Metcalf stars in Hunter’s LITTLE BEAR RIDGE ROAD at Steppenwoolf, directed by Mantello

[jacobsnchz14]

Posted: 6/6/24 at 9:40am

June 13-July 21
 

Ensemble Member Laurie Metcalf comes home to Steppenwolf to star in Little Bear Ridge Road, a comic, cosmic and intimate world premiere, penned by MacArthur Fellow Samuel D. Hunterand directed by Tony Award winner Joe Mantello.

In the outer limits of rural Idaho, the last two estranged members of the Fernsby family tree, a reclusive aunt and her gay nephew, reunite to sort the mess left behind after a troubled father's passing. They now face an uncomfortable and universal question: how do we deal with other people? And is connection more trouble than it’s worth? As their relationship begins anew, the two reluctant Fernsbys—separated by age and experience—start to understand the joys and perils of letting someone else into your own story, even if only for a moment.

Little Bear Ridge Road will be performed in Steppenwolf's Downstairs Theater.

[VernonGersch]

Posted: 6/6/24 at 2:18pm

cannot wait to see this.  Joe and Laurie!  Tickets purchased 

[BoringBoredBoard40]

Posted: 6/6/24 at 2:25pm

seeing this in mid-july, very excited

[BalconyClub]

Posted: 6/15/24 at 10:53pm

Caught the first 3 evening previews - Thursday thru Saturday - and Metcalf is as magnetic as ever.

The very simple staging allows the audience to focus on the story and the performances.

The set is simply a shiny gray, 3-seat sofa that sits atop a round swatch of gray carpet. A ceiling fan whirls above.

Though it’s a four-person cast, Meighan Gerachis does not appear until the final scene.

Sound effects have been added since the first night when Metcalf’s character is offstage searching for a top sheet or wrangling coffee mugs.

I like that the script identifies the passage of time over a few days, a few months, or a few years.

Micah Stock and John Drea’s scenes at the Wagon Wheel and at Metcalf’s Idaho home are fluid and real.

Stock and Metcalf (nephew and aunt) bond over television, their family name, and stubborn independence. 

 

 

 

[rosscoe(au)]

Posted: 6/15/24 at 11:31pm

Well that review is semi spoiler territory 

[MidWestTheater]

Posted: 6/18/24 at 11:59am

Got to check out one of the first previews of Little Bear Ridge Road and it's a really lovely small play, that packs a wallop in it's ending. Not a lot of dry eyes leaving the theater that afternoon. I"m not has familiar with the works for Samuel D. Hunter (really couldn't stand the whale), but this is a pretty solid piece, about a 30 something year old man who comes to his small hometown in Idaho to settle the sale of his later fathers home. He goes to stay with his aunt, played by the always great Laurie Metcalf, who has pretty much isolated herself after her husband left her many years ago. Since this is a homecoming play, of course secrets are revealed, the past is ressurected, and an outside love interest tries to help our main character break-through. However this is all done on a much smaller scale and never goes into hysterics. It's also very funny, as the only thing that aunt and nephew are able to bond over is a streaming television show about aliens. For me the real breakthrough performance comes from actor Micah Stock. He's funny, he's able to hold his own with the legendary Ms. Metcalf, and has a gutpunch of acting towards the end that had me in tears. This is a very small show, the set just consisted of a 3 person recliner couch, which the actors move to represent different places. I'm sure this play is aiming for a NYC run, since it is also directed by Joe Mantello (who was in the audience), and it's pretty solid to go, but definetly either off-broadway or in the smallest broadway house there is.

[suzycat]

Posted: 6/18/24 at 12:06pm

Thanks for that review! I’m hoping we’ll get one of his plays on Broadway soon. Would have loved for Case for the Existence of God to have transferred.

[Jmuep2]

Posted: 6/19/24 at 10:30am

suzycat said: "Thanks for that review! I’m hoping we’ll get one of his plays on Broadway soon. Would have loved for Case for the Existence of God to have transferred."

This week, I'm praying Will Brill's Tony win makes that happen. 

[rosscoe(au)]

Posted: 6/19/24 at 10:39am

suzycat said: "Thanks for that review! I’m hoping we’ll get one of his plays on Broadway soon. Would have loved for Case for the Existence of God to have transferred. "

We just had a production of this in Melbourne Australia, and while I enjoyed it. It was for me a semi forgettable play. Moments of brilliance, that sadly had moments of nothingness. I’m not sure this is really Broadway caliber. Of course a powerhouse couple could and would change that. 

[RippedMan]

Posted: 6/21/24 at 8:55am

Saw this last night and really loved it. But leaving the theater I kind of felt "meh." It's a very small show. But damn did I not love every minute of this. I don't see it going to Broadway as it's too slight, but I can see it coming to Broadway. 

I thought Stock was interesting. Never seen them in a show before. He kind of comes off as drunk? But maybe that's just his style? But interesting performance. 

[KJisgroovy]

Posted: 6/21/24 at 11:10am

I LOVED this. I found it deeply moving, very funny, and speaking to exactly what it's like to live in the world right now. 

 

[Broadway Flash]

Posted: 6/24/24 at 10:45am

There’s photos on Scott pask’s Instagram account. It looks interesting 

[ErmengardeStopSniveling]

Posted: 6/24/24 at 11:13am

Manifesting this play as part of 2nd Stage's unannounced 2024-25 season.

Or another Broadway nonprofit's 2025-26 season.

Metcalf means nothing commercially, as we know, so a nonprofit would add a bit of a cushion.

[RippedMan]

Posted: 6/24/24 at 11:39am

It could work at the Newhouse 

[Menken Fan]

Posted: 6/24/24 at 3:06pm

Chris Jones' glowing review is out:

Chicago Tribune Review

4 Stars

[Dancingthrulife2]

Posted: 6/24/24 at 7:41pm

Have to say I really miss the time when we got at least one Metcalf play every season. Guess no one is willing to mount these seemingly less profitable productions at such a pace after Scott Rudin went down.

[Play Esq.]

Posted: 6/24/24 at 7:59pm

Dancingthrulife2 said: "Have to say I really miss the time when we got at least one Metcalf play every season. Guess no one is willing to mount these seemingly less profitable productions at such a pace after Scott Rudin went down."

This. I’m still praying for Metcalf’s Martha, even more than an Osage production with her as Barbara. 

[Broadway Flash]

Posted: 6/24/24 at 8:28pm

I’d like to see Jessica Lange as Martha

[jvoom]

Posted: 6/24/24 at 9:19pm

I'm a huge fan of both Hunter and Laurie but likely won't get to see this production. Could someone spoil some of the plot/ending for me, maybe by private message? Very curious!

[gleek4114]

Posted: 6/25/24 at 9:42am

Does anyone know if there’s a stage door for this show at the Steppenwolf? I’m going next weekend and would love to meet Laurie if she signs afterword. 

[thatdarnzach]

Posted: 6/25/24 at 9:50am

jvoom said: "I'm a huge fan of both Hunter and Laurie but likely won't get to see this production. Could someone spoil some of the plot/ending for me, maybe by private message? Very curious!"

Sent you a PM, feel free to share here under a spoiler tag if other people are interested!

[ChorusKitty]

Posted: 6/30/24 at 12:50pm

I was delighted to finally be able to see Laurie Metcalf perform live on Friday evening (sold out) in this good new production at the Steppenwolf.  For naysayers who say this play couldn't work or fill a Broadway theatre, the downstairs theater at Steppenwolf is roughly the same seating capacity (perhaps a little less) than the Hayes, where the seats a LOT more cramped together and the stage is actually smaller and would work for an intimate show like this as well.

The play is in many ways familiar:  relatives with strained relationships come together after a death in the family and hidden secrets come to light.  At an intermission-less 95 minutes and with good humor the play works however.  The simple set design (solely a reclining sofa which gets revolved to show the passage of time and setting) could literally work in any theatre in the world.  The lighting design could be more dynamic.  My only qualm is the staging of the final scene, where Metcalf in on stage, has little to no dialogue, and cannot be seen.  I get that the two protagonist's story comes to fruition with neither visible, but I still think we are perhaps missing a final moment of great acting via reacting to the last few minutes of dialogue.

Rumor has it, several NY producers have popped in, so we'll see if this ends up in NY perhaps in the spring.

[BoringBoredBoard40]

Posted: 6/30/24 at 5:29pm

I'm hearing this could be the show Second Stage is looking at in the Spring slot. 

[gleek4114]

Posted: 7/3/24 at 8:26pm

gleek4114 said: "Does anyone know if there’s a stage door for this show at the Steppenwolf? I’m going next weekend and would love to meet Laurie if she signs afterword."

Bumping my own message from earlier. I’m going to the matinee this Saturday and meeting Laurie would be a dream (I’m more than happy just seeing the show, getting to meet her would be the cherry on top), anyone know if she signs playbills and/or where the stage door would even live?

[Matt Legg]

Posted: 7/4/24 at 2:24am

She will be at FanExpo (formerly Wizard World Comic Con) on Aug 17 and 18 in Rosemont, IL.  She's relatively inexpensive for photos and autographs ($60).  I look forward to meeting her there!

Updated On: 7/4/24 at 02:24 AM