A Red Orchid Theatre: Birds of North America
John Judd and Cassidy Slaughter-Mason
A Red Orchid Theatre Presents BIRDS OF NORTH AMERICA Review - Bonding Over Binoculars
TLDR: Set in the backyard of their home in Baltimore, we see a father and daughter’s relationship grow and change over the years in Birds of North America. The way the two actors develop their relationship parses out information bit by bit as we learn more and packs an emotional punch each time they hit the emotional bit in each scene.
John Judd and Cassidy Slaughter-Mason
Bird Watching in The Backyard
Soft, indie-folk music surrounds us as we take our seats in A Red Orchid’s theatre. It’s the perfect soundtrack for an autumn afternoon. The walls are covered in tree branches with red and orange leaves ready to fall at any moment. We’re looking at the back porch of a house with boots by the backdoor, a picnic table and checkered seat cushions, and gardening tools and various plant pots scattered around.
Enter father and daughter pair, John and Caitlyn (John Judd and Cassidy Slaughter-Mason). With his binoculars pinned to his face, John mentions it’s nice that Caitlyn came down to visit and she replies she’s taking up bird watching. And so begins their journey. We see from the beginning an emotional connection takes time if you’re just starting out or trying to reconnect. But as time goes on and having this hobby they share, we see their relationship grow and change.
We see their personalities come out more and more. They tell us details about other members of their family and how they feel about them. They share excitement over spotting a hawk. They have tough conversations about what the future looks like. They listen when the other is explaining their point of view. We’re taken across the years of their relationship seen in just these moments when they’re in the backyard, peering through their binoculars.
The Devil Is In The Details
Whoever enters the scene first between Judd and Slaughter-Mason sets the tone for what encounter the two of them will have that day. Sometimes it’s staring through their binoculars, transfixed on a bird in front of them. Other times one of them is pacing in the grass. Or perhaps one sits relaxed at the table waiting for the other to appear. Then these two build another piece of their father/daughter relationship. The dialogue feels natural and isn’t prescriptive. Instead, we’re given small morsels of what’s happened since we last met and we piece together the developments from there.
When these actors deal an emotional blow, we feel it physically. Our mouths drop as they argue over a baby bird. Tears well up in our eyes when one of their dreams doesn’t look like it’s going to pan out. And when one delivers a particularly pointed verbal blow, we feel the knife twist in our gut. John Judd and Cassidy Slaughter-Mason under the direction of Kirsten Fitzgerald, have paid meticulous detail to everything from the script, to their movements, to the minutest of facial expressions.
Not to mention the set and sound designs by Morgan Laszlo, Spencer Diaz Tootle, and Ethan Korvneby. It feels homey and natural like this family has lived here for years. And having the sound bits come from where they’re supposed to, like a cell phone ringing in a pocket vs having it ring over the speakers, just *chefs kiss.* Everything about Birds of North America is rich with detail and emotional catharsis.
Cassidy Slaughter-Mason
The After Party Thoughts
Birds of North America is a character driven play that not only shows the complexities between family members, but how they grow and change throughout the years. The best thing about this show, in my opinion, was all the detailed bits to build this world and the emotions Judd and Slaughter-Mason delivered. It all came together in a beautifully presented piece of theatre.
For those thirty-something year olds and parents who may have been through similar life events (break-ups, job loss, kids moving back home) you may relate to the relationship between Caitlyn and John. So if you’re looking for a play that leans more realism and is driven by character emotions and development, Birds of North America would be a good fit for you.
HIGHLY RECOMMENDED
When
Now through March 15, 2026
Where
A Red Orchid Theatre
1531 N Wells St.
Chicago, IL 60610
Runtime: 90min, no intermission
Tickets
$33+
Tickets can be purchased by calling the box office at (312) 943-8722 or through the A Red Orchid Theatre website
Photos
Evan Hanover
Find Allie and The After Party featured on Theatre in Chicago
John Judd
CAST
John Judd (John)
Cassidy Slaughter-Mason (Caitlyn)
Sahar Dika (Understudy)
Guy Wicke (Understudy)
CREATIVE
Anna Ouyang Moench (Playwright)
Kirsten Fitzgerald (Director)
Morgan Laszlo (Scenic Designer)
Ben Argenta Kress (Costume Designer)
Seojung Jang (Lighting Designer)
Ethan Korvne (Composer & Sound Designer)
Spencer Diaz Tootle (Props Designer and Set Dressing)
Jojo Brown (Dramaturg)
Amy Carpenter (Assistant Director)
Kyle Stoffers (Casting Director)
Shelbi Weaver (Production Manager)
Tom Daniel (Technical Director)
Alivia Arizaga (Stage Manager)
Faith Locke (Assistant Stage Manager)