Let me paint a picture for you. Imagine Chicago. The year is 1908. As you walk down the street, people bustle by and street performers command your attention. Two of these street performers are unlike the others. The duo goes by the names of Thaddeus and Slocum. Thaddeus is a young African-American male and Slocum is a young white male. In the early 1900s, this picture wasn’t common, a white man and a black man, partners and, not only that, but friends. This image is what strikes you as the performance begins.
“Thaddeus and Slocum: A Vaudeville Adventure,” a show that has debuted as part of the Lookingglass Theatre Company, is a story that portrays the culture of vaudeville performance in 1908. For those that aren't familiar with vaudeville, the performances typically consist of a mixture of song and dance, comedy and burlesque. This type of entertainment was very popular in the 20th century. What was also popular was the use of blackface as part of the comedic performance.
This play deals heavily with racial inequality in the 1900s, and specifically within the entertainment industry. The play follows the lives of two performers and friends, Thaddeus and Slocum, who are trying to make it “big time” in the city of Chicago by performing at the popular Majestic Theatre. The problem is that the Majestic only allows one “Negro act,” and the space is already filled. Thaddeus and Slocum decide that in order to make it on the big stage they have to perform using blackface, therefore covering up the fact that one of them is black. It is made very clear that “Thaddeus and Slocum: A Vaudeville Adventure” would no longer be allowed on the stage if their disguise were to be discovered. The play gives a fair representation of what a divided America looks like and the struggles that Thaddeus and Slocum endure together, all while being wildly entertaining.
As the play continues, it becomes apparent how blind Slocum is about the risk Thaddeus is taking in disguising himself as a white man using blackface. If he were to be caught, the consequences would be much more severe for him than his white friend. Slocum is so set on reaching their dreams that he pushes aside any sense. This has consequences for the both of them in the end.
This play is a small-time production but it is definitely worth seeing. The tickets are inexpensive, the theater is a historical landmark in Chicago, and the actors are very talented. My only criticism would be that I wished so badly that the play had more musical performances, mainly because the ones that were shown were so entertaining. The actors worked through the pain of the racism within the industry while they performed their pieces. They put on their faces to bring the audience what would’ve been expected in the 1900s. The play ends on a “cliff hanger,” which for some may be hard to accept. I found this to be exciting. The audience is then forced to reflect on the outcomes for the characters long after the play has ended. And you will be very surprised that it has ended. The two hours goes by in a flash.
More information about this production:
The Lookingglass Theatre is a wonderful place to see a theater production. The theater is located inside the Water Tower Water Works building. The working pumps are visible as you explore the theater building.
The interesting thing about this play is that if you're under 35, you can purchase special tickets for only $20 that allow you to be a part of the performance by sitting on the floor of the theater right in front of the stage at cafe tables.
This play is only running until August 14, so get your tickets quick!
