatre
October 9, 2024

Allison Sexton, Jade Cash
Photo by Jennifer A. Lin
Contraband Theatre

Contraband Theatre is presenting another intriguing play at the Chapel, after last year’s production of Jacob Juntunen’s See You In a Minute, which was my favorite new play last year. This year’s production, e.k. doolin’s Am I Dangerous? is also an intriguing, thoughtfully staged show that tackles a lot of issues, particularly concerning women and society’s expectations of what a woman should be. It’s a fascinating production, with a great cast and a striking look and atmosphere, although the promising script could use some revision and clarification.

Inspired in part on the sort-of Shakespeare play Pericles, Prince of Tyre, this story focuses on some of the supporting characters from that play, and especially on the very minor character of Philoten (Allison Sexton), who is essentially given her own new story. Philoten is the teenage daughter of Dionyza (Zahria Moore), who is serving as a sort of religious and political leader while the men of the town in which they live are off at sea. The story is told largely in flashback, beginning as Philoten arrives at the Temple of the Sky, Sea, and Earth, expecting punishment because she says she has killed her mother, but she won’t explain the details. The denizens of the temple then use a shell that Philoten has brought as means to bring back key memories in her life, examining her life and relationships, as well as the influence of her mother, her rebellious foster sister Marina (Jade Cash), and Lychorida (Rachel Bailey), who takes care of Marina and who also has developed a close relationship with Philoten as well as an adversarial relationship with Dionyza. Examining these relationships and seeing them from new angles challenges Philoten to look more closely at her own life and see how she has been influenced by societal expectations, especially those of her strict mother. Issues brought up include societal expectations for women in terms of morality, behavior and appearance, as well as sexuality and body image. There’s also an environmental angle, looking at climate change and humans’ influence on the condition of the earth. 

While this is an intriguing story and the characters are intriguing, there are moments when the dialogue can veer a little too close to being preachy, and there are so many issues dealt with that it seems like there isn’t quite enough time to do all of them justice. Also, although Philoten is the main character, she often comes across as the least developed in terms of personality. This makes sense to a degree, because her figuring out who she is forms a major focus of the play, but often it seems like the rest of the characters have more developed plotlines. Sexton does an excellent job with what she is given, but this character could use a little more to do rather than simply reacting to what’s happening around her.

The rest of the cast is also strong, with a commanding performance from Moore as the domineering Dionyza, as well as Cash as the amorously adventurous Marina, and Bailey in a  strong turn as the determined Lychorida. These three also double as the temple spirits, delivering excellent moments of mystery and enigmatic energy. All four cast members work together well, with memorable energy and terrific ensemble chemistry.

The look of this production is simply striking, with an elegant classical-inspired set by Erik Kuhn and eye-catching costumes by Tress Kurzym. There’s also excellent work from lighting designer Theresa Comstock and sound designer De’Janna Hand, creating a vivid world for these characters to inhabit and serve as an ideal backdrop for this thought-provoking story.

Although it definitely seems to go its own way, it may help in understanding Am I Dangerous? if you’re more familiar with the story and script of Pericles, which I haven’t seen or read (although I read a synopsis after seeing this play). Still, even if you’re coming into this show with little or no knowledge of its source, the issues dealt with here are especially timely and immediate for modern, mature audiences. While the script could use some editing and condensing, and the characters (especially Philoten) could be given more to do, I find this an especially promising script that is sure to provoke much thought and valuable conversation.

Zahria Moore, Rachel Bailey
Photo by Jennifer A. Lin
Contraband Theatre

Contraband Theatre is presenting Am I Dangerous? at The Chapel until October 26, 2024

Read Full Post »

Insightful, Cleverly Constructed “See You In a Minute” Makes a Profound Impression for Contraband Theatre

Posted in St Louis Theatre, tagged , , , , , on October 19, 2023| Leave a Comment »

See You In a Minute
by Jacob Juntunen
Directed by Ellie Schwetye
Contraband Theatre
October 14, 2023

Joseph Garner, Ricki Franklin
Photo by Phillip Hamer
Contraband Theater

It was inevitable that plays about the COVID-19 pandemic would happen. There have already been online plays and stories concerning this world-changing event, and with live theatre back in full swing, it only stands to reason that plays about the pandemic would start to appear more often. The only problem is, the relatively new (to St. Louis) Contraband Theatre has now set the bar so high with its latest new play that I’m not sure how anyone else will be able to measure up. I welcome the efforts, but Jacob Juntunen’s See You In a Minute is at once a reflection, a character study, a mildly science fiction-y exploration, and a portrayal of various levels of grief that I’m not sure can be matched. It’s that good, and as produced at The Chapel arts venue by an excellent cast under the direction of the always-excellent Ellie Schwetye, this show has made such an impression on me that I’m sure I will be thinking about it for some time. 

This play isn’t just about one pandemic, though. It’s about the next pandemic as well–in 2041. Kathryn (Ricki Franklin) is the educational director for an off-Broadway theatre company in New York, but she’s come home to St. Louis to help her parents during the new health crisis. Her dad, Joseph (Joseph Garner), is a playful, encouraging guy who offers his daughter sandwiches and plays childhood games with her involving stuffed animals used as puppets. Her mother, Deb (Kelly Howe), is a more practically-minded engineer who wants to focus on the immediate situation and not dwell in the past. There’s obviously something about the last pandemic, and the family’s experience at that time, that Kathryn isn’t able to get straight answers about, but there are other, more pressing situations in her life, as well. Her director in New York, Kris (Joshua Mayfield) is concerned that Kathryn hasn’t finished her presentation/sales pitch for high schools about the company’s upcoming production of the classic play Our Town by Thornton Wilder. Kathryn, for her part, is struggling to find the century-old play’s relevance in modern times, and she keeps finding convenient ways to procrastinate while Kris, under increasing pressure from the theatre company’s board, grows ever more anxious. 

There are a lot of issues being dealt with here, but nothing seems rushed or cluttered. Issues of artistic integrity vs. financial struggles in theatre, generational differences, pandemics, grief, and family responsibilities, among other issues, are dealt with with focus and clarity, as well as a degree of poetic elegance. There’s also an impressive balance between humor and drama, as well as some “twist” moments that are given just the right level of timing and weight to make their utmost impact. It’s a sensitive, insightful, theatrically literate, exquisitely emotional play that works especially well under Schwetye’s well-measured direction and with the superb efforts of the first-rate creative team, including set designer Caleb D. Long, Costume Designer Carly Uding, and especially lighting designer Morgan Brennan and sound designer Schwetye.

The staging is simple and efficient, with just the right level of emotional resonance, and the script is well-crafted, with a few surprises as well as some elements that are somewhat predictable to a point, but don’t play out exactly as they might. There are also some sci-fi elements since it’s set in the future–including scientific advances that make sense for the times–that are treated more as a simple matter-of-fact rather than major points of the story. 

As for the acting, it’s excellent. Franklin is engaging and relatable as Kathryn, making her various struggles and dilemmas believable and immediate, and her relationships–with both parents and with Kris–are especially credible. Garner is full of warmth and energy as the creative, encouraging Joseph–bringing a great deal of enthusiasm to the puppet shows in particular–and Howe is just as excellent as the more reserved but just as caring Deb. As Kris, Mayfield is thoroughly believable as a conflicted theatre director whose loyalties are challenged by circumstance. It’s a strong, cohesive ensemble that lends much emotional weight to the story.

See You In a Minute is at once timely, challenging, and ultimately hopeful. It’s a profoundly affecting theatrical experience, and an excellent introduction to the work of playwright Jacob Juntunen and Contraband Theatre. There’s so much else I could write, but I won’t because its best to experience it yourself. So far, it’s my favorite new play in St. Louis this decade. 

 

Joshua Mayfield, Kelly Howe, Joseph Garner, Ricki Franklin
Photo by Phillip Hamer
Contraband Theatre

Contraband Theatre is presenting See You in a Minute at The Chapel until October 28, 2023

Read Full Post »