Adriana Boyd-Lewis as Sadie, Payton Trahan as Ricky, Edwin Lucas Anderson as Donnie, Ismael Soto III as Luce, and Jennifer Gonzalez as PamThere’s a controversial saying about teachers: “A good teacher is like a candle – they consume themselves to light the way for others.” In, a gaggle of Chicago educators illuminate the stages of that saying. Some teachers have utterly burned themselves out, are worn-out wicks in a puddle of wax. Some have the slightest spark left, wavering but present.
Beyond August Productions’ presentation shines in the school setting. Technical director Robyn Conner crafts every set and costume detail to public school perfection. The lounge couch with stuffing tufting out the sides, the abundance of reusable shopping bags wrestled by educators, the hoarded mugs and spattered microwave. I know them all too well.
The school and characterization of the teachers are perfect, yet something is missing. The emotional tone of the play is heightened, a constant fever pitch. It mirrors the actual pressure of education. Teachers are buckling under their many demands. In, the school’s closure is piled atop the stress of graduation rates, low attendance, testing scores, behavioral concerns, constant meetings, and, oh yeah, teaching the actual content. No wonder everyone’s at a boiling point.