Both Your Houses

By Maxwell Anderson
Directed by James Bohnen
October 1 – November 9, 2014

Congress puts the fun in dysfunctional.

1933. In Anderson’s Pulitzer Prize-winning satire, even a leading member admits Congress is a cauldron of “graft, special privilege, and corruption.” Strange expenditures for special interests abound. No surprise there. Enter a crusading young congressman, so straight he opposes a project in his own district, even probing his own campaign donors – long before Mr. Smith went to Washington. Our hero is on the verge of excising the pork when a key vote is suddenly reversed. But fear not – on the verge of defeat, the crusader comes up with a plan so outlandish it’s bound to save Congress from itself! Or is it?

Reviews

“The show moves much faster than any bill through Congress, thanks to Bohnen’s whip-smart direction.”
3 ½ stars
– Chris Jones, Chicago Tribune

“The timing could not be better. Nor could the play.”
– Hedy Weiss, Chicago Sun-Times

“Remy [Bumppo] Theatre has shaped the play into a scintillating viewing experience – funny, suspenseful, sometimes insightful, and always entertaining.”
– Dan Zeff, Chicagoland Theatre Review

 

Production Photos

Production

Director- James Bohnen
Stage Manager- Baleigh Isaacs
Assistant Stage Manager- .Shelby Glasgow
Assistant Director- Amber Gensterblum
Scenic Designer- Yu Shibagaki
Lighting Designer- Mike Durst
Costume Designer- Emily Waecker
Original Music/Sound Designer- Victoria (toy) DeIorio
Properties Designer- Jesse Gaffney
Production Manager- Cortney Hurley, Jonathan Nook
Set Construction/Technical Direction- Jason Kingsley, Means of Production
Wardrobe Supervisor/Stitcher- Breena Cope
Master Electrician- Marc Chevalier
Sound Engineer- David Samba

Cast

David Darlow- Sol
Linda Gillum- Bus
Peter A. Davis- Gray
Eliza Stoughton- Marjorie
Chris Amos- Alan
Larry Baldacci- Levering
Jesse Dornan- Peebles
Scott Egleston- Mark
James Houton- Eddie
Peter Eli Johnson- Merton/Ebner
Brian Parry- Wingblatt
Joanna Riopelle- Ms. McMurtry
Noah Simon- Dell
Paul Tinsley- Farnum