Redtwist Theatre: Gary: A Sequel to Titus Andronicus Revew
William Delforge and Hannah Rhode
Redtwist Theatre Presents GARY: A SEQUEL TO TITUS ANDRONICUS Review - A Clown Is The Face Of Change
TLDR: Set in the aftermath of Titus Andronicus, we’re left with dozens of bodies that two maids are tasked with cleaning up. These characters are the unnamed characters throughout the original play and now represent something more that leads to the philosophical quandaries about societal change within Gary.
Cameron Austin Brown and William Delforge (background)
The Aftermath Of The Bloodbath at Redtwist
It’s the end of Titus Andronicus and, spoiler alert, everyone is dead. The banquet hall is doused in blood. Bodies cover every surface from the table, to the closets, to the corners against the back wall. We ended the show with a blackout and a finality to this tragedy. But who is cleaning up this mess?
Pulling his own Rosencrantz and Guildenstern Are Dead, playwright Taylor Mac crafts a follow-up story to Titus where we have three originally unnamed characters in the aftermath of the original play. While we don’t have the original cast members from Titus still lying about, the stage is still set to be the carnage. There’s life size stuffed pillow dolls everywhere, each with cartoonish “X”d out eyes letting us know these are the corpses. There’s red nylons stuffed to look like intestines draped across the ceiling like party streamers. A bucket painted red looks like it’s overflowing with blood as it hangs off the wall.
It's A Bloody Metaphor
Obviously these bodies won’t take care of themselves, and so enters the clean-up crew consisting of maid Janice, played by Hannah Rhode, and Gary, played by William Delforge, recently promoted to maid from street clown. Janice and Gary have their work cut out for them and Janice starts to teach Gary how to deal with all the bodies - bodily fluids, functions, and all.
Gary toes the line between being dark and dramatic and comedic. Delforge plays Gary as an optimist to Rhode’s realist Janice. She teaches him proper preparation and disposal of the bodies while he tries to get her to see things differently. Gary shares his idealist dreams and he changes from wanting to work up the “corporate ladder” so to speak, to saving Janice from herself, to trying to change the way society works.
While Gary and Janice have been going back and forth cleaning up bodies and debating about whether or not to try a theatrical endeavor, we almost forget about Carol (played by Cameron Austin Brown). She’s the tie breaking vote between Gary and Janice about how they should move forward. Should they keep going as they have always been, being unseen, but cleaning up the messes of those they serve? Or do they try something different? Do they turn this tragic scene into a folly?
William Delforge and Hannah Rhode
Representing Different Factions
Even though they’re talking about what to do with the bodies, it slowly becomes evident all our characters are talking about something bigger and perhaps enacting societal change.
Rhode plays Janice as very brusk with a Cockney accent. She is diligent in her preparations and keeping her head down to get the job done. She thinks being the best at what she does will keep her employed and does her best to keep Gary in line and on task. We’re excited when we see Janice cut loose a little bit as Rhodes embraces the gaudy baubles and crown of those richer than her.
Brown as Carol straightens his apron primly and seems appalled at being asked to do something outside the status quo. He laments his non-action at not saving the empress and Aaron’s baby and he himself almost died anyway because of it. We slowly see that change in Carol as Brown decides that it is time to be different and embrace the folly, time to do something over inaction.
And the titular character played by Delforge has us enamored with his optimism. He bounds around the stage dressed as a typical street clown and has the audience laughing as he tries to pawn off the nastier bodily bits back on Janice. We feel we can change the world right along with him and perhaps also his hesitancy when it comes time to put his money where his mouth is.
Each of these three represents a different viewpoint on the working class and have us equally laughing at their over the top moments along with leaning forward with our chin in our hands curious at what path they’ll choose.
William Delforge
The After Party Thoughts
Gary is a real thought provoker of a play. Where Titus was very plot driven with tons of action, revenge, politics, and never ending killings, Gary is a debate. It’s philosophical as Gary poses the questions about why they should continue doing things the way they have been.
I’m sure a big question you may have is, do I need to have seen Titus Andronicus to enjoy Gary? In my opinion it’s not 100% necessary, the script does a good job of incorporating explanations if the characters reference something that happened in Titus. However, I would recommend reading a plot synopsis of Titus if you can before seeing Gary because it would make it a little easier to catch on to those references.
Gary is a very philosophical, existential, dialogue driven, with a touch of absurdism type of play. If you’re not a fan of shows that you have to really pay attention to to dissect and get the meaning or are particularly squeamish about bodily fluids, Gary might not be the best fit for you. However, if you are a fan of those philosophical plays that draw parallels to life today and keep you thinking when you leave the theatre, Gary: A Sequel To Titus Andronicus would be an excellent fit for you!
RECOMMENDED
William Delforge
When
Now through June 1, 2025
Where
Redtwist Theatre
1044 W Bryn Mawr Ave
Chicago IL 60660
Runtime: 90min, no intermission
Tickets
$10+
Tickets can be purchased through the Redtwist Theatre website
Photos
Tom McGrath/ TCMcG Photography
William Delforge
CAST
William Delforge (Gary)
Hannah Rhode (Janice)
Cameron Austin Brown (Carol)
Nathan Hile (U/S Gary)
Madison Bacino (U/S Janice)
Hannah McCauley (U/S Carol)
CREATIVE
Taylor Mac (Playwright)
Steve Scott (Director)
Maria Reyes (Stage Manager)
Ashley O’Neill (Stage Manager)
Eric Luchen (Set Design)
Korey Joseph (Assistant Director)
kClare McKellaston (Costume Design)
Robin Manganaro (Props Design)
Jeff Brain (Technical Director)
Seth Eggenschwiller (Fight/Violence Director)
Piper Kirchhofer (Lighting Design)
Rain DeDominici (Production Manager)
Eileen Dixon (Casting Director / Co-Artistic Director)
Dusty Brown (Co-Artistic Director)