By Venus Zarris

Once again Trap Door Theatre so completely suspends conventional reality that we are drawn in, as if falling through a psychological wormhole of exaggerated sensibilities, and then left reeling as we re-enter the real world.

Horses at the Window subversively deconstructs the trivialized suffering of those left to patiently wait for men in battle. Whenever something that is quite simply wrong is fed to the masses as something that is acceptable or right, the result is emotional and even situational chaos for those on the loosing end of the equation. Playwright Matei Visinec articulates this with a dramatic vocabulary consisting of whimsical and unpredictable absurdity.

“I think that no animals should be left out in the rain, except fishes of course.” Muses the mother as she clings to the unrelated absurdity of obvious observations rather than face the loss at hand.

Director Radu Alexandru-Nica delivers this script with a thrilling physicality that borders on exhausting to watch, which must mean exhausting to execute, and an intimately clear vision of Visinec’s obscure approach. Every scene is precisely choreographed madness with a striking purpose. It is fluid and concentrated lunacy. The result is an assaulting and entertaining adventure into the world of bureaucratic double-talk and propagandized lives.

The exceptional cast embodies the stylized characters with insane intensity, profound dedication and focused precision. All are remarkable in their own right but the women carry the weight of contemplative loss. The actors portray this beautifully and to chilling effect. Holly Thomas’s inclusion of live cello music to her characterization renders lovely additional depth and melancholy.

Sound designers Bob Roskos and Sam Lewis create the perfect soundtrack to the profound insanity. Delicate and sophisticated, the music accents the action and sets the appropriate tones with beguiling and exciting effectiveness.

Horses at the Window, described as “a comedic ballet of futile martyrdom and overzealous patriotism,” is a haunting assault as well as a theatrical extravaganza, the kind of twisted tasty treat that Trap Door Theatre has mastered. You expect nothing short of the unexpected from this fearlessly experimental company that continues to forge a path through the warped and abnormal.

3 ½ STARS

(”Horses at the Window” runs through April 25 at Trap Door Theatre, 1655 W. Cortland Ave. 773-384-0494.)

Trap Door Theatre

Horses at the Window production images by                                         Michal Janicki

*NOTE: To experience theater at Trap Door is to see actors at the top of their game take on roles that are seldom found in conventional theatrical productions. This results in pay-off for the actors, as they hone their skills by tackling parts that are as cerebrally intense as they are physically demanding, and pay-off for the audience as they see extraordinary performances that are as unique as the material delivered.

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