American Players Theatre: The Chairs
James Ridge and Colleen Madden
American Players Theatre Presents THE CHAIRS Review - Yes, It’s All About the Chairs
TLDR: An absurdist tragicomedy, The Chairs stars Colleen Madden and James Ridge as they meander through thoughts, memories, boredom, and philosophy as guests arrive for the promise of the famed Orator. The theatrical style may not be for everyone, but good for those that like plays with nebulous meaning and takeaways.
James Ridge and Colleen Madden
The Only Two People Left in the World
Waves crash up against an unseen shore. Dull, lifeless curtains hang on the back of the stage. A lone ball of light is illuminated behind one of them and slowly floats towards an opening. An older woman wearing a wig cap atop an unruly mop of white curls rolls an industrial light out onto the stage. She grips the stand with both hands as she shuffles forward and then off to the left towards a trunk. Now that she’s closer, we see the expressionistic makeup she’s painted with - a pale, white face with thin, dark eyebrows, bright red lips, and bold eye shadow - giving her an old time-y, clown-like appearance. She places a wig on her head from the trunk and starts walking downstage, unknowingly dragging a chair caught on the lamp’s cord behind her. She turns and gives it a look like she’s seen a ghost and it has personally offended her.
From this beginning, with not a word being said and just the slow drag of the chair behind her, it’s made clear that The Chairs is going to be on the absurd side of the theatrical spectrum.
Led by Colleen Madden and James Ridge, she the Old Woman and he the Old Man, the two build this absurdist tragicomedy from just the two of them alone on stage. They’ve been together, both depending on each other, and have also grown tired of each other. They argue, but remember the times they’ve spent together. They can’t agree on their memories or their life and so this empty stage with only two chairs reflects the nebulous, meaningless, gray space they exist in themselves.
Building A Crowd
But from this humble beginning of two actors with two chairs, they start creating a larger experience. They try to find a memory they agree on, but there’s an event happening tonight. The famed Orator is expected to make an appearance and guests are arriving. Is this one of their bits? Or should we actually expect someone?
There’s soap opera dramatics. Physical comedy as Madden brings on chair after chair, stacks piled high. Ridge ushers the “guests” onto the stage waxing and orating himself, while still proclaiming nobody can orate as well as the Orator can, just wait!
We the audience are now part of this spectacle, this lecture, this crowd of people that’s there but not really there. The stage is packed with chairs and Madden and Ridge find themselves pushed up against opposite sides of the room, the guests’ importance and status growing with each new arrival. The tension builds and we’re still not sure if there will even be a lecture, let alone an Orator. Or is that the point all along? The Chairs builds this tension and we ask ourselves if it will be worth it.
Colleen Madden and James Ridge
The After Party Thoughts
From my experience with absurdist theater, this production of The Chairs plays exactly like it should for the style. Feeling on the edge of nothingness, you might relate to the themes and see it as still relevant to today with this increasing sense of doom at the state of the world. Maybe there’s a lot to unpack here in the meaning and symbolism-wise. Or maybe there’s nothing at all. The Chairs is going to be for a very specific group of people to enjoy. You’ll either love trying to understand it, or you’re going to hate it.
If you’re not interested in plays like Waiting for Godot, ones not rooted in realism, or you hate the feeling of not having a clear takeaway, then this show is not for you. However, if you are a fan of plays that meander and let your mind embrace wherever this work wants to take you, The Chairs would be a good show for you.
SOMEWHAT RECOMMENDED
James Ridge and Colleen Madden
When
Now through September 27, 2026
Where
American Players Theatre
5950 Golf Course Rd.
Spring Green, WI 53588
Runtime: 95 minutes, no intermission
Tickets
$68
Tickets can be purchased by calling the box office at 608-588-2361 or through the American Players Theatre website
Photos
Michael Brosilow
Colleen Madden
CAST
James Ridge (Old Man)
Colleen Madden (Old Woman)
Nate Burger (Orator)
CREATIVE
Vanessa Stalling (Director)
Sara Becker (Voice & Text Coach)
Robert Morgan (Costume Designer)
Courtney O'Neill (Scenic Designer)
Mike Durst (Lighting Designer)
Ethan Korvne (Music Composer & Sound Designer)
Adrian Danzig (Movement Specialist)
Christopher Lindquist (Stage Management Assistant)
Alexandra Baus Pozniak (Stage Manager)