Theater review

In “Freud’s Last Session,” the adamant atheist Sigmund Freud invites Christian author C.S. Lewis to his London study, where the two engage in a vigorous discussion about music, physical pain, war, religion, sex, and their fathers in which both men make salient points, but neither “wins” the argument.

Despite their plethora of disagreements and nearly polar opposite worldviews, both men have a clear mutual respect for each other—a mutual respect that extends to the play’s director, Tyler Marchant, and the audience. The play is an honest discussion of major issues, and neither side is belittled for their views.

The play does not take sides, giving both positions equal time—which is a rarity in today’s hyper-partisan world where not only do I have to be right and you wrong, but you’re an unalloyed idiot for your beliefs.

Mike Nussbaum, who has directed and acted in Chicago Theatres for over 50 years, plays Freud with intelligence and wit, but also with an acute awareness of his mortality—he knows the end is near. The play takes place Sept. 3, 1939, when Freud was 83 and suffering excruciating pain from oral cancer. On multiple occasions, Freud breaks down from sudden, intolerable agony, blunting his conversational momentum.

Though he adamantly disagrees with Lewis, especially regarding Lewis’s conversion to Christianity, Freud admires the young author’s intelligence and views him as a worthy opponent for debate.

Freud invited Lewis to his study “for one reason:” to find out why someone (Lewis) “with such intellect would become a Christian.”

Lewis, played by Coburn Goss, is initially reticent and unsure of himself in Freud’s presence; after all, Freud’s more than twice his age, one of the world’s leading intellectuals, and he pokes at Lewis for being late to the meeting. But, he quickly settles in to debate Freud as an equal, not as a student or a patient, and gains confidence in himself and his arguments.

 Lewis demonstrates his respect for Freud when he refuses to leave the elder man alone--even as they both believe they’re about to be bombed—and when he compassionately assists Freud with his mouth and jaw pain.

The entire play consists of just the two men talking; they’re the only actors on the stage, and the only times the conversation halts is when Freud breaks down in pain, when the men tune into the radio for updates on the burgeoning war, or when they hear airplanes flying ominously overhead.

Their discourse is like an exceedingly high-level tennis match; both men hit the occasional winner, which the other chivalrously acknowledges, but neither even wins the match. This play has too much respect for both men, their philosophies, and the audience to do that. The idea is by no means to prove anyone correct, but to provide a thoughtful discussion about tender issues, and it’s highly effective.

At one point, Freud explains, “I enjoy provoking discussions,” and this play—with all the discourse about big ideas—is sure to accomplish Freud’s aim.

“Freud’s Last Session” plays at the Mercury Theater—located at 3745 N. Southport Ave.—and the last performance is November 11. 

Art preview story

Ryan Anderson
                   

                             Former Taxi Driver’s Artwork to be Displayed at Blackstone 

 Dmitry Samarov, a former Chicago taxi driver who wrote the popular “Chicago Hack” blog and authored the book, “Hack: Stories from a Chicago Cab,” will be showcasing his art at the Blackstone branch of the Chicago Public Library beginning October 1.

 The art, titled “View from a Cab,” depicts images from Samarov’s time as a taxi driver in Chicago, which lasted from 2003 until he resigned his post in June 2012.

 Regarding the drawings in this showcase, Samarov wrote, “The gouache paintings of cabs were done on site at the O'Hare Airport Taxi Staging Area and the Yellow Cab garage, while the Sumi ink pieces were done from memory as illustrations” for his book and blog.

 In his description for the show, Samarov wrote, “It is my hope that you'll see something you know or recognize in them from your own experience as well.”

 Brenda Sawyer, who runs the “Friends of the Blackstone Library” group, set up the showing.

 In an e-mail, Sawyer said Samarov’s art is “very honest,” and there’s “no glossing things over, just straightforward, honest observation.”

 Furthermore, she praised him as “an observer of human nature [who] records what he sees [with] no add-ons.”

 Samarov’s artwork was also recently featured at the Rainbo Club, where it has been showcased multiple times over the last five years.

 Melina Ausikitis, who programs the art at the Rainbo Club, said via phone that she enjoys Samarov’s art because his “subjects are about everyday life,” and “are a window into his soul.”

 “It’s been a real pleasure to see his work change over the years,” Ausikitis said.

 Samarov graduated from art school in 1993, and he said, “Art’s my first love,” even though writing—on his blog and in the book—has brought him more renown thus far.

 “I relate to the world by drawing and painting,” Samarov said.

 He also says his dream would be to drop the writing aspect and subsist only on his artwork.

 Samarov is currently putting that artistic talent to use illustrating a children’s book, but most of his pieces are related to his time driving a cab in Chicago.

 Samarov said driving a cab in Chicago had a profoundly positive effect on his artwork, because the job was “great for people watching.”

 “You’re not quite a person as a cabdriver; you’re part of the scenery,” Samarov expounded. “It’s like you’re not there.”

 The Blackstone is located at 4904 S. Lake Park Ave., and Samarov’s 14 illustrations will appear in one of the reading rooms there through the end of October.

“The Mindy Project” proves a felicitous title for the new Fox sitcom starring Mindy Kaling, for the word “project” evokes thoughts of under construction, and, in the pilot, Mindy herself is very much a work in progress—as is the show. We hear so much about the vaunted “male gaze,” but this show is definitely shot from the “female gaze.” It’s Kaling’s voice through-and-through--for better or worse. Those who enjoy her humor—Kaling is a bestselling author, a supporting actress on NBC’s popular “The Office,” a prolific tweeter, and an Emmy-nominated writer and producer—will likely be charmed by her authentic lead performance. Those who don’t “get” her humor won’t suddenly be enchanted by this show. In the pilot, Mindy is a lovelorn ob-gyn juggling her career while trying to find her perfect guy and do nothing short of changing her entire life. She vows to lose weight, cease having casual sex with a dreamy but roguish British doctor in her office--Jeremy Reed (played by Ed Weeks)—and generally grow up. The show, which premieres September 25 at 8:30 p.m. CDT, begins with Mindy’s voiceover narration--which recurs frequently throughout the episode—describing her life up until that point. She confesses her obsession with romantic comedies, explains her path to becoming a doctor, and recounts falling madly in love only to be dumped. Heartbroken and bitter, she attends the wedding of the man who left her, where she drinks too much and gives an uncomfortable toast. Her drunken ride through the neighborhood on a bicycle ends with her at the bottom of a pool, where she is castigated by a comely female doll telling her to “pull it together.” She breaks down in tears, is arrested, then bailed out by her best friend, Gwen Grandy (played by Anna Camp), who tells her, “Your life is not a romantic comedy.” Throughout the pilot, Mindy is torn between turning over a new leaf and remaining in stasis. She goes on a date with Ed Helms, of “Hangover” movie fame, but bails to deliver the baby of an uninsured woman who doesn’t speak English—who she first refused to treat because, “I have to do things that move my life forward.” In her attempt at reform, she repeatedly rebuffs the advances of Reed, who she has long been “friends with benefits” with, only to fall back into his arms at the end—so much for progress! The pilot is filled with pop-culture references, not only to romantic comedies, but also to Siri, Michael Fassbender, Jon Stewart, and much more. Mindy also verbally spars with another doctor, Danny Castellano (Chris Messina), and banters with her staff, Betsy Punch (Zoe Jarman) and Shauna Dicanio (Amanda Setton). “Mindy” jams a great deal of exposition into 22 minutes, but should settle into a less break-neck pace as the weeks go by. Females are more likely to empathize with Mindy’s travails, while males might find themselves bewildered by Mindy’s quirkiness and her repeated failure to follow through on making life changes.