'Our Town' director David Cromer does this town proud

Chris Jones, Chicago Tribune

08/09 Awards Open Run New York
Obie Award, Best Director - David Cromer
After Dark Award, Direction - David Cromer
After Dark Award, Outstanding Performance - Jennifer Grace
Jeff Theater Award Best Director - David Cromer
Theater World Award, Best NYC Debut - Jennifer Grace
Top 10 Plays 2008 - Chicago Tribune
Top 10 Plays 2008 - Chicago Sun Times
Top 5 Plays 2008 - TimeOut Chicago
Highly Recommended - Chicago Reader


Last week in New York, David Cromer picked up best-director nominations from the Outer Critics Circle and the Drama Desk. Both were for his critically acclaimed off-Broadway production of “The Adding Machine.” Also last week, Cromer opened a dark, brilliant, wholly revelatory production of Thornton Wilder’s “Our Town” in the basement of the Chopin Theatre.

That’s the life of a Chicago freelance director—canapés in the West Village one moment, the subterranean reaches of Milwaukee Avenue the next. But if you take the time to climb down those stairs to see the latest effort from The Hypocrites, you’ll be rewarded with Chicago theater at its very finest. I thought this “Our Town,” the iconic play about life in small-town America, was among the very best off-Loop productions of our era. And if you don’t believe me, you should read the e-mails sent by readers who’ve seen the show.

Shana Lowitz talked about “renewed trust” in my recommendations. That’s a back-handed compliment if ever there was one, but Ms. Lowitz apparently hasn’t forgiven me for gushing over “The Light in the Piazza.” Different strokes.

More powerfully yet, John Bergeron sent a note about his feelings during the show. “I really had to struggle to compose myself during Act III,” he wrote. “Now two hours after the final curtain, I feel profound sadness. I am relieved to know that I will pick at this over the next few days and be able to settle on some conclusions.”

I understand that response. Mine was much the same.

This isn’t the first time Cromer has dazzled Chicago audiences in intimate surroundings. His 2006 production of “Come Back, Little Sheba” for Shattered Globe was a brilliant piece of direction. So was his take on Austin Pendleton’s “Orson’s Shadow” in 2000 at the Steppenwolf Theatre. His shows have used different levels of actors, ranging from big New York names and the likes of Tracy Letts to the current, mostly youthful, non-Equity crew making up the cast of “Our Town.” But those productions have all had in common a brilliant conceptual core, rooted in the most powerful kinds of human truths.

I’ve long thought Cromer should be running his own Chicago theater company—one wishes someone would give him an opportunity, much as the Goodman Theatre once gave Robert Falls of the Wisdom Bridge Theatre Company an opportunity. But I fear we will be leaving that to New York.

Mention Cromer’s name around town—which I’ve been doing a lot this week—and some people in the theater business develop a certain tension of the jaw. Cromer has not always been an easy guy to work with. He is known as a compulsive artist, not a savvy administrator. And he is not known for his willingness to play political games or suck up to those in positions of power.

But when that third act of “Our Town” hits you, as it surely will, none of that will matter. You’ll just be thankful for the artistry, the guts and the truth"