Photo by Candice Lee Conner
I really like seeing plays at Factory Theater. The people are great and very friendly, and the shows staged in their confined space are a highly eclectic mix. They will rent the space to companies that do the classics—last year’s female-led Richard III by Promethean Theatre was excellent—but the bread and butter of actual Factory Theater productions have been bespoke plays like last year’s Last Night in Karaoke Town that were written to be world-premiered right there on Howard Street. Sometimes these plays are gems and sometimes they don’t quite work as well as intended, but they are always interesting. The latest of these is a (mostly) absurdist look at the world of big box stores called Lane Call, taking place in a Venture Store (remember those?), written by Len Foote and Scott OKen (who also directs), both veteran employees of Venture Store #25 in Norridge.
Oken’s work has been well-represented on the Factory stage, with twelve plays (one of which also had a remount, so…thirteen?) since 1999. On opening night of this latest, with a house packed with friends of the cast and crew along with at least a dozen people who also labored in that particular store in the 80s, the entire evening was punctuated by raucous laughter as the ensemble, all of whom seemed to be having a wonderful time, portrayed employees, management, and customers that OKen and Foote remember (sometimes fondly) from those days.
I appreciated the effort turned in by everyone; however, as someone who has never worked in retail—my early jobs were mostly in restaurants—I have to admit that much of the humor here felt a little bit insular to me. But retail jobs are plentiful, so there are certainly going to be plenty of people to send nostalgic guffaws across the theater through July 22.
What I loved about this play, even if a lot of the humor felt more like in-jokes than anything else, were the performers. OKen’s ensemble was totally immersed in their roles to the point where I felt they could actually be workers in a Venture, and by the time they came together for a (wonderful and energetic) after-hours party, it felt completely deserved.
Especially strong are Alex Poe and Katy Campbell as two workers whose personal relationship is coming to a close with her upcoming move from Chicago to Dallas. Both actors find ways to make their performances poignant without resorting to maudlin clichés, and I found them more interesting and enjoyable with every new scene. I also loved Lizzy Mosher’s effervescent turn as slightly ditzy service counter employee Lisa. Several actors also take on roles as various customers, all of whom are outrageously caricatured to the point where you just know they are exaggerated versions of people about whom OKen and Foote have been telling stories for decades. Most of these customers are fun in their brief appearances; unfortunately, a few of them have lives beyond their introductions and quickly grow repetitive.
There are some more serious elements to the plot here as well. Aside from the long-time lovers breaking up (which also involves the conundrum of whether to commit to this life or seek something greater), there is a rumor that the store will be downsizing or closing, which is certainly a familiar concern for anyone whose retail experience has been more recent, say in the last decade. Overall, though, this play has the feel of the 80s-era sitcom it most easily resembles. The recent hit series Superstore had more edge, but this one does feel like a family on the brink of change; some will roll with it, and some will cling to the past until it is completely gone, fading like one of the ubiquitous “Attention, Venture shoppers” announcements that punctuate the play.
Lane Call: A Night of Closing is playing at Factory Theater, 1623 Howard St, Chicago, until July 22. Tickets are available at Factory Theatre. For more Chicago reviews or show information, see chicagoonstage.com or theatreinchicago.com.