REVIEW: Victory Gardens Theater To Stream Final Five Live Performances of Queen of the Night March 9–13, 2022

ChiIL Live And Streaming Shows On Our Radar   

Victory Gardens Theater to live-stream

Queen of the Night

with an innovative pilot program

Five live performances to be streamed

March 9–13, 2022

REVIEW: 

By Bonnie Kenaz-Mara

Here at ChiIL Live Shows we're loving the trend of theatres live streaming part of their run for those out of town or otherwise unable to sit indoor with a crowd. I caught opening night and Terry Guest (Ty) and André Teamer (Stephen) are wonderful in this poignant LGBTQ parenting adventure. 

Gay, young adult, Ty is hilariously out of his element in the wilderness with his father, but trying to embrace the experience and unpack some baggage. His father, Stephen doesn't stoop to the usual cliche of working class father of a gay son. 

Though they have a complicated and somewhat negative past history, he has evolved and is trying hard to bond with his adult son. I also love the intimacy of Victory Gardens Theater's 109 seat, upstairs Richard Christiansen Theater, named for beloved, long time Chicago critic, who passed away in January at age 90. Shout out to the set designer and sound designer for creating a delightful, overgrown wilderness that's exciting to escape to. 

Parenting children who don't turn out like you is complicated. Divorce and remarriage is difficult. Bridging not only the generation gap but the chasm between gay and heteronormative cultural can be daunting. Navigating relationships with your biological family as adults can be intense, and Queen of the Night explores this all too human experience in a tender, funny, heartfelt way. There's something especially dynamic and compelling about a 2 person show, and Queen of the Night nails it. Recommended. 

Bonnie is a Chicago based writer, theater critic, photographer, videographer, actress, artist and Mama. She owns two websites where she publishes frequently: ChiILLiveShows.com (adult) & ChiILMama.com (family friendly). 

Victory Gardens Theater, in partnership with Assemble Stream, will live-stream the final five performances of its critically acclaimed production of Queen of the Night. The pilot program includes cameras that have been mounted in the theater and throughout the set for superior live-stream capabilities and making the live performance simultaneously available to patrons at home and in the theater. This is the first program of its kind in Chicago.

"We are excited to be partnering with Assemble this season especially after watching their work on Lynn Nottage’s Clyde’s on Broadway. With livestream performances, we will be able to reach a broader audience than ever before, and share work by Chicago artists with theater-lovers around the world who may never have the opportunity to visit Victory Gardens in person," comments Artistic Director Ken-Matt Martin.

A divorced father and his queer son head to the woods of southeastern Texas to relive the camping trips of earlier, easier days. But even without cell service, certain things are inescapable. Playwright travis tate explores masculinity and queerness through the lens of multi-generational Blackness, offering a hilarious, heart-rending family portrait about reckoning with the wilderness of a shared past, while facing an uncertain future.

Written by travis tate and directed by Victory Gardens Artistic Director Ken-Matt Martin, Queen of the Night features Terry Guest (Ty) and André Teamer (Stephen). The live-stream performance options will be available March 9-12, 2022 at 7:30pm Central, and March 13, 2022 at 3pm Central. Streaming tickets are $24 and can be purchased at https://victorygardens.assemblestream.com/.