By Venus Zarris

Steppenwolf Theatre creates an extravagant gothic setting for their world premiere of playwright Eric Simonson’s Fake. It tells the story of the controversy surrounding the 1912 discovery the infamous “Piltdown Man” skull, purported to be the missing link between ape and man but later proved to be an elaborate hoax.

Famous writer Sir Arthur Conan Doyle invites the finders of the skull and an American journalist to his home for an evening of witty banter regarding the find. When accusations of a prank arise, egos get bruised and the stage is set for a non-linear time-traveling who-done-it melodrama.

The premise is interesting. The dialogue is clever and engaging. The production is beautiful and the ensemble is remarkable but the drama never manages to eclipse the contrivance of the script, which serves as more of a silly afterthought to the soap opera relationships rather than the root of credible conflict.

Fake is one of those shows where everything is likeable despite the forced machination of the story. The undeniable chemistry between the characters is thrilling. You are drawn into every scene by actors at the top of their game delivering well-crafted dialogue.

Between the existentially speculative lines like; “The whole of our unrecorded past is hypothetical.” and the interpersonally poignant,

“Do you have any idea what it is like to have someone disappear right before your eyes?” Simonson’s script delivers delicious morsels for the actors and audience alike.

A peripheral impression that struck a cold chill in me while watching the early 20th century scenes of this story was that pending doom of the unknown and upcoming world wars. The global tension is noticeably in the air but these poor souls have no way of knowing the horrors that are just around the corner. The weight of their egotistical personal disputes will soon be swept away by the crushingly catastrophic conflict, thereby making the sensational scandal of “Piltdown Man” little more than light infotainment. This impression is like a subliminal crystal ball floating around the parameters of the story.

Technically the production is as good as it gets. From sets to lighting to costumes to sound design, the world of the play is created to stunning effect. This is quite simply a lovely and lavish show. The cast is truly extraordinary and Francis Guinan anchors these gifted actors with a commanding presence and endearing charm. But the overall impact of the storytelling leaves you feeling a little duped. The “Piltdown Man” skull hoax serves as unintentional metaphor for Fake, as it creates a cheap ruse instead of the genuine emotional journey. Still, the hoax is so complete that you enjoy being fooled and regardless of Fake’s flaws, it delivers a thoroughly entertaining night of theater.

3 STARS

(“Fake” runs through November 8 at Steppenwolf Theatre, 1650 N. Halsted. 312-335-1650.)

“Fake” (Sep. 10, 2009 - Nov. 8, 2009) | Steppenwolf Theatre Company

Fake production photos by Michael Brosilow.

“Piltdown Man” image found at Top 10 Science Hoaxes

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