Theater Review: Raven Theatre’s ‘The Prodigal Daughter’ is HerStory

Submitted by PatrickMcD on June 9, 2024 - 10:41am

CHICAGO – One of the open secrets of Chicago is its horrible racist past, which remains like an echo. Playwright Joshua Allen has been exploring this theme in his Grand Boulevard Trilogy – the last chapter talking place during the infamous 1919 race riots – in Raven Theatre’s “The Prodigal Daughter.” For tickets and info, click TPD.

While the riots are taking place outside their home, the Bass family … widower John (Bradford Stevens) and youngest daughter Daisy (Sol Fuller) and Aunt Lottie (RJW Mays) … are hunkering in their home on Chicago’s Grand Boulevard, when a surprise return takes place from oldest daughter Virginia (Stephanie Mattos), who has a white companion name George (Stef Brundage). They are traveling vacuum cleaner sales reps, and Virginia returns home to show off her job and presumably her man. This causes issues with an old lover, Rev Maxwell (Bryant Hayes), and the ingredients are in place for a tense reunion. Meanwhile, the riots’ wolf is outside their door.

Raven Theatre’s ‘The Prodigal Daughter’ through June 22nd
Photo credit: RavenTheatre.com

Audio Theater Review of “The Prodigal Daughter” by Patrick McDonald of HollywoodChicago.com …

Raven Theatre presents “The Prodigal Daughter,” through June 22nd at the Raven Theatre, 6157 North Clark Street, Chicago. Featuring Stephanie Mattos, Bradford Stevens, Sol Fuller, RJW Mays, Stef Brundage and Bryant Hayes. Written by Joshua Allen. Directed by Jerrell L. Henderson. For more information on the Raven Theatre, click here.