The Steins have been traumatized on an epic level. Until September 11, 2001, father Arthur was a senior vice president at a big Manhattan company with offices in the World Trade Center. Then his job “blew up,” as he phrases it in Deborah Zoe Laufer’s sweet, insufferable End Days. When the towers fell, 65 of his colleagues went with them. Now, two years later, unemployed Arthur occupies an apartment located someplace that’s not New York. He sleeps all day, stays up all night, wears PJs around the clock, and refuses to go out even to buy groceries.
Still, taking it for what it is, End Days most definitely charmed me. The Windy City Playhouse is opening its doors with this show, and company artistic director Amy Rubenstein was smart to entrust its direction to Henry Godinez. Jewish practice is rendered with simple authenticity, a long set piece—half sleepover, half vigil—is tenderly handled, and the cast are all endearing and funny. Steven Stafford makes an indispensable Jesus. Tina Gluschenko makes a virtue of being difficult to like as Sylvia. What’s more, the chairs in the theater swivel, allowing the audience to follow the action in a uniquely literal way.
Through 4/26: Wed-Thu 7:30 PM, Fri-Sat 8 PM, Sun 3 or 5 PM (see website) Windy City Playhouse 3014 W. Irving Park 773-891-8985windycityplayhouse.com $20-$45
