Escape

A new play by Sharon Evans inspired by her years of work with the Chicago Police Department through Police-Teen Link. The drama explores the psychology of men and women in the Special Victims Unit.  One detective dances the tango and another has a growing interest in squirrel spotting. Meanwhile, three mythical Furies loom in and out of the action, seeking vengeance for crimes, motives and immorality. And they have plenty to say about the Chicago police, issues of race and the crime of rape.  Playwright Sharon Evans partners with Peter Amster who directed her hit play, Blind Tasting in 2003 . Escape was awarded a NEA grant for 2007, Evans’ fifth such award.  Evans is a recipient of two Jeff awards.

 

Written by Sharon Evans
Directed by Peter Amster

Scenic Design by Mary Griswold
Lighting Design by Mary Badger
Costume Design by Frances Maggio
Sound Design by Victoria Delorio

Assistant Director – Gloria Coco
Stage Manager – Jeff Ruether

 

Read what the critics are saying about Escape

"Evans captures human reactions and interactions, and all the attendant flaws, prejudices, misguided hopes, gross insensitivities and even surprising bursts of compassion...dark surprises, humor and snappy patter, realism to surrealism...... the essential stuff of life"

Hedy Weiss - Chicago Sun Times
Read the full review online.

 

“ Reminiscent of Buffy the Vampire Slayer, Escape is the kind of work that could easily take on cult status or become a hit TV concept creating a lot of buzz ….Evans’ plays have so much vitality because they’re drawn from hands on experience, in this case the CPD.”

Ruth Smerling - Theatreworld Internet Magazine

 

 

“ Fascinating”

Kerry Reid - Chicago Tribune

“ The excellent cast conveys the odd combination of drudgery and danger in police work and the psychological stress on the officers as they deal with lying perps and devastated victims.”

Albert Williams - Chicago Reader
View a scene from Escape www.stagechannel.com
 

A note about the Greek Furies from the Author

The Furies, or Erinnyes, are goddesses of vengeance. Tisiphone (the avenger), Megaera (the jealous) and Alecto (constant anger) were daughters of the primeval gods Ouranus and Gaea - sky and earth - and became agents of divine justice. They would punish all crimes by ceaselessly pursuing the offender, causing him to suffer terrible remorse and, in some cases, to go mad. No prayer, sacrifice or tears could move them. If they felt that the offender would escape them, they called in the assistance of the goddess Dike’ (Justice). Definitely not a posse you'd want on your case. Because nobody really wanted anything to do with these avenging creatures, mortals rarely referred to the Erinnyes by name, to avoid attracting their attention. Instead they were often euphemistically called the Eumenides, the 'Kindly Ones' or 'Solemn Ones', the term coined by their hapless victim Orestes.

 

Many special thanks to:

Retired Detective William Hougesen, Detective Teresa Tolbert, P.O. Tim O’ Brien, P.O. Tom McNamara, Sgt. Tamara Hagen, Sgt. Dawn Jackson, Judge Gloria Coco, The Ragdale Foundation, Shelly Davis at The Chicago Women’s Foundation, John Rodriguez of Northeastern Illinois University, Ali Jiwani of CSP+ Computers, Alex Levy of The Pegasus Players, Jonathan Heuring of Victory Gardens, Melanie Keller, Anne Roche, Lily Mojekwu, James Zoccoli, Mica Cole, Vanessa Greenway, Edward Thomas–Herrera and Kami Carter.