The House of Yes

Some theatre companies start with a distinct mission, while others are built around themes or the talents of core members often known as ensembles.  Corri Feurstein built hers around a name.  The dynamic, fast-talking Chicagoan came up with the name 'Will Act for Food' that christened her company in 1997.  "Like three quarters of the theatres in the city, Will Act for Food was started by a group of people who went to the same college," in Corri's case Milliken University in downstate Illinois.  With a distinct name, she and her original two co-founders "decided to take the name and actually have it mean something."  The idea is simple: every show, audience members receive a discount off the ticket price when they bring a non-perishable food item to be donated to a specific charitable organization that helps feed the homeless. 

It was a natural meeting of Corri's artistic interests and her concern for the needy in our society (her mother worked for a homeless shelter for seven years) that have made this company so unique.  And after a two-year hiatus which would have spelled doom for most organizations, Corri re-bounded, re-energized and resurrected her small troupe, bringing with her a volunteer crew she refers to as "Artistic Staff" to share her vision of producing community invested art. Although the core company is still very small, about 8 members, they all have specific tasks and everyone contributes towards a shared goal.    

It was that unmistakable moniker that grabbed the attention of Scott Pasko, when he met Corri on a train six years ago and saw her bag with the logo ‘Will Act for Food'.  The Pasadena native had been looking for a home base throughout the Chicago theatre community, and found it instantly when he saw her bag.  "It's such a joy and a noble mission," Scott says.  "I've always tried to help people and create art, and the function of what we do is what brings me back."  Scott acted in several WAFF shows, before joining the Artistic Staff first as Community Services Director and currently Executive Director.  He is also directing the company's latest production, Wendy MacLeod's The House of Yes, premiering March 7-April 13 at The Cornservatory. 

The play will help raise donations for The Lakeview Pantry, which provides a myriad of services ranging from food donations, to in-home delivery for seniors, clothing, job skills development and chemical dependency counseling.  According to Scott, it's the specialized nature of the services Lakeview Pantry provides to the community he finds attractive.  "They're not just responsive, they try to help people and prevent them from hitting rock bottom."  The goal of each production is 1 ton of food, which is measured by the Pantry.

The issue of homelessness is something that hits Corri very hard.  "This is a built-in way we can all do something (to help).  People who say they don't have the time, they can't do this or that, I say 'Yes, you can'.  It's so simple.  And the tons of food we've raised since 1997 is testament to the fact that it's not that difficult to make a difference when you want to."  Corri remembers vividly accompanying her mother to the shelter as a child and serving Thanksgiving dinners to the homeless every year.  And in The House of Yes, coincidentally perhaps, a family Thanksgiving reunion provides the setting for some decidedly off-kilter hijinks.  Actor Justin Speer relates to the theme on a certain level.  "Everyone knows what it is like to come home for Thanksgiving.  There are great things about seeing your family but there are also challenges to that.  The challenges in this situation are a little extreme than most family get-togethers."   

Justin describes it as an "X-rated version of playing home."  There's dysfunction, insanity and incest, but Director Pasko found the play's universal human honesty in the characters and their situations appealing.  "As a company, we are attracted to challenging situations and very bold pieces, as well as productions that might not be seen anywhere else in Chicago."  Pasko says that in spite of the extremity of the character's situation, "they're still stirring for love, trying to be normal, maneuvering through daily life.  And we wanted to share that with the community.  Even though it may feel uncomfortable, that doesn't mean we can't bring it to life."  According to Corri, the whole company fell in love with McLeod's "rich, wonderful language, the way they express their feelings for one another.  That truth is something, no matter how unreachable the subject matter may be, we can all identify with in some way."

Justin identified with the games his character Marty plays with his sister Jackie O, which reminded him of childhood games like "airplane" and "office" he enjoyed with his own stepsister.  "The games these siblings play are very real to them, and as bizarre as those games are, they have created their own world and a connection that is a lot of fun to explore.  It's dark, but at the same time there's an innocence that allows them to do what they do.  These aren't serial killers.  They hurt each other, but out of love."   

Actress Lacy Coil portrays Jackie O, a character who lives with her mother at home and is "insane for all intent and purpose, and medicated and treated as such.  She's really spoiled a lot, having grown up in this world of privilege where no one has been willing or able to say 'no' to her.  She's had everything given to her for her entire life.  I think the play asks what that does to a person.  Jackie O is a prime example of what happens to someone when they get everything they've ever wanted."  Although she says her character is fascinated by Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis, Lacy says that is where the similarity starts and stops.    

Both Coil and Speer have enjoyed the collaborative nature of working with Director Pasko on this production.  As Justin explains, "What's great about Scott is he comes from a background as an actor.  I've never had a director as considerate of the fact that actors have their own process.  Scott has an incredible respect for letting us make choices and seeing what we think about what we're doing."  Pasko's collaborative style focuses on "what the characters are thinking and feeling all the time.  I want to encourage the exploration of choices in an attempt to uncover the underlying emotional truth of this play.  I have a vision, but I haven't held on to it that tightly."  Lacy appreciates that kind of creative freedom, making it a point of working only with theatres such as Redmoon and Barrel of Monkeys that take the collaborative approach.  "I'm much more drawn to that and when I don't get that, I think ‘What do you mean I have no artistic voice?  Why have you hired me?'"  Pasko says he cast his actors for a reason, "because I felt they were perfect for the roles, and it's more important to build off what the actors think and finesse what they bring to the table."

"My goal with the production," Pasko says, "is to do justice to the playwright's vision, and bring some level of understanding and humanity to the characters.  In turn the audience will hopefully identify with some small portion of the characters' lives, what each character has gone through and how they have become who they are today."  Coil's dream is simple, "I hope the audience really enjoys the show and comes away with a greater awareness of Will Act for Food, the Lakeview Pantry and community invested arts in general."  Founder and Artistic Director Feurstein intends for the company "to continue with the same sense of integrity it has.  The participation and ideas everyone brings to the table always inspires me to do something new.  Risks inspire new risks, and most of us work outside the company and bring those experiences back in."  Her goal is to continue "to grow, to do things we're passionate about and things that speak to us."  

Will Act for Food presents The House of Yes March 7-April 13 at The Cornservatory, 4210 N. Lincoln Avenue in Chicago.  Performances are Fridays and Saturdays at 8:00 p.m., Sundays at 5:00 p.m. (no show March 23).  Tickets are $18; $10 for students/seniors, $15 with non-perishable food item donation.  All food raised will benefit The Lakeview Pantry.  Will Act for Food will also hold a special performance on Saturday, March 15 named "Cans for Cash".  Tickets for that performance are $30, however every can brought in counts for $1, up to the full ticket price.  After the show, join the cast, crew and other friends up the street at Feed the Beast (4300 N. Lincoln) for an Ides of March party with food, spirits and live music.  For reservations, call 773-327-9725 or visit www.willactforfood.com.  For more information on Lakeview Pantry, visit www.lakeviewpantry.org.

Joe Stead

Theatre In Chicago News Contributor Joe Stead has spent over 20 years as a critic, director, designer and performer. His reviews currently appear online at www.steadstylechicago.com.